The Imperial Palace of Japan has officially announced that Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito’s wife of nearly eight years, is pregnant. The statement follows a month of intense speculation since the notoriously private Palace said the 37-year-old princess was “showing signs” of pregnancy.
“It has been determined that the crown princess is three months’ pregnant,” said Kiyoshi Furukawa, grand master of the crown prince’s household. “If all goes well, the baby will be born in late November or early December.”
“It is the first good news in a long time,” said Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. “I am hoping for the birth of a healthy baby boy.”
The issue over the child’s gender is a thorny one in that it affects the line of succession. If Masako gives birth to a male, that child will be second-in-line to the throne behind his father, the 41-year-old crown prince. Japanese doctrine does not allow women to ascend the throne. Some feel the pressure put on the crown princess is unfair and that the law should be amended to allow a female heir the right to rule. No male heir has been born in the past 35 years.
“I think Masako’s pregnancy should encourage discussion of the possibility of allowing women to legally reign,” said Keiko Tsuwa, president of a feminist group, the Japan Women’s Council. “The current law discriminates against women and obviously it’s a problem.”
Though such talk has long been considered taboo, the prime minister recently announced that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party would study the succession law.
Other Japanese people seem less concerned with the baby’s gender. “It’s really very good news,” one Japanese retiree said. “As long as the baby is healthy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl.”
The princess has cleared her schedule and is said to be in good condition. Two years ago the princess was pregnant only to suffer a miscarriage two months along.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
