TOKYO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Japan's Crown Princess Masako released a message as she celebrated her 41st birthday Thursday, saying her condition was improving.
"I've had some hard times, but I feel that my condition is gradually getting better," she said. "It may still take some time before I can fully resume my official duties, but I want to work toward recovery so that I can quickly show myself in a healthy state," reported the Mainichi Shimbun Thursday.
Since September the Crown Princess has increased the number of her personal outings, and is reportedly walking and exercising more than before.
Hideki Hayashida, a top aide to the Crown Prince and Princess, passed on comments by doctors, who said that although she was improving, she was still suffering from a sleeping disorder, with a disrupted sleeping rhythm.
Crown Princess Masako was admitted to hospital a year ago to be treated for shingles. Later it was announced that she suffered from an "adjustment disorder" that caused headaches and sleeplessness.
