The waiting is now over for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, who celebrated the birth of their first child -- a girl -- on Saturday, 8 1/2 years after their wedding.

The nation had been anticipating the birth ever since the Imperial Household Agency announced in May that the 37-year-old Crown Princess was three months pregnant. There were expectations that news of the Imperial birth would bring some cheer to a nation that has been in an economic slump since before the royal wedding.

Since their marriage in June 1993, the couple has gracefully borne the heavy pressure to produce a possible heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. In late 1999, the Crown Princess suffered a miscarriage amid intense media coverage of her reported pregnancy.

When asked at a news conference marking the couple's engagement in January 1993 about the number of children they planned to have, the Crown Prince said, "I'll let the mood of the stork decide."

At a news conference in February 1994, the Crown Prince was asked about speculation that the Crown Princess was pregnant. He said he was "surprised" by the speculation, which had been triggered by an Imperial Household Agency announcement the previous month that the Crown Princess had a cold.

He used the opportunity to scotch persistent speculation that the Crown Princess might be pregnant.

"I think it's as if a complete untruth has gone out for a walk all by itself," he said. "Even if it is the Imperial family, one's individual privacy should be respected."

The Crown Princess, a former career diplomat, refused to be drawn into the subject, telling reporters, "Things develop the way they develop."

The Emperor and Empress had been longing for the birth of a baby of their eldest son and his wife, but during Imperial family get-togethers, the topic of a child reportedly was avoided after a while.

"A member of the (Imperial) family had once revealed that when talk shifted to the topic (of a child), the Crown Prince would always look at his watch," as if to check when he could leave, a source close to the family said.

After the Crown Princess suffered a miscarriage in 1999, she expressed displeasure with media coverage.

"I know that there were great expectations among the people, and I too feel that what happened at the end of last year was unfortunate," the Crown Princess said during a news conference preceding her 37th birthday, in December 2000.

At the same time, the Crown Princess expressed concern over the way the media had jumped on the story at an early stage.

"Honestly speaking, it is a fact that I was disturbed by the overheated coverage in the mass media from the very start," she said.

She said her husband helped her through the experience and that she received many encouraging letters from the public.

"Deep inside I could sense that I truly am supported by the goodwill of so many," she said. "And I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for their warm feelings."