Celebrating Empress Emerita Michiko As She Turns 90

On October 20, Empress Emerita Michiko celebrated her 90th birthday. Earlier this month, on October 6, she fell at her residence, the Sento Imperial Residence (Minato Ward, Tokyo). After undergoing surgery for a fractured right femur, she was discharged from the hospital on October 13. Since then, she has been continuing rehabilitation for walking. 

The Empress Emerita attended the celebration event on October 20 at the Sento Imperial Residence in a wheelchair. There, she received congratulations from Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress.

A Year of Observations

On the occasion of her birthday, the Imperial Household Agency shared updates on the Empress Emerita's past year. She expressed her sorrow over the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on New Year's Day. Moreover, she has been increasingly concerned about the affected areas in light of the record rainfall in September. 

This year, she has quietly observed the growth of the Emperor and Empress's eldest daughter, Princess Aiko, who graduated from university. Her Majesty has also been observing the development of Prince Hisahito, the 18-year-old son of Prince and Princess Akishino.

Path to Recovery

Concerns about Empress Emerita's physical strength had grown even before her hospitalization, as she increasingly paused during her walks. At her residence, she currently receives support from physical therapists and actively participates in daily rehabilitation sessions. 

She has also resumed her routine of reading books aloud with the Emperor Emeritus.

A close aide remarked, "She has a deep desire to support the Emperor Emeritus. It appears she is tackling her rehabilitation with a positive mindset, aiming to walk more swiftly."

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Read the article in Japanese.

Author: The Sankei Shimbun