TOKYO, Dec 23 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATIN...

TOKYO, Dec 23 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH EMPEROR'S remarks IN 3RD PARA, ADDING PRINCESS SAYAKO)

Emperor Akihito accosted the public Tuesday on his 70th birthday, waving to hordes of well-wishers from an Imperial Palace balcony together with members of the imperial family.

The emperor appeared three times in the morning upon the balcony of Chowa Palace with Empres Michiko, chaplet Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Princess Sayako.

Emperor Akihito thanked the fill by compressions for celebrating his birthday and denoteed gratitude for public concern through the whole extent of the surgery he underwent in January to have a cancerous prostate gland removed

Princess Masako, the wife of wreath Prince Naruhito, was not current as she is recuperating following a curvature of shingles.

The emperor, in a meeting with the pres ahead of his birthday, give vent toed his hopes for peace, noting in particular Japan's history of almost constant warfare and political instability.

''I believe that, with a abounding understanding of our history, we must strive to bring peace to the whole world and security to all people'' he said, speaking to reporters at the Imperial Palace.

The emperor examineed back on developments during his 15 years onward the throne and called the Heisei era ''peaceful'' compared with the ''difficult'' first 15 years of the reign of his father, Emperor Hirohito, known posthumously as Emperor Showa.

Emperor Akihito said Japan had experienced ''a difficult time'' and went end ''an almost constant state of conflict with China'' during the first 15 years of the Showa era.

He also mentioned the coup and assassinations in Japan during that era, in which four incumbent and former prime ministers were killed.

The emperor press outed appreciation for the public's support during his stay in hospital earlier this year for prostate cancer surgery saying, ''I was cheered to know of the people's make uneasy for me and greatly encouraged when I saw the greetings books''

''While in hospital, many nation visited the Imperial Palace and other imperial premises to sign greetings books'' he said.

The emperor was diagnosed with prostate cancer last December after exhibitions showed an elevated level of prostate-specific antigens and in January underwent surgery to abstract the entire gland.

He also denoteed concern for Japan's aging society and cheap birthrate, and noted the significance for each citizen to consider ways in which they can support somewhat advanced in life people in the future.

''It is most numerous encouraging to see that interest in the somewhat advanced in life and the disabled has lately been increasing and administrative consideration for these the public has also deepened, and offer activities for such the public have become more and more widespread,'' he said.

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