Princess Kiko’s Son
Princess Kiko of Japan has given birth to a son. This child will now be the next in line for the Chrysanthemum Throne, laying to rest the frenzy surrounding imperial succession changes. Kiko had only produced 2 daughters up to this point, and her sister-in-law Crown Princess Masako had one daughter. The Japanese royal family feared that its imperial dynasty - 2000 years old - would die out. There was so much worry that, last November, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi helped back a change in Japanese law that would allow a female to ascend as Empress. The future Empress was to be 4-year-old Princess Aiko, daughter of Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito. Many Japanese were in favor of an Empress, and there have been a few Empresses in Japan’s history. However, the staunch conservatives were not looking fondly on the possibility of a female ruler. Former Trade Minister Takeo Hiranuma, according to Time magazine, said of Aiko: “If [she] becomes the reigning empress and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may become emperor,” he said. “We should never let that happen.” The xenophobic Japanese conservatives and Imperial Household Agency have a firm grip on what happens with the royal family. Unlike the British royal family, the Japanese imperial family’s schedule -and life - is completely controlled by the dominating IHA, with little breathing room. They are so concerned with the line of succession remaining male that they most likely convinced Kiko to try for a much-needed son. She succeeded. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess has gone abroad with her husband and daughter to the Netherlands. At the announcement of Kiko’s new son, Masako wanted to be out of the country to get away from the media sensation caused by the birth. Hopefully the intelligent and accomplished Masako may now return to public life now that she is out from under pressure to produce an heir.
