Japanese leader hospitalised for stress

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was hospitalised today for stress and exhaustion, a day after announcing his resignation, his doctors said.

There had previously been speculation that health troubles prompted him to step down.

Toshifumi Hibi, a doctor at Keio University Hospital, said Abe would stay for at least three or four days for treatment of abdominal pains, exhaustion and other symptoms of “psychological stress”.

Abe, 52, announced yesterday he would quit, citing political reasons. Other government officials, however, including chief cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, said Abe suffered from unspecified health issues that contributed to his departure.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has conclusively ruled out running to succeed Shinzo Abe, Kyodo News agency reported today.

A group of politicians from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have been clamouring for the popular Koizumi to replace Abe but Kyodo reported Koizumi refused.

“I 100-percent will not run in the LDP presidential election,” Kyodo quoted Koizumi as telling former prime minister Yoshiro Mori in a phone conversation.