It’s a boy

The Japanese media is reporting that Princess Kiko has given birth to a baby boy. Looks like Japan’s sacred imperial line has been saved from the menace of female succession!

Update: The Emperor and Empress have been official informed of the baby boy’s birth. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News is reporting that the boy, who is now 6 hours old, is already under pressure to produce male offspring. Crisscross News is quick to point out how much this birth cost taxpayers:

The government will spend 3.05 million yen per year in connection with Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko’s newborn baby boy, Imperial Household Agency officials said Wednesday. Based on the law on imperial household economy, Prince Akishino receives 30.5 million yen, Prince Kiko 15.25 million yen and their two daughters 3.05 million yen each in cash for their personal use to maintain royal dignity, they said.

With the additional funds for the newborn baby, the government’s expenses for the prince’s family will rise to 54.9 million yen a year, they said. The tax-exempt money is for covering the family’s meals, clothing and servants it employs on its own, and the sum for a child becomes three-fold when they grow up, according to the officials.

Damn, their elementary school aged daughter makes more than I do in a year. Horray for taxpayer maintained royals!