Crown Prince to fill in for duties of sick Emperor

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito will temporarily take over the duties of state affairs for his ailing father, the Emperor.

Emperor Akihito was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital on Sunday evening for bronchitis complicated by persistent fever. He entered the hospital accompanied by Empress Michiko.

The 77-year-old Emperor saw doctors earlier in the day and was recommended to stay in the hospital as precaution.

After developing a fever due to a cold on Thursday, he cancelled his attendance at a tea party with recipients of the Order of Culture and Persons of Cultural Merit. The Emperor did not attend a national convention of supporters for people with mental disabilities on Sunday.

The Emperor has had a persistent mild form of bronchitis, but accumulated fatigue is believed to have weakened his immunity and worsened the symptoms.

While the Emperor is in the hospital, Crown Prince Naruhito will take his father's place in awarding this fall's Orders recipients in a ceremony on Monday.

The Crown Prince will be standing in for the Emperor for the first time since January 2003, when his father had surgery for prostate cancer.

The Crown Prince is also expected to attend the 100th anniversary of a donation of forestland by the Meiji Emperor, scheduled for November 13th in Yamanashi Prefecture.