Princess Kiko and Prince Akishino, member of the Japanese imperial family, are finally blessed with a son.

Born on September 6, 2006 at 8:27am by Caesarean section, the new member of the imperial family weighed 7.5 pounds. He is the first male heir born into the family in more than 40 years.

With this new development, Japan will have to decide whether they will indeed change the succession laws to allow Princess Aiko to become empress OR whether the laws will remain unchanged. If they decide not to change the succession laws, the newborn will be in line to become the next emperor of Japan.

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