10/09/26 02:02:44
あったこれこれ。
URLﾘﾝｸ(www.katayama.org)
The Times February 08, 2006
News of pregnancy adds twist to another episode of dynasty
From Leo Lewis in Tokyo
JAPANESE politics and the world’s oldest Royal Family were thrown into turmoil yesterday
by news that the wife of the Emperor’s younger son is six weeks pregnant.
The leak so early in Princess Kiko’s pregnancy appeared designed to scupper plans by
Junichiro Koizumi, the Prime Minister, to change imperial law so that Aiko, Crown Prince Naruhito’s
four-year-old daughter, can succeed to the throne in the absence of a male heir.
Japan must now endure months of suspense before it learns whether
Princess Kiko’s baby is a boy, which would end the succession crisis.
If it is a girl, however, the battle to allow Aiko to become Japan’s first empress since
the 18th century would resume without its champion, as Mr Koizumi said that he would
step down in September.
The leak caused astonishment across Japan, and there was speculation over its timely appearance.
Many believe that word of Princess Kiko’s pregnancy may have come from the staff of her husband,
Prince Akishino. Its effect, say analysts, will be to quash all talk of imperial law revisions until after the baby is born.
But the media reported that the leak, to NHK, the state broadcaster, may have occurred before
Princess Kiko had a chance to telephone her husband with confirmation of their news.
That would suggest it came from the hospital in Tokyo where the Princess had an ultrasound scan yesterday.
Either way, the leak plays perfectly to the swelling and vocal group of politicians and academics
who fiercely reject the Prime Minister’s solution to the succession crisis.