Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, hospitalised for new heart treatment

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The 91-year-old former Emperor will take the treatment to alleviate burdens on his heart.

PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO – Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital on the afternoon of July 14 to begin a new oral treatment for his heart.

The 91-year-old former Emperor will take the treatment to alleviate burdens on his heart, on top of his ongoing medication treatment.

Doses of the new treatment will be decided after he undergoes an electrocardiogram.

In July 2022, the Emperor Emeritus was diagnosed with

heart failure caused by a tricuspid valve insufficiency

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart muscle does not pump blood as well as it should and can be treated. It differs from a heart attack where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked.

He was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital in May for a heart examination and was diagnosed with asymptomatic myocardial ischemia.

According to his aides, the Emperor Emeritus has carried out low-strain exercises and walks to maintain his health since the May hospitalisation. He also began taking medication to improve coronary artery blood flow.

As these efforts did not lead to improvements, a team of doctors concluded that the additional oral treatment was necessary.

It is yet to be determined how long the Emperor Emeritus will stay at the hospital.

He may be discharged relatively swiftly once the dosage is decided based on his heart and full-body conditions.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito became emperor in 1989 after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito.

He abdicated in May 2019 aged 85, nearly three years after he first expressed fears that advancing age might make