She spends her days enjoying music, garden strolls, and exercise with Emperor Emeritus Akihito, while doctors continue to monitor her heart health.
Empress Emerita Michiko and Emperor Emeritus Akihito at the Sento Imperial Residence in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, on October 6. (Photo courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency)
Empress Emerita Michiko, the mother of Emperor Naruhito, turned 92 on October 20. According to the Imperial Household Agency, although she has experienced a decline in physical strength, there has been no significant change in her overall health. She continues to enjoy a quiet and peaceful life with Emperor Emeritus Akihito.
The couple spend their time together at their residence in the Imperial Akasaka Estate in Tokyo, where they often watch music programs and international sporting events on television. This spring, Empress Emerita Michiko invited friends from her musical circle to visit and enjoyed listening to them perform on the piano and other instruments.
Among the Japanese picture books donated by Japan's Education Ministry to Ukraine was My First Mountain, a children's book written by Empress Emerita Michiko.
To maintain her muscle strength, Empress Emerita Michiko walks and exercises with her husband at their residence. She also occasionally strolls through the gardens, enjoying the seasonal flowers and plants.
Her BNP levels, a blood marker used to help assess heart failure, have remained above the normal range.
An aide to the Imperial Household commented, "As both Their Majesties are getting older, their hearts are becoming more vulnerable to strain. We need to monitor their health carefully."
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun