It was announced by the Imperial Household Agency that His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan will undergo another procedure to remove fluid in his chest. Twelve days ago the 78-year-old emperor had the same procedure after having heart bypass surgery on February 18, 2012.

According to the IHA, Emperor Akihito still suffers from “…shortness of breath during exercises, apparently due to fluids remaining in the left of his chest…”  The second procedure will be performed on March 20, 2012, at the Imperial Household Hospital.

Source: The Japan Times via Imperial Household Agency (IHA)