Hirohito Views Festival Moon in a Mirror
- Share via
TOKYO — Despite his illness, Emperor Hirohito viewed the moon through a mirror from his palace sickbed to mark Sunday’s traditional moon-viewing festival.
“The moon is a little bit chipped,” the 87-year-old emperor quipped to his stewards, palace officials said. Usually on festival nights he observes the moon directly from a palace terrace.
The officials said that Hirohito, fighting for his life after five weeks of internal bleeding, lost a small amount of blood in the morning, but his condition remained unchanged. Doctors have given Hirohito about 20 pints of blood since Sept. 19.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
