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Japanese mixed with joy and concerns over princess's pregnancy+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb. 7_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: INCORPORATING STORIES HEADLINED 'PRINCESS'S PREGNANCY LIKELY TO AFFECT FEMALE MONARCH DEBATE: EXPERTS' AND 'PRINCESS KIKO'S PREGNANCY WELCOMED BY FRIENDS, PALACE OFFICIALS') The unexpected news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy Tuesday showered the Japanese public with joy, with many offering their congratulations, while some also expressed concerns over pressure on the princess as the pregnancy came amid heated debate over whether to allow female heirs to ascend the imperial throne. Many in the public said they were interested in knowing whether the baby will be a girl or a boy. But opinion was split over whether the political discussion on revising legislation to enable female accession should be delayed until after the baby is born. "I want to know whether it will be a girl or a boy," said Chika Matsumura, a 15-year-old senior high school student in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. "There are many girls (in the imperial family) including the crown prince's family, so I would like to see a boy," said Rie Takashima, a 33-year-old housewife in Tsu, Mie Prefecture. "I think it will be tough psychologically (for Princess Kiko) given that she is pregnant during this sensitive period with the imperial accession issue under the spotlight," said a 40-year-old housewife in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, who has a daughter in kindergarten. Regarding the female accession debate, Toshiko Murayama, a 50-year-old company employee in Niigata, said, "I hope (the accession issue) will be thoroughly discussed instead of being delayed." Meanwhile in Nagasaki, a 41-year-old hairdresser, said, "It's better to wait and re-discuss the issue after the baby is born." "If a boy is born, he will be a direct descendant of the emperor's and public opinion may change," said writer Naoki Inose. "This (the pregnancy) was something unexpected and it is better to discuss a revision of the Imperial House Law after the baby is born." "It is unnecessary to rush through an enactment of the revision bill during the current parliament session," said Inose, author of "Mikado no Shozo" (the portrait of emperors), adding that if a boy is born it may help relieve Crown Princess Masako from the pressure of not having produced a male heir. Crown Princess Masako is recuperating from a stress-induced illness. She and her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, have a 4-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko. But some in the public are worried that the pregnancy of Princess Kiko, the wife of Crown Prince Naruhito's younger brother Prince Akishino, may put even more pressure on the crown princess. "It's a joyous piece of news, but if a boy is born, it must be a shock to Princess Masako," said 62-year-old housewife Kumiko Yamazaki in Osaka. A 38-year-old female company employee in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, also said she was worried that the 42-year-old crown princess's illness will be prolonged if she feels left behind. Meanwhile, friends of the imperial family members and shop owners near Gakushuin University -- Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko's alma mater -- expressed delight at the news. Hiroshi Takita, 39, an old school friend of Prince Akishino, said he was very surprised but happy at the news, adding he had met the prince in December but at that time the prince had not said anything about his wife's pregnancy. "This is the second piece of happy news, following last year's wedding of Mr. Yoshiki Kuroda and (then Princess) Sayako," said Shigeru Aoki, the 56-year-old head of the Mejiro shop-owners' union. "When the baby is born, we would like to organize celebrations again at our shopping district." Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko have two daughters, Princess Mako, 14, and Princess Kako, 11. The current Imperial House Law only allows male heirs with emperors on their fathers' side to ascend the throne. But no male heir has been born to the imperial family since Prince Akishino's birth in 1965. |