Tokyo ( CNN ) -- Japan 's 77-year-old emperor was hospitalized on Sunday , several days after coming down with a fever , a spokesperson with the Imperial Household Agency said . Emperor Akihito , a ceremonial but revered figure in the Japan , was suffering from a worsening case of bronchitis and the fever he contracted Thursday , according to the spokesperson , who declined to be identified due to the agency 's media protocol . `` He appears to be fatigued and has lost some resistance to fight against sickness , '' the spokesperson said . `` To be on the safe side , he was hospitalized ( Sunday night ) at University of Tokyo Hospital . '' It is the emperor 's second time in a hospital this year , after getting medical treatment in February for extensive tests of his coronary arteries . Japan 's Cabinet on Sunday approved a measure to temporarily elevate Crown Prince Naruhito to the role of emperor and give him power over all the responsibilities that position entails , according to a person at the Cabinet office , who also was not named per policy . Akihito : The 125th Emperor of Japan . Born in Tokyo in December 1933 into a family that eventually consisted of seven children , Akihito became crown prince in 1952 -- the same year he enrolled at Gakushuin University , according to his official biography . Seven years later , he married then-crown princess , and now Empress Michiko , and together they raised three children . On January 7 , 1989 , following the death of his father Hirohito , Akihito became emperor . The position , per Japan 's constitution , is defined as `` the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people . '' That said , the office 's involvement in day-to-day government affairs tends to be minimal . Yet Emperor Akihito broke from precedent following Japan 's epic 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami earlier this year , when he gave a historic , televised speech . In it , he encouraged citizens to put forth their `` best effort to save all suffering people '' and he applauded his countrymen 's handling of the crisis . `` I truly hope the victims of the disaster never give up hope , take care of themselves , and live strong for tomorrow , '' he said in a calm and poignant oration delivered from the Imperial Palace . `` Also , I want all citizens of Japan to remember everyone who has been affected by the devastation , not only today but for a long time afterwards -- and help with the recovery . ''
Emperor Akihito , however , came down with a cold Thursday , an imperial spokesperson says . He also has been suffering from a worsening form of diabetes . He appeared ` ` times and lost some resistance , '' adds the spokesperson . Born in 1933 , he became emperor in 1989 .