Emperor Akihito, ahead of his 76th birthday Wednesday, reflected on the past year and said he feels his health has improved, but he will continue to work with a lighter schedule as a precautionary measure.
"My health is now better than it was last December, and I would like to spend the coming year as I did this year (with a lighter schedule and fewer functions), and I will try not to give people cause for concern," the Emperor said in a statement issued by the Imperial Household Agency.
The Emperor usually takes questions from reporters and answers them at a news conference prior to his birthday, but because he and Empress Michiko gave a news conference last month for the 20th anniversary of his enthronement, the agency decided not to hold another one this year.