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| Japan princess gives birth to boy | Japan princess gives birth to boy |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Japan's Princess Kiko has given birth to a boy, who becomes the third-in-line to the imperial throne. | Japan's Princess Kiko has given birth to a boy, who becomes the third-in-line to the imperial throne. |
| The 39-year-old princess gave birth by a Caesarean section after complications in the pregnancy. | The 39-year-old princess gave birth by a Caesarean section after complications in the pregnancy. |
| Princess Kiko, wife of the current emperor's second son, already has two daughters but neither of them are allowed to ascend to the throne. | Princess Kiko, wife of the current emperor's second son, already has two daughters but neither of them are allowed to ascend to the throne. |
| Her son becomes the first male heir to be born into Japan's royal family in more than four decades. | Her son becomes the first male heir to be born into Japan's royal family in more than four decades. |
| The present heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Princess Masako, have a young daughter, while Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko have two daughters. | The present heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Princess Masako, have a young daughter, while Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko have two daughters. |
| Princess Sayako is married to a commoner, so if she were to have children they could not be considered. | Princess Sayako is married to a commoner, so if she were to have children they could not be considered. |
| Coverage | Coverage |
| Princess Kiko's son was born weighing 2,558 grams (5lbs 10oz) at 0827 local time (2327 GMT Tuesday). | |
| Reports say mother and child are both in good condition. | |
| The pregnancy has attracted enormous interest in Japan. | The pregnancy has attracted enormous interest in Japan. |
| Princess Kiko has been in hospital since 16 August because of symptoms of partial placenta previa, a condition in which part of the placenta drops too low in the uterus. | Princess Kiko has been in hospital since 16 August because of symptoms of partial placenta previa, a condition in which part of the placenta drops too low in the uterus. |
| Doctors said when she went into hospital that the move was precautionary and the pregnancy was proceeding well. | Doctors said when she went into hospital that the move was precautionary and the pregnancy was proceeding well. |
| Conservatives had hoped Princess Kiko would give birth to a boy, thereby bringing an end to debate on whether the constitution should be revised to allow women to ascend to the throne. | Conservatives had hoped Princess Kiko would give birth to a boy, thereby bringing an end to debate on whether the constitution should be revised to allow women to ascend to the throne. |
| Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been advocating such a reform, and there appeared to be support for it amongst the Japanese public. | Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been advocating such a reform, and there appeared to be support for it amongst the Japanese public. |
| But the reform plans were shelved, amid strong opposition from conservative palace officials and some politicians, when the royal pregnancy was announced. | But the reform plans were shelved, amid strong opposition from conservative palace officials and some politicians, when the royal pregnancy was announced. |
| Japan's birth rate has continued to decline in recent years and the government has been working on ways of persuading women to have more children. | Japan's birth rate has continued to decline in recent years and the government has been working on ways of persuading women to have more children. |
| Baby and maternity product companies are also hoping the birth will benefit them. | Baby and maternity product companies are also hoping the birth will benefit them. |
| Shares in baby-linked firms rose ahead of the birth, with one baby food company's shares hitting a high for the year on Monday, the Associated Press news agency reported. | Shares in baby-linked firms rose ahead of the birth, with one baby food company's shares hitting a high for the year on Monday, the Associated Press news agency reported. |