[QODLink]
Archive
Japanese royal heir named
The first boy to be born into Japan's royal family in 41 years has been named Hisahito during a traditional ceremony at the Tokyo hospital where he was born.
Last Modified: 12 Sep 2006 09:06 GMT
Prince Akashino attended the ceremony at a Tokyo hospital
The first boy to be born into Japan's royal family in 41 years has been named Hisahito during a traditional ceremony at the Tokyo hospital where he was born.

"Hisa" means serenity while the Chinese character "Hito", traditionally used for heirs to the throne, means "the highest moral standard."

As part of the ceremony, Prince Akishino, the boy's father, wrote the boy's name on handmade paper that was then placed inside a wooden box and laid by the child's pillow in a brief ceremony known as Meimei no Gi.

Princess Kiko also placed in the box a paper marked with an umbrella pine tree - a unique royal crest that Hisahito will use for life.

The boy, born on September 6, is third in line to the Chrysanthemum throne, after Crown Prince Naruhito and his father Akishino.

He is the first boy born to the royal family since his father -  who is also known as Fumihito - in 1965.

Kiko's surprise pregnancy delighted conservatives as it came when the government looked set to allow a female monarch to end a looming succession crisis.

Source:
Agencies
Topics in this article
People
Featured on Al Jazeera
An interactive dashboard examines the history, successes and challenges facing the group.
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
Fallout from rare strike at Arabtec Construction continues.
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Featured
News and analysis of 2013 presidential contest as Ahmadinejad finishes second term.
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Two years since the start of the uprising, rebels and Assad's forces remain locked in conflict.
Fallout from rare strike at Arabtec Construction continues.
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
join our mailing list