Jubilation reigned in Japan after Princess Masako, wife of Crown Prince Naruhito, gave birth safely to their first child, a healthy baby girl, early Saturday.
But though the streets were lined with colourful lamps to celebrate the event, and congratulations poured in from royals and commoners alike, the fact that the new addition to the imperial household is a girl will inevitably re-open the debate over the laws of succession, which do not allow a female to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Leaving the possibility of a succession crisis for the future, a clearly ecstatic Crown Prince Naruhito said, “I am so delighted that the birth went well. We want to work together from now on, pray for our child´s happiness and look after her as she grows up.”
His father, Emperor Akihito, presented his new granddaughter with a ceremonial sword and formal traditional garments. “We are very happy to see both mother and child are healthy,” he said. His wife, Empress Michiko, was in tears of delight as she congratulated the young couple, who married in June 1993.
In line with tradition, the “new princess”, as she is known, will not be named until the seventh day after her birth. It is hard to exaggerate the level of interest her arrival has roused in a country whose current emperor is 125th in a long line of ruling descendants of the Japanese imperial family. Media coverage has been muted, however, since the miscarriage suffered by Princess Masako in December 1999 was attributed to the extreme press interest she was subjected to while pregnant.
During this pregnancy, Masako, a foreign-educated polyglot who gave up a bright future in the diplomatic service in order to marry the besotted Naruhito after twice refusing his proposals, has been leading a secluded life behind palace walls.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
