Prince and Princess Akishino have a son: Prince Hisahito

[monica17]

Congratulations to the Imperial Family for the new addition. I am happy that Princess Kiko and the new prince are both well. I knew it was a boy! However, I do share the concerns of all those who posted. It's quite in the early hours of the working day here - and my day is ruined.... because Aiko won't be a reigning female tenno, and the possibility of the Crown Prince and family being sidelined...... I also think all members of the Imperial Family know that it's a boy so it's not likely a surprise for them. Masako and Naruhito, IMHO, are already "conditioned" to the arrival of their nephew. Like I said in the other thread (Princess Kiko is pregnant for the 3rd time), I hope that with the baby boy, the family will be able to reconcile and define what's best for them in the 21st century.

I hope this puts the IHA into such a jubilation, it would relax its outdated concepts and be supportive of the Imperial Family members, especially the modern ones.

I'm excited to see how Japan celebrates. I remember how the Japanese celebrated when Aiko was born. I will drink sake here in Manila to celebrate!

[Eliza]

We all expected that it be a boy but now that it's confirmed, i'm rather disappointed.

congrats to the parents and i'm glad both mommy and baby are doing fine. But while the IHA is celebrating, i can't help but send slient prayers to CP Masako, Pss Aiko, the CP himself, Pss Kiko and most of all this new baby who's entry into this world is for one sole reason alone.

Perhaps, the CP couple knew of the gener of the baby earlier and are already mentally prepared but still with this new arrival - it does throw alot of questions...

[Laviollette]

Can't you people hold your fire for 5 minutes??? And since when did one person and whether or not they are happy become the center of the Imperial Family? That's not the case in any royal family or monarchy. It's not about one person, in this case Masako. And shouldn't she be feeling relieved right now anyway? Give it a rest. I'm very happy for Princess Kiko and the safe delivery of her newborn son. He was born at 8:27 a.m. and weighed 5 pounds 10 oz (2,558 grams).

[Elspeth]

I don't think anyone here is unhappy that she had a safe delivery. However, as we've been saying all along, this isn't just a case of a princess having a baby; there's a lot of politics, bureaucratic intrigue, and family tensions involved, which is what people are discussing.

[merampo]

Congratulations!!
According to NHK news
Weight:2558g
Height:48.8cm

[monica17]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I don't think anyone here is unhappy that she had a safe delivery. However, as we've been saying all along, this isn't just a case of a princess having a baby; there's a lot of politics, bureaucratic intrigue, and family tensions involved, which is what people are discussing.

True for me! Thanks for articulating, Elspeth.

[Laviollette]

I understand that this is a heated discussion and that's what this forum is about but I'm expressing my opinion too and I just don't get the poor, poor CP couple saga. Shouldn't they be happy? The pressure is off Masako to bear a male heir. Naruhito will still be emperor. Obviously a lot of people want a change in succession to allow females to succeed but that's not going to happen right now.

I happen to feel just as passionately about the Catholic issue in Britain and the male primogeniture issue in Monaco but at some point you accept that things might not change as quickly as you want them to.

[Victoria1999]

Congratulations to the family. I suppose the congratulations should mainly go to IHA . I am happy for their newborn boy, but not happy in the way that all this was done.

[caroline mathilda]

Now Princess Aiko will have the opportunity to have the type of life that her mother Masako left behind when she entered the Imperial Family. Politically I am disappointed for Aiko, but personally very happy for her because that kid just got her life back.

Caroline Mathilda

[SyberiaWinx]

My congrats to the princess and her baby-glad everything went well!

The law could still be changed, so we mustn't be so quick to despair. With only one male heir, someone is bound to realize how easily they could end up in the same situation all over again. The boy might not even refuse to become emporer when the time comes. Or, when the Crown Prince becomes emporer, possibly he could do something about the law.

[StoneCold]

It's a Prince!

wonderful news,

[kimebear]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

I understand that this is a heated discussion and that's what this forum is about but I'm expressing my opinion too and I just don't get the poor, poor CP couple saga. Shouldn't they be happy? The pressure is off Masako to bear a male heir. Naruhito will still be emperor. Obviously a lot of people want a change in succession to allow females to succeed but that's not going to happen right now.

I happen to feel just as passionately about the Catholic issue in Britain and the male primogeniture issue in Monaco but at some point you accept that things might not change as quickly as you want them to.

