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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject: Japan's Princess Kiko has boy |
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Japan's Princess Kiko has boy
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TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japan's Princess Kiko has given birth to a son, likely postponing a long-running debate over whether Japanese law should be changed to allow women to succeed to the throne, the imperial palace announced Wednesday.
The boy is third in line to the throne, after Crown Prince Naruhito and Kiko's husband, Prince Akishino.
The Imperial Household Agency gave few details about the birth, which came by Caesarean section following pregnancy complications, and did not release the boy's name.
The agency said only that the baby was healthy and that he weighed about 2,558 grams (5.6 pounds).
Naruhito is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito.
Naruhito and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, earlier had a daughter, Princess Aiko, sparking the succession debate.
Many in Japan have thought that the birth of a boy to Kiko, who has two daughters, would take some of the pressure off Masako, who has struggled with depression -- and, at 42, is thought to have a slim chance of bearing more children.
Others, however, maintained that the succession law should be changed to allow Aiko to inherit the throne.
Change proposed
When the government previously proposed changing the law, polls showed that an estimated 70 percent of Japanese approved. Once Kiko's pregnancy was announced, however, public opinion switched, with Japanese saying it would be easier for Kiko to bear a son and resolve the succession issue for now.
The birth was cause for rejoicing in Japan, and media outlets broadcast continuing coverage about the event.
Kiko was hospitalized on August 16 after showing symptoms of partial placenta previa, in which part of the placenta drops too low in the uterus, The Associated Press reported.
The gender of the baby had been a closely guarded palace secret, though Japanese tabloids speculated the child would be a boy.
The last potential male heir born was Akishino himself, in 1965.
Reigning empresses have been rare in Japan, usually serving as stand-ins for a few years until a suitable male could be installed. The last reigning empress was Gosakuramachi, who assumed the throne in 1763, according to AP.
Debate over the succession law was divisive and emotional. Some conservatives proposed a revival of concubines to produce imperial heirs, and others argued that allowing a woman on the throne would destroy a precious Japanese tradition.
CNN's Atika Shubert contributed to this report |
There goes changing the laws to allow an emperess for another 40 years. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| "I wonder if he will be spoiled" |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| You do know that the Japanese monarchy had little power prior to 1867, when Meiji was set on the throne? Alot of the 'ancient' symbolism and legends associated with the Japanese emperor dates from that period. Before then, Japan was governed by warlords and the royal family had little or no political relevance. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| You do know that the Japanese monarchy had little power prior to 1867, when Meiji was set on the throne? Alot of the 'ancient' symbolism and legends associated with the Japanese emperor dates from that period. Before then, Japan was governed by warlords and the royal family had little or no political relevance. |
Yes, I studied Japanese history (and lived there for 2 years). I was getting more at they can shelve the idea to change the laws allowing for an empress, which is too bad. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| You do know that the Japanese monarchy had little power prior to 1867, when Meiji was set on the throne? Alot of the 'ancient' symbolism and legends associated with the Japanese emperor dates from that period. Before then, Japan was governed by warlords and the royal family had little or no political relevance. |
Yes, I studied Japanese history (and lived there for 2 years). I was getting more at they can shelve the idea to change the laws allowing for an empress, which is too bad. |
Yeah it kind of sucks. But I'd probably be an old man before any child of the heir or the spare takes the throne. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| Hollywoodaction wrote: |
| You do know that the Japanese monarchy had little power prior to 1867, when Meiji was set on the throne? Alot of the 'ancient' symbolism and legends associated with the Japanese emperor dates from that period. Before then, Japan was governed by warlords and the royal family had little or no political relevance. |
Yes, I studied Japanese history (and lived there for 2 years). I was getting more at they can shelve the idea to change the laws allowing for an empress, which is too bad. |
Yeah it kind of sucks. But I'd probably be an old man before any child of the heir or the spare takes the throne. |
By then, most of Japan will probably be underwater due to global warming. |
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