Empress is healthy again: palace

Empress Michiko has recovered from recent health problems that included intestinal bleeding, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.

The 72-year-old wife of Emperor Akihito had a cold with a high fever in mid-February. Later she developed bleeding in her intestine and nose, and had mouth ulcers.

The agency said in early March her condition is believed to have been caused by "psychological fatigue." A close aid to the Empress said at the time that she appeared to have been upset by gossip magazine articles about the Imperial family.

Some of the Empress' official duties were canceled and she spent eight days recuperating at the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Stock Farm in Tochigi Prefecture.

"Her condition improved gradually but firmly, and it's been two weeks now since the symptoms we disclosed earlier disappeared," said Ichiro Kanazawa, the agency's medical supervisor.