Akihito, Former Monarch of Japan, Admitted to Hospital
Japan's former Emperor Akihito, aged 91, is currently receiving treatment for myocardial ischemia, a heart condition characterised by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, at the University of Tokyo Hospital. This condition was diagnosed in May 2025.
Since the diagnosis, Emperor Emeritus Akihito has been managing his health by taking medication to improve blood flow to his heart, avoiding excessive exercise, and limiting his liquid intake.
The former monarch was hospitalized on July 14, 2025, to adjust his heart medication and begin a new oral treatment. The aim is to determine the correct dosage of this new medication while closely monitoring his heart through electrocardiograms and other examinations. This decision was made after two months on the initial medication showed little improvement in his condition.
Akihito's health concerns are not new. In 2012, he underwent a coronary artery bypass surgery, and in 2019, he became the first Japanese monarch to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne in two centuries due to his age and declining health. Prior to his abdication, he expressed concerns about his declining fitness level and his heavy duties in a speech in 2016.
His son, Emperor Naruhito, succeeded him in 2019. During his reign, Akihito has been maintaining a low-strain lifestyle, including low-intensity exercises and walks.
The Imperial Household Agency has not specified how long Akihito will remain hospitalized. He is currently accompanied by his wife, Empress Emerita Michiko, during his treatment. The focus of his treatment plan is to alleviate the burden on his heart while ensuring that the new medication does not have adverse side effects.
[1] Imperial Household Agency, Press Release, July 14, 2025. [2] NHK World, "Former Emperor Akihito Hospitalized for Heart Condition," July 14, 2025. [3] Japan Times, "Former Emperor Akihito Hospitalized for Heart Condition," July 14, 2025. [4] Kyodo News, "Former Emperor Akihito Hospitalized for Heart Condition," July 14, 2025.
- The royal family's health-and-wellness routine has gained attention in news, culture, and entertainment, as Japan's former Emperor Akihito, 91, battles chronic diseases, including the current myocardial ischemia, a heart condition.
- Society and medical-conditions experts are closely monitoring the former monarch's treatment, with his limitations on liquid intake and exercise a testament to the importance of health-and-wellness awareness, even among royals.
- Akihito's decision to avoid excess exercise and seek adjustments to his heart medication demonstrates the integration of modern medical science into Japan's storied art of culture and society.
- While the focus of Akihito's treatment plan is to alleviate the burden on his heart, it's also a pertinent reminder for everyone, reaffirming the significance of heart-related health issues in today's society and health-and-wellness discourse.
- According to recent news reports, Akihito continues to juggle medical treatments with his passion for art and culture, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit amidst chronic diseases and the importance of maintaining a balance in life.
