Japan PM’s health in question as rumours swirl, successors jostle

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly vomited blood in his office last month and had what aides say was a ‘routine medical check-up’ on Monday

The 65-year-old – the country’s longest-serving elected head – has suffered from ill health in the past, fuelling speculation he may need to step down

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, centre, leaves Keio University Hospital in Tokyo on Monday amid speculation about his health. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 4:00pm, 18 Aug 2020Updated: 11:01pm, 18 Aug 2020

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spent more than seven hours at a Tokyo hospital on Monday for what his aides have been at pains to insist was a routine medical check-up, though this has not ended speculation about the 65-year-old’s health and who might replace him if he has to step down.

Abe, who became the country’s longest-serving prime minister in November, had his first stint in charge cut short in September 2007 after just 366 days, in part because he was chronically ill with ulcerative colitis.

He has since been able to manage the disease thanks to a medication that was previously unavailable in Japan, and went on to lead his Liberal Democratic Party to victory in 2012’s general election – holding on to the top job in the world’s third largest economy ever since.

Abe was discharged from Tokyo’s Keio University Hospital at around 6pm on Monday after a battery of tests, the prime minister’s office confirmed to local media, and returned to his home in the capital. He did not reply to shouted questions upon his discharge.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, third from left, leaves Keio University Hospital on Monday. Photo: Kyodo

Typically, Abe has undergone hospital check-ups about once every six months, but his previous visit was only two months ago, on June 13. Government officials played down reports that he was seriously ill after a news magazine reported that he had vomited blood at his office on July 6 and cancelled his engagements for the rest of the day. It was also pointed out that he had failed to attend any parliamentary sessions or given any press conferences for more than a month.