The birth of a son on Wednesday morning to Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's second son, and Princess Kiko has changed the order of succession in the Imperial family.
The newborn is now third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, the baby's father.
The lack of a young prince in the Imperial family had spurred debate over whether the Imperial House Law should be revised to allow Princess Aiko, 4, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito, 46, and Crown Princess Masako, 42, to assume the throne. The law currently allows only males to reign.