Japanese PM’S second hospital visit in a week adds to health fears

SHINZO ABE, Japan’s prime minister, visited a Tokyo hospital for the second time in a week yesterday, fuelling concerns about the state of his health.

It came on the day he became the nation’s longest serving prime minister in terms of consecutive days, an achievement overshadowed by persistent speculation surrounding his health.

Government officials played down his four-hour visit to Keio Hospital, with one aide telling media that it was a “regular health check-up”, during which Mr Abe, 65, was due to discuss previous test results.

However, the visit was the focus of intense media scrutiny, with Nippon TV alleging that he was receiving treatment for a chronic illness, citing multiple anonymous government sources.

After leaving hospital, Mr Abe reiterated to reporters his determination to continue as leader, as he marked 2,799 uninterrupted days in post, breaking a previous record set by his great uncle nearly half a century earlier. “Today I learned more about last week’s test, and I’ve taken an additional test,” he said. “While seeing to my health, I would like to do my best in my work.”

“Politics is not about how many days one has stayed in office, but what one has accomplished.

“I have fully devoted myself every day to realising the made to the people.”

The current focus on Mr Abe’s health condition was initially triggered by a magazine report last month that he had recently vomited blood, prompting widespread media speculation about his well-being.

Mr Abe is known to suffer from colitis,

Ian incurable inflammatory bowel disease, which led to his first stint as prime minister ending in 2007 after little more than a year in office.

He returned to power in 2012 after his condition was reportedly brought under control with the help of a new drug, marking the start of his current second tenure.