Japan's PM sets mark for days in office amid health concerns

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday became Japan's longest-serving leer in terms of consecutive days in office, but re was little fanfare, as he visited a hospital for ar checkup amid concerns about his health. Abe marked his 2,799th consecutive day in office since bouncing back to leership in late 2012 for a second term, surpassing previous record set by Eisaku Sato, his great-uncle, who served 2,798 straight days from 1964 to 1972.

Abe, who turns 66 next month, became Japan's longest-serving prime minister last vember, combining his earlier one-year term. His first term ended abruptly 13 years ago because of health problems, fueling concerns about his current condition. prime minister me a hospital visit for second week in a row on Monday.

previous Monday, he spent more than seven hours at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo for what officials said was an ditional checkup because he didn't have eugh time during his earlier visit in June. Last week's hospital visit triggered a flurry of speculation in Japanese media about possibility that his health was declining.

Top officials from Abe's Cabinet and ruling party, including Finance Minister Taro Aso, said publicly that Abe was overworked and bly needed rest. Media members covering prime minister's office said Abe looked tired and was moving slower that usual.

During past week, he has spent only a few hours a day in his office, only in afteron. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference that Abe visited Keio University Hospital again Monday for a checkup as a follow-up to one a week ago.

Suga brushed off worries about Abe's health. “I see him every day, but I haven't ticed anything different," he said. Asked if Abe will be able serve ar year until his current term ends in September 2021, Suga said prime minister is undergoing ditional health exams to make sure he will be able to do so.