Emperor Akihito released from intensive care

Japan's Emperor Akihito has been released from intensive care after undergoing a heart bypass at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Japan's Emperor Akihito has left intensive care after undergoing heart surgery.

The 78-year-old royal - who was hospitalised last year after suffering with pneumonia - thanked operating surgeons at the University of Tokyo Hospital following the procedure on Saturday morning (18.02.12).

At a press conference held after the bypass, doctors said: "The operation was performed by the best team. The emperor's post-operative condition has been stable."

The surgery took four hours to complete and Minoru Ono, professor of cardiac surgery at the hospital said the operation was carried out normally.

He said: "We held careful discussions before the surgery, so our teamwork was good and we didn't feel pressure. I believe we were able to conduct the operation as usual."

Despite its success, the royal will have to stay in hospital for the next two weeks.

In 2009 the emperor was forced to reduce the amount of official duties he carried out after his health began to decline.

A statement on the Imperial Household Agency website read: "We have been considering official duties and rituals with a view to reducing the burden on their majesties and have now come up with a summary of the results of these deliberations."