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| Japan welcomes imperial baby boy | Japan welcomes imperial baby boy |
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| Japan is celebrating news that Princess Kiko, wife of the emperor's second son, has given birth to a baby boy. | Japan is celebrating news that Princess Kiko, wife of the emperor's second son, has given birth to a baby boy. |
| The birth of a boy, the first in the imperial family for more than four decades, potentially resolves the country's succession crisis. | The birth of a boy, the first in the imperial family for more than four decades, potentially resolves the country's succession crisis. |
| Women are not allowed to take the throne and the baby is the first boy born to the current emperor's children. | Women are not allowed to take the throne and the baby is the first boy born to the current emperor's children. |
| The baby becomes third in line to the throne, after Crown Prince Naruhito and his own father, Prince Akishino. | The baby becomes third in line to the throne, after Crown Prince Naruhito and his own father, Prince Akishino. |
| Both mother and baby were doing well, officials said. | Both mother and baby were doing well, officials said. |
| Princess Kiko's pregnancy has attracted enormous media coverage. | Princess Kiko's pregnancy has attracted enormous media coverage. |
| The 39-year-old princess, who is married to Prince Akishino, the emperor's younger son, already has two daughters. | The 39-year-old princess, who is married to Prince Akishino, the emperor's younger son, already has two daughters. |
| SUCCESSION PRESSURES Currently only males can ascend the Japanese throneEmperor Akihito has two sons, Naruhito and AkishinoIf Naruhito died without a male heir, Akishino succeedsHis baby son, so far unnamed, becomes third in linePrincess Sayako married a commoner so her children cannot ascend throne In pictures: Birth welcomed birth | SUCCESSION PRESSURES Currently only males can ascend the Japanese throneEmperor Akihito has two sons, Naruhito and AkishinoIf Naruhito died without a male heir, Akishino succeedsHis baby son, so far unnamed, becomes third in linePrincess Sayako married a commoner so her children cannot ascend throne In pictures: Birth welcomed birth |
| She had been hospitalised since mid-August because of complications and gave birth by Caesarean section two weeks early. | She had been hospitalised since mid-August because of complications and gave birth by Caesarean section two weeks early. |
| Her son, born at 0827 local time (2327 GMT Tuesday), weighed 2,558 grams (5lbs 10oz). | Her son, born at 0827 local time (2327 GMT Tuesday), weighed 2,558 grams (5lbs 10oz). |
| Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko, who are on a tour of Hokkaido, welcomed the birth. | Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko, who are on a tour of Hokkaido, welcomed the birth. |
| "We would like to convey our sincere congratulations to the couple, who now face a happy day after quietly enduring the anxieties of the past 10 months," they said in a statement. | "We would like to convey our sincere congratulations to the couple, who now face a happy day after quietly enduring the anxieties of the past 10 months," they said in a statement. |
| Debate | Debate |
| The birth has been particularly keenly anticipated because of debate over the succession issue. | The birth has been particularly keenly anticipated because of debate over the succession issue. |
| Japanese law forbids women from ascending the throne, but prior to the baby's birth there was no male heir among the emperor's grandchildren. | Japanese law forbids women from ascending the throne, but prior to the baby's birth there was no male heir among the emperor's grandchildren. |
| Prince Akishino and his daughters went to visit Princess Kiko | Prince Akishino and his daughters went to visit Princess Kiko |
| The present heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Princess Masako, have a young daughter, while Princess Sayako is married to a commoner, so if she were to have children they could not be considered. | The present heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Princess Masako, have a young daughter, while Princess Sayako is married to a commoner, so if she were to have children they could not be considered. |
| Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been advocating constitutional reform to allow women to ascend the throne, but the debate, although supported by the public, was shelved when news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy was announced. | Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been advocating constitutional reform to allow women to ascend the throne, but the debate, although supported by the public, was shelved when news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy was announced. |
| It is not clear where the debate, opposed by many conservative lawmakers, goes from here. Mr Koizumi said the birth was "good news", but did not comment further. | It is not clear where the debate, opposed by many conservative lawmakers, goes from here. Mr Koizumi said the birth was "good news", but did not comment further. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Would it have been so bad to have changed the constitution to allow a woman to succeed? Pauline Fothergill, Halifax, UK href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3673&edition=1&ttl=20060905192937" class="">Send us your comments Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is likely to become Japan's next prime minister, said the revision debate should continue in a "careful and calm" manner. | |
| "Reforming the Imperial Household Law is an important issue that concerns the stability of the imperial family," he said. | "Reforming the Imperial Household Law is an important issue that concerns the stability of the imperial family," he said. |
| Sword | Sword |
| Across Japan, many people were celebrating the birth. | Across Japan, many people were celebrating the birth. |
| Newspaper put out extra additions to cover developments and television stations broadcast special live programmes on the birth. | Newspaper put out extra additions to cover developments and television stations broadcast special live programmes on the birth. |
| A small group of people gathered at the Imperial Palace to wave flags, while a troupe of women performed a traditional dance in the Tokyo district where Princess Kiko grew up. | A small group of people gathered at the Imperial Palace to wave flags, while a troupe of women performed a traditional dance in the Tokyo district where Princess Kiko grew up. |
| While some were particularly pleased about the arrival of a boy, others were simply happy with a healthy baby. | While some were particularly pleased about the arrival of a boy, others were simply happy with a healthy baby. |
| "I guess it's a relief for the Japanese family that they wanted to have a boy," one man told the BBC. "But for me, I think, I guess I'm more girl or boy is okay. I don't think there should be such a fuss about it these days." | "I guess it's a relief for the Japanese family that they wanted to have a boy," one man told the BBC. "But for me, I think, I guess I'm more girl or boy is okay. I don't think there should be such a fuss about it these days." |
| The baby will be named next Tuesday, seven days after his birth, by his father. Princess Kiko will choose a symbol to mark his belongings, according to tradition. | The baby will be named next Tuesday, seven days after his birth, by his father. Princess Kiko will choose a symbol to mark his belongings, according to tradition. |
| But first a messenger from the emperor is due to deliver a protective sword to the baby and place it on his pillow, Kyodo news agency reported. | But first a messenger from the emperor is due to deliver a protective sword to the baby and place it on his pillow, Kyodo news agency reported. |