JAPAN: Emperor Akihito undergoes successful heart bypass operation, doctors say they hope he will be able to resume a normal lifestyle

Record ID: 466074

  • Title: JAPAN: Emperor Akihito undergoes successful heart bypass operation, doctors say they hope he will be able to resume a normal lifestyle
  • Date: 19th February 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SIGN READING IN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE: "THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO" EXTERIOR OF TOKYO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CAMERAMEN AT HOSPITAL ENTRANCE MEDICAL TEAM FOR EMPEROR AKIHITO'S OPERATION TAKING SEAT AT NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SURGEON, MINORU ONO, SAYING: "As far as operations go, it could not have proceeded any better. We believe that the heart bypass surgery went smoothly without any complications." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SURGEON, MINORU ONO, SAYING: "The Empress and (her daughter) Sayako Kuroda stroked the Emperor's hand, and as they did that he remarked 'that feels lovely'. This made all of us chuckle a bit, and that was the course of events."
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Royalty,Health,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA3H5MCLT67G23MIE5K7QQJSUUN
  • Story Text: A heart bypass operation performed on Japan's Emperor Akihito ended successfully on Saturday (February 18), his doctors said.
    The 78-year-old Akihito had been receiving treatment for heart problems for the past year, and doctors decided last week that the emperor was in need of a coronary bypass operation.
    Akihito was admitted to the University of Tokyo hospital on Friday (February 17) to prepare for his surgery.
    The operation took about four hours and was completed with no complications.
    The doctors said they would keep a close watch on the emperor's conditions until he is deemed fit to leave hospital.
    "As far as operations go, it could not have proceeded any better. We believe that the heart bypass surgery went smoothly without any complications," Minoru Ono, one of the doctors at the University of Tokyo Hospital who performed the operation, told reporters.
    Akihito is expected to remain at the hospital for about two weeks for rehabilitation.
    His wife the empress and his daughter Sayako Kuroda visited him at the hospital shortly after the surgery was completed.
    "The Empress and (her daughter) Sayako Kuroda stroked the Emperor's hand, and as they did that he remarked 'that feels lovely'. This made all of us chuckle a bit, and that was the course of events," Ono said.
    Akihito had surgery for prostate cancer in 2003 and suffered stress-related health issues in late 2008. The following year, the royal agency said he would cut back on official duties such as speeches and meeting foreign dignitaries.
    While the Emperor underwent surgery, hundreds of well-wishers came to the Imperial Palace and left messages for the emperor at a tent set up outside the Sakashita gate.
    Save for rare occasions, the Japanese imperial family is spared the intense public attention or media scrutiny that Britain's royals get.
    Akihito's hospital stay last year gave Japan a rare opportunity to see his heir Crown Prince Naruhito step in for his father and perform public duties.
    While Akihito's reign was defined by his reconciliation efforts, it is less clear what role the scholarly Naruhito may play, though royal commentators expect him to continue his father's efforts to reach out to ordinary citizens.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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