By AKIKO TADA/ Staff Writer
December 23, 2023 at 16:40 JST
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, marking his 90th birthday on Dec. 23, spends his days like retirees the world over reflecting on the past and trying to lead as normal a daily life as possible.
Imperial Household Agency officials said Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko often reflect on their past exchanges with people they met overseas during their official visits, as well as in Japan.
The couple continue to receive compositions in Japanese from students at a school in Brazil which they visited in 1997. Officials said the two enjoy reading the compositions and got an aide to send a letter of gratitude to the school.
The pair continue to hold a strong interest in Okinawa and peace and occasionally have visited exhibitions related to those themes. They often talk about various aspects of Okinawan culture they encountered during their visits there as well as those to Hansen’s disease sanitariums. As emperor and empress, they visited sanatoriums in Japan for the disease more commonly known as leprosy.
Akihito also makes a point of keeping in touch with daily events by poring over newspapers and watching TV news programs. Whenever an earthquake strikes, he will inevitably stay glued to the TV to keep up with updates.
He continues to express concern for residents of Fukushima Prefecture forced to evacuate in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered a triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
After dinner, Akihito will often play board games such as Othello and shogi with aides.
Although he was diagnosed with a heart condition in July 2022, his condition has stabilized after undergoing internal medical treatment.
Masao Oda, a classmate from Akihito’s schooldays at Gakushuin Boys’ Junior High School, recalled that from a young age Akihito often said, “I will become the emperor of all the Japanese people so I must treat everyone fairly.”
Oda added that the emperor emeritus always made an effort to try to understand the life of the people.
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Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko enjoy daily walks through the grounds of the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo. (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)
