Princess Kiko gives birth to imperial baby boy
{{date|September 6, 2006}}
[[Image:Japanese Imperial family.jpg|thumb|right|325px|Family tree of the Japanese Imperial Family shortly after the birth of the newborn Prince of Akishino.]]
{{w|Princess Akishino|Princess Kiko}} has given birth to a 2,558 gram (5.639 lb) baby boy, on 6 September at 8 h 27 ({{w|Japan Standard Time}}). He is the first male baby born in the {{w|Imperial House of Japan|Japanese imperial family}} since his father in 1965. The baby was delivered with a {{w|Caesarean section}}, and will not be named until a ceremony seven days after his birth.

{{w|Emperor of Japan|Emperor}} {{w|Akihito}}, currently on a tour of {{w|Hokkaido}}, welcomed the birth. A number of traditional rites will take place, including the baby boy being symbolically presented with a sabre. 

The boy will be the third in line to succeed to the {{w|Chrysanthemum Throne|Japanese throne}} after the {{w|Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan|Crown Prince Naruhito}} and {{w|Prince Akishino}}, father of the child.

The fact that {{w|Masako, Crown Princess of Japan|Crown Princess Masako}} wasn't able to have a boy to succeed the throne is thought to have provoked her {{w|Clinical depression|depression}} and subsequent withdrawal from public activity. 

Pressure from the {{w|Imperial Household Agency}} for another child was ineffective and therefore {{w|Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister}} {{w|Junichiro Koizumi}} appointed a panel to find an alternative {{w|Succession order|succession system}}. The panel's recommendation to allow women to inherit the throne was met with fierce criticism from conservatives.

The birth of the baby boy eases the pressure for the reform which about 70% of Japanese favoured but which was postponed ''{{w|sine die}}'' when the news of the pregnancy came to the public.

Prince Akishino has previously criticized his elder brother for not trying to sire a boy. According to Crown Prince Naruhito this was in order to protect Crown Princess Masako. At the same time, Princess Kiko has become the darling of the media while the Crown Princess has been accused of being "selfish" by some newspapers.  

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5319098.stm
|author=
|title=Japan welcomes imperial baby boy
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=September 6, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/05/japan.princess/index.html
|author=Atika Shubert
|title=Japan's Princess Kiko has boy
|pub=CNN
|date=September 6, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1531895,00.html
|author=Brian Walsh
|title=Japan Celebrates: It's a Boy!
|pub=Time
|date=September 6, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/06/asia/web.0906baby.php
|author=Norimitsu Onishi
|title= Princess Kiko of Japan has a boy
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=September 5, 2006}}

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[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:Akihito]]
[[Category:Caesarean sections]]

[[es:La princesa Kiko de Japón da a luz a un varón]]
[[ja:文仁親王妃紀子さま、男児を出産]]
[[zh:紀子妃產子　日本皇室後繼有人]]
Family tree of the Japanese Imperial Family shortly after the birth of the newborn Prince of Akishino.
Princess Kiko has given birth to a 2,558 gram (5.639 lb) baby boy, on 6 September at 8 h 27 (Imperial House of Japan|Japanese imperial family since his father in 1965. The baby was delivered with a , and will not be named until a ceremony seven days after his birth.

Emperor Hokkaido, welcomed the birth. A number of traditional rites will take place, including the baby boy being symbolically presented with a sabre. 

The boy will be the third in line to succeed to the Japanese throne after the Crown Prince Naruhito and , father of the child.

The fact that Crown Princess Masako wasn't able to have a boy to succeed the throne is thought to have provoked her depression and subsequent withdrawal from public activity. 

Pressure from the Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister Succession order|succession system. The panel's recommendation to allow women to inherit the throne was met with fierce criticism from conservatives.

The birth of the baby boy eases the pressure for the reform which about 70% of Japanese favoured but which was postponed  when the news of the pregnancy came to the public.

Prince Akishino has previously criticized his elder brother for not trying to sire a boy. According to Crown Prince Naruhito this was in order to protect Crown Princess Masako. At the same time, Princess Kiko has become the darling of the media while the Crown Princess has been accused of being "selfish" by some newspapers.
Japan Asia Politics and conflicts Royalty Akihito Caesarean sections