Prince Akishino, who turned 39 on Tuesday, expressed regret that his elder brother, Crown Prince Naruhito, commented in public about the health of his wife without consulting Emperor Akihito.
"I myself was surprised at the remarks in no small measure, and I heard the Emperor was also very surprised," Prince Akishino said in reply to questions from the Imperial Household Agency press corps prior to his birthday.
"I think he should only have made those remarks after first talking to the Emperor about what he planned to say in his meeting with the press. So I think it's a pity," the prince said.