Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko Current Events 1: May 2019 -


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
I'm so sorry to hear this, but somehow not surprised. I thought that she was not looking well in recent photos, and there were hints from the last news updates concerning her health that something was up with her.

Thank you for updating, Prisma, and for all the links.

I am hoping that the Empress Emerita has a swift and uncomplicated recovery, and many healthy years to enjoy her retirement.
 
Thanks Prisma!!

Hoping everything going well for the Empress Emerita!
 
This made me down today. I hope the surgery will be a success. My prayers for the Empress Emerita!
 
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope the surgery is successful and I wish Empress Michiko a recovery.
 
On August 22nd, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko traveled to Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture for recuperation. They will move to Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture on the 27th and return to Tokyo on the 30th.

The couple will visit a settlement by former Manchuria returnees on the 23rd and attend Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy & Festival on the 27th, where Empress Emerita Michiko will also participate in a piano workshop.

Photo: Kyodo

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190822/lif1908220018-p1.jpg

https://twitter.com/x/status/1164480673639362570
https://twitter.com/x/status/1164462484620599298
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
On August 25th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the Karuizawa tennis court where they first met in the summer of 1957. They stayed about 30 minutes, chatting and watching a game.

Getty Images
 
On August 27th, Empress Emerita Michiko attended a music workshop at the Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy & Festival in Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. The former empress and flutist Karl-Heinz Schütz performed "The Swan" by Saint-Saëns.

Later, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko enjoyed the music festival's concert.

Photos: Mainichi, Asahi, Getty, Getty 2

Empress Emerita plays the piano with Vienna Philharmonic flutist | Nippon TV NEWS24 JAPAN
Full performance starts at 0:30
 
Last edited:
On September 1st, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko enjoyed a concert by the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at Suntory Hall in Minato, Tokyo. The concert celebrates the 150th anniversary of Japan-Hungary relations and was conducted by Ken’ichiro Kobayashi.

Before the concert, Empress Emerita Michiko was examined for breast cancer surgery at the University of Tokyo Hospital. [Jiji]

AP Images

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190901/lif1909010038-p1.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDZPPo1U0AIBYYK.jpg
 
Last edited:
Empress Emerita Michiko will undergo surgery for breast cancer on September 8th at the University of Tokyo Hospital. She'll be admitted to the hospital on the 7th for a preoperative examination.

Source: Mainichi

Empress Emerita Michiko to Have Breast Cancer Surgery Sun. | Nippon.com
[...] The former Empress has been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, with no clear signs of cancer metastasis, according to the agency.

[...]

In the surgery, cancerous tissue will be removed from the Empress Emerita under general anesthesia, while her breast is planned to be conserved.

The operation will be jointly conducted by doctors from the Shizuoka Cancer Center and the university hospital.
Click to expand...
Empress Emerita to undergo surgery on Sunday | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
[...] The surgery is expected to take about four hours. She will be given general anesthesia.

She will likely be able to leave the hospital in several days. [...]
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
On September 7th, Empress Emerita Michiko was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital for breast cancer surgery scheduled for 10am on Sunday. [Sankei]

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190907/lif1909070026-p1.jpg
https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2019/09/07/20190907k0000m040073000p/9.jpg
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20190907000887_comm.jpg
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20190907000888_comm.jpg

Empress Emerita in hospital for surgery | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
[...] She was welcomed by the hospital chief on her arrival. She nodded to journalists and headed for her room.

She will go through checkups and treatments for her surgery on Saturday.

A health checkup in July revealed a tumorous lump in the mammary gland of her left breast.

The diagnosis was stage one cancer that does not appear to have spread.

Surgeons from the hospital and the Shizuoka Cancer Center will remove the tumor on Sunday. It is expected to take about four hours under general anesthesia.

[...]

Emperor Emeritus Akihito is scheduled to visit the hospital on Sunday and sometime after the operation. He is reportedly worried the Empress Emerita will be alone.

The Empress Emerita is expected to leave the hospital in several days
Click to expand...
 
Sending my best wishes for a safe surgery, and a quick and complete recovery to the Empress Emerita, and hoping that she will be back home soon.
 
Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited his wife Empress Emerita Michiko before her 10am breast cancer surgery on September 8th. He arrived at the University of Tokyo Hospital around 9:30am. He visited the retired Empress with their daughter Sayako Kuroda. The retired Emperor returned to Fukiage Sento Imperial Palace and will go back to the hospital after the operation.

Asahi gallery, AP Images

Empress Emerita undergoes breast cancer surgery | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
[...] Emperor Emeritus Akihito entered her hospital room ahead of the surgery on Sunday. He and the couple's only daughter, Sayako Kuroda, reportedly accompanied the Empress Emerita to the operating theater.

