TOKYO--Japan's former emperor Akihito, who stepped down last year, has recovered after a brief loss of consciousness on Wednesday, a palace spokesman said.
The popular Akihito stepped down from the Chrysanthemum Throne in April, following three decades as emperor, an event marking Japan's first abdication in roughly 200 years, and his son, Naruhito, became emperor.
Akihito, 86, was examined by a neurologist and had a head MRI scan on Thursday morning. "But there were no abnormalities detected, especially nothing suggesting anything like a stroke," a spokesman of the Imperial Household Agency said, adding that Akihito's condition will continue to be monitored.
Akihito had an episode of nausea and dizziness in July 2018 attributed to a condition caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain, but had not lost consciousness then, added the official of the agency managing the imperial family's affairs.
Akihito, who now holds the formal title of emperor emeritus, had breakfast as normal on Thursday, Kyodo news agency said. He has had heart surgery and has been treated for prostate cancer. His 85-year-old wife, Empress Emerita Michiko, had surgery for early stage breast cancer in September and the palace said in December she had been unwell and lost weight since.
Akihito, the first monarch under a post-war constitution that defines the emperor as a symbol of the people without political power, said in 2016 that he feared his age would make it hard for him to carry out his duties. Concern over his health was a top trending topic on Japanese Twitter.
"At his age, this kind of thing is worrisome," one user wrote on Thursday. "I guess all his hard work up to now is having an impact. Please make sure you take a good rest."
