Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi was conscious during an April 2 visit by Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki to Juntendo University Hospital, shortly after his collapse, hospital doctors confirmed Sunday.
It was the first time hospital staff have spoken to the media after Obuchi was admitted to hospital.
"(The prime minister's) senses were not crystal clear," said neurologist Yoshikuni Mizuno. "But he was sufficiently in charge of his faculties to answer questions in simple words."
The doctors also denied that Obuchi had been brain dead during his hospitalization, as had been reported.
During their meeting, which lasted five or six minutes, Aoki claimed that Obuchi told him to "take care of things should something go wrong, given such concerns as the ongoing eruption of (Hokkaido's Mount Usu.)"
Doctors said during Sunday's news conference that they were surprised at Aoki's claims since it would have been difficult for Obuchi to speak such a long sentence. However, they said they did not give the matter a great deal of attention as they were busy discussing how Obuchi should be treated.
Obuchi's condition worsened soon after Aoki's visit; he vomited and lost consciousness. After a brain scan conducted shortly before 8:00 p.m., doctors said they were able to confirm that he had suffered a stroke.