December 3, 2001	Monday	Ramazan 17, 1422

TOKYO, Dec 2: Japanese turned out in their thousands on Sunday to celebrate the birth of a new princess, but along with the warm welcome came debate over a law that says only a male can be heir to the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy.

Bringing cheer to a nation caught in a decade-old economic slump, Crown Princess Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat who turns 38 this week, gave birth on Saturday after more than eight years of marriage to Crown Prince Naruhito.

“There is absolutely nothing more joyful. This is bright and happy news,” a smiling Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.

Cities and towns around the country held celebrations. In the port of Yokohama just south of Tokyo, 100 ships sounded their horns while fountains of sea water, tinted red and white for happiness, soared into the air.

Newspapers gave the happy news banner headlines and ran photos of the royal parents, showing a beaming Naruhito, 41, as he emerged late on Saturday from the hospital within the massive palace compound in central Tokyo where the baby was born.

But media and politicians — although insisting there was no need for unseemly haste — were already pondering the possibility of changing the strict succession law that says only males can inherit the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne.

No boys have been born into the imperial family since Naruhito’s brother, Prince Akishino, was born 36 years ago.

“Some politicians are saying that if there is a difference of opinion in front of the newborn baby, it would be a grave situation,” said an editorial in the Yomiuri newspaper.

“But actually, to avoid (debate) would not be good for the imperial family,” the conservative newspaper added. “It is important to take this opportunity to deepen the debate.”

Dignitaries including Koizumi and diplomats in morning suits, joined Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in offering formal congratulations at the Imperial Palace on Sunday morning.

YOUNG AND OLD: Thousands of average Japanese, from children wearing sweatshirts to women clad in bright kimonos, entered the palace grounds to sign their names at long tables adorned with cloths of red, blue, green and white embroidered with gold thread.

Some 25,000 people took part in a lantern-light parade from the palace on Sunday evening. Optimists are hoping that some of the joy will spill over to the economy, suffering from record high unemployment and deflation.—Reuters