Crown Prince Naruhito has canceled a plan to visit France this month for the World Water Forum to be held in Marseille, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday.
The Crown Prince will concentrate on covering Emperor Akihito's affairs of state, as the 78-year-old Emperor will rest until the end of this month after being discharged Sunday from University of Tokyo Hospital, where he underwent heart bypass surgery and rehabilitation.
A researcher on water transportation systems and water-related issues, the Crown Prince planned to give a speech on water-related disasters in connection with last March's earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan at the forum, to be held from March 12 to 17.