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Third birthday for Prince Hisahito of Japan
September 6, 12:42 AMJapan Headlines ExaminerJoshua Williams
Prince Hisahito, currently the third in line for the Japanese throne, turned three years old on September 6th. By all Japanese media accounts, the Prince seems to be a happy, healthy, polite young boy.
Reports say that the prince is currently about 3' 1” tall, and weighs around 30 lbs. He likes to do outdoor activities, such as riding his tricycle, playing with toy balls, and helping with gardening.
About the Japanese Imperial line
Prince Hisahito is the third child and first son of Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko. Prince Fumihito is second in line to the throne of Japan after his brother, the Crown Prince Naruhito. Crown Prince Naruhito has one daughter, Princess Aiko.
Before Prince Hisahito's birth, the Imperial Family of Japan, which currently has 23 members, had been plagued by a lack of male heirs. There had been debate within Japan about whether to amend laws towards the archaic Imperial succession system to allow for female heirs to the thrown. However, with Prince Hisahito's birth in 2006, the call for imperial equality has been largely stifled.
Japan's imperial family is said by some to stretch back more than 2,500 years, following a traditional line of male succession. Although there have on occasion been reigning Empresses in Japan, the last being in the 18th century, conservatives tend to dismiss their presence as mere placeholders in history.
Japanese Emperors were regarded as descendants of the Gods among the people of Japan until Emperor Hirohito renounced divinity after World War II. These days the Imperial Family acts largely as a symbol with quasi-celebrity status within Japan, performing public duties and ceremonies.
While the Imperial Family has not sway over Japanese laws or policies, the reigning Emperor, currently Akihito, has the job of performing appointment ceremonies for top public officials, such as the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cabinet members, and Ambassadors. (The new U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, met briefly with the Emperor in August to confirm his appointment.) The actual choices for top public servants are done by officials within the Japanese government.
ttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/11/AR2009091101753.html?hpid=news-col-blog
That is true. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako will attend (hello -- a couple!).
Heck, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain are going, and they're old-school Euro royalty, for heaven's sake, all armadas and global navigation
and Raffy Nadal matches. Imagine how busy!
