Naruhito turns 60, offers sympathy to virus patients

Emperor Naruhito of Japan has offered his sympathy to people affected by the new virus that emerged in China and said he hopes to see the outbreak contained soon.

He was speaking on Friday in a rare news conference ahead of his 60th birthday.

Sunday's birthday is a special one for Naruhito, his first since becoming emperor, and sixty is also considered a landmark age in the Japanese zodiac calendar.

Festivities surrounding the emperor's birthday, however, have been toned down amid concerns about the virus.

Japan has confirmed more than 750 cases, including 634 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was docked and quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

Birthday celebration plans had called for Naruhito to wave from the palace balcony to tens of thousands of well-wishers, but these were cancelled as a precautionary anti-infection measure.

A series of events, including concerts, athletic events and festivals, have been also cancelled, with some people starting to question whether Japan can host this summer's Tokyo Olympics as planned.

Naruhito, citing his fond memories of Tokyo's first Olympics, which he saw at the age of four, said he hopes to see this summer's games carried out successfully.

The Tokyo 2020 games are expected to begin on 24 July.