Emperor turns 79, concerned about aging Japan

By Mari Yamaguchi

Published December 23, 2012 7:41am ET

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Emperor turns 79, concerned about aging Japan — Japan's Emperor Akihito waves to a crowd of well-wishers through the bulletproof glass of a balcony, during a morning appearance to mark his 79th birthday, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) | Shizuo Kambayashi

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Akihito celebrated his 79th birthday Sunday and said he’s concerned about the country’s aging population.

Akihito sympathized with the elderly in the country’s snowy northern region who are facing their second winter since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the coastal area. Akihito and Empress Michiko spent nearly two months last year visiting disaster evacuees.

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