Crown Princess Kiko of Japan advised to rest for one to two months

Crown Princess Kiko of Japan has been advised to rest for one to two months following her bout of bad health.

The Crown Princess underwent an endoscopy on 10 January to help doctors determine the source of her illness. No abnormalities were found that could be related to her gastrointestinal issues.

Ultimately, the doctor determined she is suffering from a functional disorder and needs rest for her system to adjust.

Despite this, Kiko will still attend the Imperial New Year Lectures (Kousho Hajime) on 11 January at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after consultations with her physicians.

Crown Princess Kiko has been ill since the end of 2023 and has been unable to eat full meals. Both COVID-19 and the flu were ruled out as causes after testing.

The Imperial Household Agency announced on 6 January that Kiko had not been well since late last year and was unable to eat normal meals. They also announced that they were considering further testing to determine what was making her sick.

Kiko is married to Crown Prince Akishino, who is the heir to the throne as women are barred from succession. As such, Emperor Naruhito’s only child, Princess Aiko, cannot succeed him.