The current Japanese emperor, Akihito is 78 years old. The emperor has been falling victim to the health issues since the surgery of the prostate cancer in 2003. In late 2008, the emperor suffered stress-related health issues including stomach bleeding and irregular health. The following year, the royal agency reported that emperor would cut back on the official duties due to health issues. In November of 2011, Akihito suffered cold, fever and symptoms of bronchitis and was treated in the hospital for three weeks.

Now, in 2012 again, the Imperial Household Agency has reported that emperor would have a heart bypass surgery on February 18. Akihito underwent an angiogram on Saturday, which showed that his blood vessels have narrowed over the past year. After the detailed heart exam, he was allowed to leave the hospital after the one-night stay.

Further than that, there was no comment from the Imperial Household Agency. This surgery would be the first one for the Akihito after the one for prostate cancer in 2003. The emperor’s health issues have also raised concern as to whether he will be able to perform official duties and how much will he be obligated to attend the public events since Akihito disappeared from the public in the 2009 due to health issues. The emperor’s son, Prince Akishino suggested that there would be a discussion in November about setting the date of retirement for the titular head of state. The emperor made his unusual televised address to the nation in their time of need, shortly after the March 11 earthquake. He also made a trip to the devastated northeast region to meet with the tsunami victims that were much publicized.

The agency stated on the Sunday that the emperor’s heart exam made the doctors reach the conclusion of the heart surgery, and they stated that it was now a necessity to take a new action. The agency reported that the physicians of University of Tokyo and Juntendo University would perform the operation. These physicians are the top brass in the heart surgery.  The test on the emperor was performed after he had experienced difficulty engaging in the light exercise. Television footage on Sunday showed Akihito greeting doctors upon discharge from the hospital.

Akihito’s ascend to the throne was after the death of his father Hirohito, the former emperor in 1989. Although the political power of Akihito is small, he has spent much of the past two decades working to heal the wounds of a war waged across Asia in his father’s name and helped bring the monarchy closer to ordinary citizens.

The current emperor of Japan is very soft-spoken and has a gentle personality. After witnessing the rise of Japanese militarism and its defeat in 1945 in World War, Akihito said that he wanted to deepen the international understanding through abroad visits. This has often raised the protests from the leaders of Japan; however, Akihito has defied these protests and has actively worked in increasing the popularity of Japan and making Japanese culture better known in the world.