House of Representatives member Taro Kono entered a hospital Tuesday for tests to determine if he can give part of his liver to his father, former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, who has hepatitis C, his office said.
Taro Kono, a 39-year-old parliamentary secretary at the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, will remain in the hospital until Friday, his office and the ministry said.
If he is able to give part of his liver to his 65-year-old father, a transplant operation will be conducted later this month or early in May, the office said. That would enable him to resume his duties after the Golden Week holidays, which end May 6.
Yohei Kono's liver has worsened due to accumulated fatigue, according to sources close to the family. He served as foreign minister twice and heads a small faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.