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LEAD: Preparation for Princess Kiko's childbirth begins+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb. 8_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING VISITS IN 6TH GRAF) The Imperial Household Agency has begun preparation activities for Princess Kiko's childbirth, which is expected this fall, such as by installing a nursery at her palace in Tokyo's Akasaka district, agency officials said Wednesday. The agency also plans to select a nurse to attend to the 39-year-old princess, the wife of Emperor Akihito's younger son, Prince Akishino, the officials said. On Tuesday evening, agency chief Shingo Haketa announced that Princess Kiko has "shown signs of pregnancy." The agency will formally announce her pregnancy possibly by the end of February after her doctor at Tokyo's Maternal & Child Health Center Aiiku Hospital confirms the development of the fetus. The princess and prince have two daughters, Mako, 14, and Kako, 11. On Wednesday, Princess Kiko attended an event sponsored by the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, where she serves as president, while Prince Akishino participated in a conference of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, where he serves as president. The news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy was announced amid concerns over a possible succession crisis in the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, given that no male heir has been born into the imperial family since 1965. The only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako is 4-year-old daughter Aiko. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |