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September 7, 2009

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Japanese prince charming at age 3

JAPANESE sighed over photos of their likely future emperor yesterday as Prince Hisahito, the first male heir born in four decades, turned three years old.

The imperial family is well-loved in Japan, but members' lives are heavily cloistered, unlike those of the royal families of Britain and other Western nations.

Newspapers published photos yesterday of the prince wearing a kimono embroidered with images of a crane, a symbol of Japan and longevity. TV news showed the smiling boy, nicknamed "Yuyu" and "Yuchan" by his parents, running into his father's arms.

Hisahito is the first male heir born in 41 years to the imperial family and is third in line to succeed Emperor Akihito, 75, on Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne.

Japan had considered changing its male-only succession law for the emperor, but put aside the idea as Hisahito's birth approached.

His uncle, 49-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito, is first in line to succeed the emperor, followed by Naruhito's younger brother and Hisahito's father, Akishino.

Naruhito and his wife Masako have one daughter, who could have inherited the throne if the legal change had been made to allow women in the imperial succession.




 

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