I think that the heated issue here is that many people (myself included) do not believe that the pressure is off of Masako. Possibly it is increased more than ever. Just because the male succession is now guaranteed does not necessarily mean that she will be able to kick back and relax. Her position in the royal household could very well slip down to unbearable levels of disdain and scorn in not "doing her part" to provide her husband a suitable successor. Yes Naruhito will still be emperor, but may be seen as a lame duck with no heir of his own. Just like you have to accept thats things might not change as quickly as you like, you have to accept that the Japanese culture (at least as far as the IHA are concerned) is most likely going to praise the Akishino's and scorn the Naruhito's and not in a casual passive way. We all have opinions, that's what makes the boards so interesting.

[rominet09]

I wonder : if Masako has had so many problems adapting to the life in the Royal Family, isn't she happy that, Aiko, her beloved daughter, escape it ?

[mandyy]

congrats...althought this was the predicted result
still happy for the family but don't know how the crown prince family will feel
maybe this releases a bit of the pressure Masako is feeling

[reen]

I think the IHA got what it thought it wanted. But...no matter how xenophobic the IHA is, progress is happening all around them whether they want it or not.

Who knows how things will turn out in the long run. Based on historical genetics, if this baby inherits, he will be at least in his late 30's. Look how much the world has changed just in the past 10 years. It boggles the mind to think what could be the political 'norm' in the 2030's or 2040's.

Maureen

[Oppie]

I thought it would be helpful to add this post from MANDY. It talks about some of the traditions that the new baby will go through, it is for Princess Aiko though. It will be seven days before we know his name and title.

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/190078-post23.html

[Laviollette]

Originally Posted by StoneCold

It's a Prince!

wonderful news,

I have seen two different weights for the baby in print. One is 7 1/2 pounds and the other is 5 pounds 10 ounces. I guess one of them is right.

[mandyy]

Princess Kiko gives birth to heir to imperial throne
...............Princess Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's second son, gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday morning, bringing the first heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne in nearly 41 years.
The boy was born by Caesarean section at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo's Minato Ward at 8:27 a.m., the Imperial Household Agency said, adding the boy weighs 2,558 grams.
The princess and her son are both doing fine, government sources said. The boy stands third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito, 46, and Prince Akishino, 40. His birth is likely to stall the debate on whether to revise the Imperial House Law to allow female monarchs and their descendants to ascend the throne......................
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060906/kyodo/d8jv12u81.html

Gov't to spend 3.05 mil. yen per year on Prince Akishino's newborn
.................The Japanese government will spend 3.05 million yen per year in connection with Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko's newborn baby boy, Imperial Household Agency officials said Wednesday.

Based on the law on imperial household economy, Prince Akishino receives 30.5 million yen, Prince Kiko 15.25 million yen and their two daughters 3.05 million yen each in cash for their personal use to maintain royal dignity, they said.
With the additional funds for the newborn baby, the government's expenses for the prince's family will rise to 54.9 million yen a year, they said. The tax-exempt money is for covering the family's meals, clothing and servants it employs on its own, and the sum for a child becomes three-fold when they grow up, according to the officials....................
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060906/kyodo/d8jv1cao1.html

Newborn royal baby to undergo series of imperial rituals
The newborn baby boy of Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's second son, and Princess Kiko is to undergo a series of imperial rituals after his birth on Wednesday, including a naming ceremony.

Shortly after the birth of the first male to the Japanese imperial family in 41 years, a messenger of the emperor will deliver a protective sword to the baby and place it by its pillow.
The baby will be named directly by his father during a naming ceremony, traditionally held on the seventh day following his birth, and a symbol used to mark his belongings will be decided by his mother. As customary, a boy will have the Chinese character "hito," meaning a virtuous person, at the end of his name. A girl usually will have "ko," meaning child at the end of her name................
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060906/kyodo/d8jv1nfg0.html

Photo albums of the family and royal births from yahoo.jp
http://dailynews.yahoo.co.jp/photogr...princess_kiko/
http://dailynews.yahoo.co.jp/photogr...ub1/index.html

[Infanta Paulette]

I'm happy for Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. They finally got the boy they wanted. The pressure is off, they finally have an heir. I do, however, agree with everyone who thinks that they should alllow women to ascend the throne. I understand that it is traditional for only male heirs to ascend, but a woman could do the job just as good as man. Long live women!!

[kimebear]

The baby is only a couple of hours old and the moves to show his parents more prominently has already begun as evidenced by the last line of the article on the royal family expenditures:

"The couple's activities are expected to increase in the future, the officials said."