Japanese Emperor Akihito canceled his public duties Monday after feeling dizzy and nauseous due to "cerebral anemia," insufficient blood circulation in the brain, the Imperial Household Agency said.
The 84-year-old emperor complained around 4 a.m. that he was feeling sick and Empress Michiko called a palace doctor as he was drenched in sweat, according to the agency.
All of the emperor's duties scheduled for Monday have been postponed after the doctor judged that he needs bed rest at the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, it said, adding he does not have a fever.
A senior government official said the emperor is "not in such a situation that we have to worry."
On Monday, the imperial couple were supposed to meet Princess Ayako, the youngest daughter of Emperor Akihito's late cousin Prince Takamado, ahead of the agency's formal announcement of her engagement to a businessman.
The empress met alone with Princess Ayako and her mother, Princess Hisako, conveying a congratulatory message from the emperor, according to the agency.
The emperor was not in bad shape on Sunday, an aide said, noting that he had a meeting with a group of volunteers who clean the palace and also went out due to a personal matter.
The emperor is set to step down on April 30 next year in the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in about two centuries.
