The World - News from Nov. 22, 1988

Those caring for ailing Japanese Emperor Hirohito issued their grimmest report yet on his condition. “There has been no major change in the emperor’s condition,” said one palace official, who declined to be identified. “But I have no confidence that his . . . condition will change for the better.” The 87-year-old emperor is spending increasing amounts of time sleeping, the official said. “Although the emperor is conscious, he has not watched any television in the past week,” he said. “The emperor did not even express a desire to watch television.”