Overwork Cited in Death of Officer on Akihito Detail

TOKYO — A 39-year-old police sergeant assigned to security during the monthlong enthronement ceremonies for Emperor Akihito has died from overwork, police say.

The officer, Haruo Okada of Tokyo, died of acute heart failure after collapsing at home last week, a city police official said.

The official said Okada had taken only two days off from Oct. 27 to Nov. 25 because of the huge security operation for Akihito’s enthronement ceremonies, which began early in November. Okada worked 26-hour shifts, followed by 20 hours off, until his death.