February 10, 2012 10:30 PM

Japanese Emperor Akihito hospitalized for tests

Japanese Emperor Akihito delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 150-day ordinary parliament session at the house of councilors in Tokyo on January 24, 2012. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda delivered his policy speech that he will move to double sales tax to ten percent, saying the future of the world's third largest economy depends on turning back a rising tide of public debt. (TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)

TOKYO - Japan's Imperial Household Agency says Emperor Akihito has been hospitalized for tests.

An agency official says that the 78-year-old Akihito was admitted to University of Tokyo Hospital on Saturday for testing, but that the visit was not an emergency.

Akihito has had various health problems in recent years, including pneumonia and prostate cancer. He has cut back on public duties but appears relatively healthy.

According to Kyodo News agency, the emperor will get tests for his heart, which may be suffering from a deficient blood supply.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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