Empress Michiko apparently has cough-variant asthma but will proceed with her official duties as scheduled while receiving medication, the Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday.
The agency said the Empress will be treated with medication for at least two to three months in order to prevent the ailment from developing into bronchial asthma.
There were no abnormalities in an X-ray of her lungs that she underwent along with a medical examination Tuesday at the Imperial Household Agency hospital, it said.
The Empress has aggravated fatigue after meeting foreign-bound Japanese envoys for five consecutive days from Aug. 30, a pace higher than previous years, amid the summer heat, according to the agency.