"The removal of a polyp went smoothly. He regained consciousness after anesthetics and talked to the crown princess [Masako], who was waiting for him in his ward," a spokesman told reporters, adding that the prince is feeling well.
In an hour after the operation, the 47-year-old royal took a stroll around his ward. Doctors said the prince would be able to eat within a few days, but would at first be limited to boiled rice.
The polyp was found when he underwent a routine medical check in March. Doctors said the growth, 2.5 centimeters in diameter, could cause health problems in the future. The crown prince is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week.
Intestinal polyps tend to develop into malignant tumors. Crown Prince Naruhito's grandfather, Emperor Hirohito, died of intestinal cancer in 1989, and his father, Emperor Akihito was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002.
