Prince Akishino & Princess Kiko: Current Events part 1

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Amina

The IHA are fools as there is no guarantee that P Kiko will give birth to a boy (i'm assuming here that this is the reason they favour that couple over CP N & CP M). But i also feel they favour P Akishino & P Kiko bcuz they are seen to 'toe the line more' than CP Nuarito (i've forgotten how to spell his name) and CP Masako. SO SILLY & SAD!!!

There may be a guarantee that she'll give birth to a boy; there are ways of doing pre-implantation gender selection if they use IVF, and the IHA seems so desperate for a male heir that I wouldn't put much past them. But we need to wait and see. I must say I'll be surprised if she has a girl.

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino in Ishikawa Prefecture on June 8, 2006.
#1: Yomiuri news

[Mapple]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

There may be a guarantee that she'll give birth to a boy; there are ways of doing pre-implantation gender selection if they use IVF, and the IHA seems so desperate for a male heir that I wouldn't put much past them. But we need to wait and see. I must say I'll be surprised if she has a girl.

Moreover, it is entirely possible that the child's sex has already been determined (or confirmed?) by sonographers.

[Elspeth]

Well, since the announcement ofr the pregnancy had that discrepancy between the stage of her pregnancy and the time she was expected to give birth, it's possible that the gender had been confirmed before the announcement was made.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

Well, since the announcement ofr the pregnancy had that discrepancy between the stage of her pregnancy and the time she was expected to give birth, it's possible that the gender had been confirmed before the announcement was made.

By now - only about 10 more weeks to go for Princess Kiko, they should know. As there are no reports of an increase of rumours (which should have happened if the information was new) IMHO they knew from the beginning.

let's try to look at the situation with a positive approach:
One could start musing about the effect on CP Masako if a boy is being born - wouldn't that help her in getting rid of the enormous pressure she must feel? Maybe she would feel better without that public pressure and could try again to become pregnant.

And I'm thinking of an interview with Queen Silvia of Sweden, when she talked about her and the king's preference for their son as next king. She said that it's easier for a man to inherit a throne and to do the duties involved then for a woman. Having read quite some interviews with the queen, I never had the idea she was against gender equality. I've believed her when she said that she said this from the point of view of somebody who knows the job and all it involves.

But - if a modern woman like the queen of Sweden says something like that - couldn't it be that the whole of the Japanese Imperial family thinks that way?
I'm not sure if the government wanted to change only the succession laws from male only to male primogeniture or if the plan was to introduce gender equal primogeniture?

If they decided to be very modern, it could be ALLl wanted to stop that law. Because even if Masako would bear a son then Aiko as the oldest would be the heiress - not a fate not all Royal parents want for their children as the example of the Swedish Royals show.

If Masako is still treated for depression, she probably can't get pregnant because taking most medication does not allow for a healthy baby. But if they needed a male baby, who but her or Kiko should be the mothers?

Just an idea.

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino attended the International Conference on Infant studies banquet in Kyoto on June 21, 2006.

image from Kyoto-np

[hilal]

Happy Wedding-day!!!

[Vanesa]

Yeah! Happy Wedding Day!

Vanesa.

[mandyy]

Princess Kiko and her husband Prince Akishino attended the wedding
of her (kiko) younger brother, Mr. Shuu Kawashima in Tokyo at around noon of July 2, 2006.

#1: Photo from ANN news
#2: Asahi news

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino attended the Third World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists in Kyoto on July 4, 2006.

#1: Kyoto-np

[CrownPrinceLorenzo]

Prince Fumihito needs a serious dye job lol. Gray hair galore.

[mandyy]

Princess Kiko entered the Imperial Palace for a check up at the Imperial Household Agency Hospital on July 12, 2006.

From TBS news

[puresnow]

Thanks for all that info!

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino in Toyama Prefecure on July 18, 2006.
#1: from Yomiuri news
#2: http://www.hokuriku.chunichi.co.jp

[BMC]

Sadly there appears to be something wrong with Princess Kiko's pregnancy:

http://www.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060718/a...pan_princess_2

I got this link from Royal News & Views

:(

[Elspeth]

Hi BMC,

That link doesn't appear to be working. However, the Princess's pregnancy, including some of the latest news about this complication, is being discussed in this thread.

[BMC]

Sorry about that!
Thanks for the link to the other thread :)

[mandyy]

Japan's Pregnant Princess Doing Well
........................During a medical examination Thursday, the first since the July 18 announcement of the problem, doctors said both Kiko and her fetus are "stable," said Imperial Household Agency spokesman Yasuo Moriyama.

Kiko has been resting since the problems were found.

Although she still has the placenta problem, "everything else is going smoothly," Moriyama said. "No other immediate problems have been found."....................
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1841388.shtml

Photos of Kiko entering the Imperial Palace for a examination at the Imperial Household Agency Hopsital On July 27, 2006.
#1: ANN news
#2: FNN news
#3: NNN news



Below are photos of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko leaving the Imperial Palace after reporting to the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Residence on July 27, 2006.
#1: JIJI press
#2: Mainichi news

[tricia]

I think the sex of the baby is already known. I also think it's sad that they put so much emphasis on a male heir.