Japanese emperor hosts garden party for 2,000

Japanese Emperor Akihito, left, and Empress Michiko, second from left, greet guests during a spring garden party hosted by the Japanese monarch at the Akasaka Palace Imperial Garden in Tokyo on April 19, 2012.

/ AP

(CBS News) Japanese Emperor Akihito hosted his annual garden party for 2,000 people Thursday, just days after resuming his official schedule following heart bypass surgery.

Pictures: Emperor Akihito

With Empress Michiko at his side, the 78-year-old ruler strolled through the the Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo, stopping to chat with guests, according to Kyodo News.

Guests included the former head of the Japan Sumo Association, the leaders overseeing recovery work following the massive earthquake and tsunami last year and astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, who returned in November from a six-month stay on the International Space Station.

The emperor has been in ill health for several months. He was hospitalized in late 2011 for pneumonia and in February underwent open heart surgery. He returned to the hospital twice during his recovery to have his lungs drained. Akihito resumed full duties nine days ago.