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Article: Oh boy! Japan jubilant over birth: New male royal heir defuses crisis -- but only for now
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- September 7, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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TOKYO -- With shouts of "Banzai," Japanese celebrated the birth
Wednesday of the imperial family's first male heir since the 1960s, a
development that squelched hopes of reform to allow women on the
throne.
Princess Kiko, wife of Prince Akishino, gave birth to a boy by
Caesarean section at a Tokyo hospital. The boy, who will be named
Tuesday, is Emperor Akihito's first grandson and is third in the line
to the throne, behind brothers Crown Prince Naruhito and Akishino.
The news was cheered by many Japanese, who maintain an enduring
respect for the imperial family more than 60 years after Emperor
Hirohito renounced his status as a divinity at the end of World War
II.
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