Japanese prince,male heir in decades,turns 3

Japanese sighed over photos of their likely future emperor on Sunday as Prince Hisahito,the first male heir born in four decades,turned 3 years old.

Japanese sighed over photos of their likely future emperor on Sunday as Prince Hisahito,the first male heir born in four decades,turned 3 years old. The imperial family is well-loved in Japan,but members lives are heavily cloistered,unlike those of the royal families of Britain and other Western nations.

Newspapers published photos on Sunday of the prince wearing a kimono embroidered with images of a crane,a symbol of Japan and longevity. TV news showed the smiling boy,nicknamed Yuyu and Yuchan by his parents,running into his fathers arms.

Hisahito is the first male heir born in 41 years to the imperial family and is third in line to succeed Emperor Akihito,75,on Japans Chrysanthemum Throne. Japan had considered changing its male-only succession law for the emperor,but put aside the idea as Hisahitos birth approached.

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His uncle,49-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito,is first in line to succeed the emperor,followed by Naruhitos younger brother and Hisahitos father,Akishino. Naruhito and his wife Masako have one daughter,who could have inherited the throne if the legal change had been made to allow women in the imperial succession.

The emperor and his wife have cut back official appearances because of stress-related illnesses. Masako has also largely kept out of the public eye because of chronic depression. In contrast,little Hisahito appears to be the picture of health.

Reports said he loves his tricycle and knows how to dress himself. Akishino and his wife Kiko also have two daughters.