Japan's Imperial Household Agency has announced that Emperor Emeritus Akihito will be hospitalized in Tokyo on Tuesday for a heart examination.



The agency says that the Emperor Emeritus underwent a regular checkup at the Imperial Household Hospital in mid-April, and showed signs of possible myocardial ischemia. The condition occurs when blood flow from the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is insufficient.



Agency officials say he had not noticed any symptoms, such as chest pains, but after reexamination, he was diagnosed with a high probability of myocardial ischemia on Sunday.



They say the 91-year-old Emperor Emeritus will be admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital for a more detailed examination.



The Emperor Emeritus underwent coronary bypass surgery after being diagnosed with angina in 2012, when he was 78.



In July 2022, he was diagnosed with right heart failure. He began taking medication and restricting his fluid intake.



The agency says the Emperor Emeritus will postpone plans to stay at the Hayama Imperial Villa in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, from Thursday.