The Imperial Household Agency plans to announce the results of the surgery later on Sunday.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
In evening of September 8th, the IHA announced the post-surgical progress of Empress Emerita Michiko's breast cancer operation:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed and initial results show no metastasis, so axillary lymph node dissection was not performed
- Size of tumor was less than 1cm
- Total area removed was about 5cm
- Final pathology report is expected in 1-2 weeks
- Any adjuvant therapy depends on pathology report, possibly hormone therapy

Emperor Emeritus Akihito received the news with his daughter Sayako Kuroda at the hospital and is relieved. The surgery progress was reported to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako who were visiting Akita Prefecture and the Crown Prince Akishino couple.

Sources: Sankei, Jiji, NHK
 
Last edited:
This is very good preliminary news, and here's hoping that the pathology report is an excellent one.

I hope Michiko is resting comfortably and will soon be home.
 
Empress Emerita to Leave Hospital on Tuesday | Nippon.com
Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko, who underwent successful surgery to remove cancer in her left breast on Sunday, will be discharged from hospital on Tuesday afternoon, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday.

[...]

She has not been able to eat properly, but she is gradually regaining her appetite, the agency said. Also, she left her hospital room and walked in the hallway on Monday, it said.

Her husband, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, visited the hospital Monday afternoon for the second straight day. [...]
Click to expand...
Empress Emerita to leave hospital on Tuesday | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

ETA: Empress Emerita Michiko was discharged from University of Tokyo Hospital after 2pm on September 10th.

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190910/lif1909100023-p1.jpg
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20190910/K10012073491_1909101511_1909101517_01_02.jpg
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20190910002338_comm.jpg
https://twitter.com/x/status/1171310937720012800
https://twitter.com/x/status/1171312665030987776
 
Last edited:
It's nice to see the Empress Emerita looking very much herself. I hope she'll be able to regain her appetite and her strength now that she is home. There's something about hospitals that just kills the appetite even in the best cases.
 
Excellent news!

Empress Emerita's Breast Cancer Completely Removed | Nippon.com
Japanese Empress Emerita Michiko's breast cancer has been completely removed and no metastasis was observed, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.

The agency announced the result of the final pathology examination of the 84-year-old former Empress [...]

Her postoperative progress has been smooth, the agency said.

The Empress Emerita will skip radiation therapy because the risk of cancer coming back is low. She will undergo hormone therapy to prevent female hormones that could cause breast cancer to grow, the agency said.

[...]
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
The retired Imperial couple are greatly saddened by the devastation of Typhoon No.19. Most of Empress Emerita Michiko's birthday events on October 20 will be cancelled. The celebration was already simplified in consideration of the enthronement but now, only the birthday luncheon with the Emperor Naruhito's family, Akishino family, and Kuroda couple will be held.

Sources: Sankei, Jiji
 
Empress Emerita Michiko turns 85 on October 20th.

Asahi gallery, IHA

Empress Emerita Michiko turns 85 | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
[...] The Imperial Household Agency says both the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita are pleased to see Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako fulfilling their duties.

The agency quoted the couple as hoping that the enthronement ceremony next week will end in a success.

The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita are paying attention to the situation in disaster-hit regions.

[...]

The couple now lives in peace, walking together in the morning and dining together three times a day.

The agency says the couple is also preparing for the switch of residences with the Emperor's family by the end of March. [...]
Click to expand...
Empress Emerita Michiko turns 85, worries about typhoon victims: The Asahi Shimbun
[...] The empress emerita treasures her time with Emperor Emeritus Akihito and always eats together with her husband, the agency said.

Her daily life now revolves around preparations to relocate to the Takanawa residence, where the couple will stay temporarily before moving into the renovated Togu Palace on the Akasaka Estate, both in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, according to the agency.

Michiko and Akihito are scheduled to move to the Takanawa residence by the end of March after the completion of New Year’s-related ceremonies. [...]
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko are at the Bronze Rugby Final match between Wales and New Zealand. They were just shown on TV. The match is taking place in Tokyo.
 
Last edited:
:previous: Looking good! Nice to see Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the match.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

iceflower
  • Sticky
The Imperial Family of Japan: Birthday and Anniversary Wishes 2024
Replies
4
Views
542
Blog Real
Blog Real
iceflower
King Frederik X, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
64
Views
8K
polyesco
P
iceflower
Queen Mary, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
61
Views
8K
Sister Morphine
Sister Morphine
Hans-Rickard
Crown Prince Christian, News and Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
Replies
28
Views
6K
MARG
MARG
Hans-Rickard
King Frederik X and Queen Mary, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
Replies
11
Views
3K
Toledo
Toledo

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom