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Emperor found to have enlarged prostate

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23 Comments
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Wish him a speedy recovery (if that’s possible), he always has a nice smile that dude.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Give him some privacy!!!

7 ( +15 / -8 )

It may be a hereditary thing. His father, the Emperor Emeritus, had prostate cancer and had a prostatectomy operation some years ago.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Good that there is no cause of concern, with luck the examination will find nothing to worry about. One family member had unusual growth that the doctors wanted to keep under vigilance, it remained that way for over 20 years until he died of completely unrelated causes.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Each and every human being deserves and is entitled to a minimum degree of privacy. If I had an enlarged prostate I would decide that only members of my family know about it. And, certainly, not the whole world.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Traditional Japanese style slow news release?

Last week we were told he had an examination.

This week his prostrate is enlarged.

Next month the cancer surgery?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

@Stephen Chin: As you have said repeatedly. However, it's so important to raise awareness of this particular problem in men of a certain age. Anytime someone prominent in public life has an issue it's an ideal time to advertise it. I guarantee that because of this many men in Japan will get themselves checked out over the coming weeks.

It's the same when a prominent female is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, There is flood of woman who then get themselves checked ultimately saving untold lives with an early diagnosis.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Give him some privacy!!!

I agree. Unless there is some threat to him, illnesses should be a private thing.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

People care about him and he is the head of state so we should know if he is ill.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Next we'll be hearing of his difficulties at the urinal or, worse, in the bedroom. LEAVE THE MAN ALONE! If HE wants to comment on it, that should be HIS choice and in HIS voice. Disease is NOT a spectator sport... and despite being a 'public figure', he has an absolute RIGHT to privacy in his personal affairs. Given what political power he has, his health is of no concern to anyone but his family and, whatever happens, will have little effect on the lives of those whose almost prurient intrusiveness fuel this 'interest'.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

His lifestyle is funded by the public so the public have a right to know.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Hopefully this very public discussion of his health worries will inspire other people to undergo opportune examinations. It must be difficult as a public figure to be subjected to this level of scrutiny, but if it can have a positive effect in the population then it may be worth it.

Maybe in following years there will be a positive blip in the number of detections and a negative one in the number of deaths because of prostatic cancer.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

He might live on tax payers money but that’s it! Not his choice. He and his families lives, their Heath has no effect on tax payers. Leave them alone! What is the message here? Pray at a Shrine for his prostrate? It’s not our business.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't get it. With a country so obsessed with privacy, news of the Emperor getting a prostate exam, then having an enlarged prostate are widely published news.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean cancer but it does cause urine release problems squeezing the tube.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

NickPrimeToday  07:55 am JST

Good that there is no cause of concern, with luck the examination will find nothing to worry about. One family member had unusual growth that the doctors wanted to keep under vigilance, it remained that way for over 20 years until he died of completely unrelated causes.

As an American, I am anti-royalist to the hilt, but I wish a speedy recovery for the Emperor and we should respect his privacy. And pray he gets thru it OK with no complications. I'm glad that his condition is not a cause of concern.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And why is this anyone's business but his own?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is hardly news - why not announce he has wrinkles as well? 70% to 80% of men over 60 (at least) have enlarged prostates. That means it will take him longer to pee than it used to. Welcome to the club.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Good grief. Why would they announce this? Some things are meant to be kept private, public figure or not.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

News about the serious illness of an important individual will give publicity to the illness and save many lives! Do we not care for the feelings of an emperor who may have a serious illness because news about his illness is publicised in a widely read newspaper such as Japan Today? It s the duty of the medical profession to publicise and educate and remind the public on health to save lives.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Purple....

Good grief. Why would they announce this?

As I said, maybe it's traditional Japanese slow release of bad news.....

The public is now aware of a problem. If it's announced that the problem is more serious, they will be less shocked.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I believe it is reported because like his father he wants it reported.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The news would be if a 62-year-old man didn't have an enlarged prostate. It's super duper extremely very common in older men. It's important to get an annual PSA test, which is the best early detector of prostate cancer.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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