Emperor Akihito is expected to resume his official duties as early as Tuesday after making steady progress recovering from heart bypass surgery, the Imperial Household Agency said.

The Emperor's duties were delegated to Crown Prince Naruhito just before the operation in February, agency officials said Monday.

Health checks Monday showed that the Emperor, 78, is recuperating steadily, and the request to resume his duties will be approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, they said.

The Emperor delegated his duties to the Crown Prince on Feb. 17, the day before his surgery.