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Rare interview
The Japanese imperial court rarely allows for truly private insights. But on her 78th birthday, Empress Michiko just gave one of her rare official interviews, in which she openly talked about the concern for her husband, Emperor Akihito (78).
He was hospitalized last November with severe pneumonia - only to undergo a heart surgery in February immediately after recovery.
It really did not do the Japanese Emperor good. After surgery, Akihito had water in his lungs, says Empress Michiko . "Sometimes I was worried that His Majesty would ever recover." This time has been "very worrying, " admits the Empress on the website of the imperial court.
But bit by bit, Emperor Akihito did better. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the doctors and their teams, " says Michiko. In addition, she thanks all those who prayed for the Emperor, all people who have sent their wishes for recovery around the world. And that is by no means just a formality for her. Although it is well known that the Japanese have a very good courtesy, this is also a very private concern for Empress Michiko.
When she saw her husband Akihito with Queen Elizabeth (86) at the celebrations of her throne jubilee, she had been "very happy". He had recovered and was able to attend the appointments that were important to him.
Also on the first anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake, which had devastating effects on Fukushima, the Emperor wanted to be fit again - and it was.
In the future, they want to pay more attention to their health, says Empress Michiko. But basically, you will continue to live like before. And then the Empress once again becomes quite private: "Even though I sometimes have complaints and pains and sometimes feel uncomfortable, I learn to cope with them somehow, I hope that I spend the next few days quiet and peaceful together with His Majesty can. "
