Japan's Princess Kiko Gave Birth to Baby Boy

Japanese New Royal Baby

Japan's Princess Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, gave birth to a boy at 8:27 a.m. on September 6, 2006. The baby was born by Caesarean section at Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo. The princess was diagnosed with partial placenta previa and has been staying at the hospital since August 16. The baby weighed 2558 grams. It's reported that both the princess and the baby are in good health.

The newborn baby is the first male heir born into the imperial family in four decades. Prince Akishino who was born in 1965 was the last male born into the imperial family. The last child born into the imperial family was Princess Aiko in 2001.

It's been debated in Japan whether to revise the current imperial law which allows only males through the male lineage to inherit the throne. The news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy caught national attention. The newborn baby currently stands third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino.

The baby is the third child for Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko and is the fourth grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The naming ceremony called meimeinogi was held on September 12. The baby boy was named Prince Hisahito.

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