Empress Emerita Michiko, wife of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, celebrated her 90th birthday on Sunday while undergoing rehabilitation following a recent leg injury. A simplified celebration was to take place at the Sento Imperial Palace in Tokyo to mark the occasion.

The former empress sustained a fractured right femur after a fall at the palace on Oct. 6 and later underwent surgery at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

After a successful procedure, she was discharged on Oct. 13 and has since been focusing on rehabilitation, spending over an hour each day working toward regaining independent mobility. She is making steady progress and could eventually walk with the help of a cane, according to an aide.