If the celebration over the birth of Prince Hisahito has proved anything, it's that "Who's your daddy?" is one of the most important questions in Japan.
Though Princess Kiko has rightfully received all the credit for producing a male heir to the throne, the whole point is that she's married to the man who's second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. As a matter of fact, since her husband Prince Akishino is not the immediate successor, it isn't entirely clear whether or not Hisahito is next in line after him since the heir apparent, Crown Prince Naruhito, isn't his daddy.
This may sound like an academic issue, but the question of paternity trickles down to the bottom of the food chain. It certainly pertains to the Supreme Court's recent decision to dismiss a case brought by a woman who wanted authorities to acknowledge her late husband as the father of her son, even though the boy was born three years after the husband died.