Princess Kiko of Japan has given birth to a boy, heading off a budding constitutional crisis by providing a male heir. This has been a big item of concern in Japan for some time now.
TOKYO – Japan's Princess Kiko gave birth to a boy early Wednesday, the royal family's first male heir to the throne in more than 40 years, the palace announced.
The birth came about an hour after Kiko, 39, was reported to have undergone a Caesarean section. The boy is the third in line to the throne, after Crown Prince Naruhito and Kiko's husband, Prince Akishino.
The boy, the first male heir born in Japan since Akishino in 1965, was born at 8:27 a.m. and weighed about 7 1/2 pounds, the palace said.
Pretty healthy sized little guy.
UPDAT: The New York Times coverage has more on the debate that was raging when no male heir was waiting in the wings.
The stars are back in the proper alignment!