TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Akihito celebrated his 79th birthday Sunday and said
he’s concerned about the country’s aging population.
Akihito sympathized with the
elderly in the country’s snowy northern region who are facing their second
winter since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the coastal area.
Akihito and Empress Michiko spent nearly two months last year visiting disaster
evacuees.
“One of the social issues of
concern is the rapidly aging population. I believe that the problem is
particularly serious in rural areas far away from the cities,” Akihito said in
a birthday statement. He noted that among many of Japan’s dozens of
snow-related fatalities last year were elderly people who died while shoveling
snow.
“I myself noticed that I have
become more prone to tripping while I was walking on mountain paths in recent
years,” he said.
Akihito also said his recovery
from heart bypass surgery last February has taught him that exercise is
important for the elderly to stay fit. Following his doctors’ advice, he
continues his morning strolls and exercises regularly.
“I realized the importance of
rehabilitation,” he said. “I had heard that among elderly (disaster) evacuees,
those who used to be engaged in physical work such as agriculture or fishery
became ill when there was little physical activity in their lives. After my
surgery and rehabilitation, I could see how true this was.”
Studies show that changes in
lifestyle and lack of exercise have caused many elderly evacuees to fall ill or
develop dementia. In the year following the disasters, the number of people in
a dozen disaster-hit coastal towns certified as care recipients increased by 20
percent from the previous year, to more than 4,000, according to Iwate
prefecture (state).
Akihito, a longtime tennis
player, said he had trouble just running and hitting the ball when he returned
to the sport after his surgery. Now, 10 months later, he can play nearly as
well as he used to, he said.
He said he is so fit now that he
is not considering reducing his public duties.
“I would like to maintain the
status quo for the time being,” he said.
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