Japanese Empress Michiko diagnosed with acute bronchitis

[TOKYO] Japanese Empress Michiko, 82, was diagnosed with acute bronchitis last Friday after suffering a slight fever and cough, an official at the Imperial Household Agency said on Monday.

The empress cancelled a planned appearance at a karate event on Sunday and rested at her residence in the Imperial Palace, according to the official She has had a cough since November and had an X-ray examination early this month but no abnormality was found, local media said.

The empress is the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family when she wed Emperor Akihito in 1959.

REUTERS