Emperor Akihito not to hold pre-birthday press conference+

TOKYO, Dec. 16 Kyodo -
Emperor Akihito, who recently suffered from bleeding in the stomach apparently
due to mental stress, will not hold a press conference this year on the
occasion of his Dec. 23 birthday, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.

The annual event has offered a once-a-year opportunity for reporters at the
agency's press club to directly hear the emperor's thoughts and opinions, and
the reporters had asked the agency to give them the chance this year as well.
But the agency canceled the event in order to reduce strain and stress on the
74-year-old emperor as much as possible. It will instead release a statement
concerning his feelings, the agency said.
The emperor, who turns 75 next Tuesday, canceled some of his duties earlier
this month due to irregular pulse and high blood pressure.
The recent health checks found traces of bleeding and erosion all over his
stomach and duodenum, and the symptoms have been blamed on mental and physical
stress.
==Kyodo