An heir for the Chrysanthemum Throne?

From AP

TOKYO - Japan's pregnant Princess Kiko will enter a hospital Wednesday to prepare for her delivery, amid expectations she will produce a long-awaited male heir to the nation's ancient imperial throne.

The 39-year-old wife of Prince Akishino, who is the second son of Emperor Akihito, is pregnant with her third child and expected to give birth early next month by Caesarean section.

Kiko will enter hospital Wednesday afternoon to ensure a safe delivery, an Imperial Household Agency official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

Doctors have said Kiko has symptoms of partial placenta previa, a condition in which part of the placenta drops too low in the uterus.

The princess's condition was stable Tuesday, according to the official.

"The princess has until now rested at home. But she has entered her ninth month of pregnancy, and is due to enter hospital to ward against the possibility of premature bleeding and to prepare for delivery," he said.

Kiko's pregnancy has won national attention because Japan's Imperial family, the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, has failed to produce a male heir to the throne since 1965. The current law allows only males to reign.

Akishino and Kiko have two daughters. Akishino's older brother, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Masako, have one daughter.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last year pushed for legislation that would allow a woman to take the Imperial throne as a way to resolve the succession crisis. But Kiko's pregnancy raised hopes for a male heir and took the steam out of Koizumi's drive.

As I blogged before, I believe it is time for Japan to change their rules of sucession. Japan has had female rulers in the past I'll add.

Now here's a question- Has Princess Kiko had an ultrasound and why not publish the results? She is only weeks from having a child. Standard US care for pregnant mothers(and I'm guessing it would be the same in Japan) has a mother having an ultrasound at approximately 20 weeks. The tests are not fool proof, but if there is a dangly thing between the baby's legs that means a boy. Nothing present doesn't necessarily mean a girl, because sometimes the baby will just be badly positioned and the dangly part not visible.

If Kiko is having a boy, then the succession crisis is over. Why not report the news if a boy was seen on the ultrasound? The people of Japan would be delighted by the news.

TFM is guessing, but I'll bet Kiko is having another girl.

Linked to- Third World County, Is it just me?,