Japanese Emperor Akihito turned 76 on Wednesday, wishing his people an early economic recovery in the coming year and voicing hope that the country would not be crippled by a resurgent swine flu pandemic.

本周三，日本明仁天皇迎来了他76岁的生日。他祝愿来年日本经济早日复苏，并表示希望日本免遭新一轮甲型流感的袭击。

An image of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on his birthday. He wishes his people an early economic recovery in the coming year and voicing hope that the country would not be crippled by a resurgent swine flu pandemic.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is the plight困境，境况 of the many people who are facing difficulties due to the severe economic conditions in our country, triggered by the global financial crisis," he said in a birthday statement.

"It grieves悲痛，忧伤 my heart that there are people who have even lost their homes."

The emperor added: "In autumn, there was an increase in the number of patients infected by the new strain of influenza流行性感冒 H1N1... I am concerned as to how the situation will turn out in the coming year.

"I am hoping that preventive measures such as the implementation履行，实现 of the flu vaccine疫苗 will prevent a pandemic流行病."

The son of wartime emperor Hirohito said he had been in a good health in a year in which he marked 20 years on the Chrysanthemum⁵菊花 Throne and 50 years of marriage to Empress Michiko.

"My health is now better than it was last December, and I would like to spend the coming year as I did this year and I will try not to give people cause for concern."

The emperor underwent a surgery to remove prostate前列腺 cancer in 2003 and suffered an irregular pulse不规则脉搏，心律失常 last year, and the palace has lightened his schedule of official functions.

Nearly 24,000 people visited the palace in the morning alone, the largest number since 1989, when he took the throne登基，加冕 of the world's oldest monarchy⁶君主政体, the palace said.

The emperor greeted the flag-waving wellwishers, appearing three times on the glass-shielded balcony阳台，包厢 with the empress皇后，女皇.

Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, as well as the emperor's second son Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, joined him on the balcony.