JAPANESE ROYALS
Full (christened) name: Princess Aiko of Japan, Princess Toshi
Parents: Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan
Date of Birth: 1st December, 2001
Place of birth: Hospital inside the grounds of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo
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At Birth
Shortly after her birth, court messengers placed a sword and purple silk robes by her pillow. The sacred Samurai sword, specially made by master blacksmiths and set in a crimson case, is symbolic proof that the child is a direct descendant of the royal dynasty. It represents the sword which legend has it was given to the founder of the imperial family by the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Since the newborn is a girl she was also presented with a traditional "hakama", a pleated skirt.
At Seven Days
Imperial tradition has it that the current emperor name the children of his eldest son and heir. Emperor Akihito chose Aiko’s name for it’s meaning, “Child of Love.” Her title, Princess Toshi means “She who respects others.” Both names were written on traditional Japanese paper by Emperor Akihito himself and placed on Aiko’s pillow.
In a traditional ceremony, a royal attendant poured water over the baby princess in a cedar tub, as scholars in ancient court dress plucked at strings of wooden bows and a court-appointed official read passages from the ancient Nihon Shoki. The Nihon Shoki, which was completed in 720 AD, is the oldest official history of Japan.
At Three Months
Aiko took part in an ancient rite to give her a healthy life called Omiyamairi. Wearing garments given to her at her birth by her grandparents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, she was presented to three shrines in the Imperial Palace grounds. There Aiko was held by a lady-in-waiting while her parents waited separately until the ritual was over. After the shrine visit, Aiko was formally presented to her grandparents as an official member of the imperial family. This ceremony included a ritual in which the Emperor and Aiko pretended to drink rice wine from a single cup.
References BBC News Online
1. to 4. Presentation of Aiko.
5. 6. Shrine Ritual.