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It's a GIRL! Japan's Crown Princess Gives Birth
Associated Press ^
| Saturday December 1 2:58 AM ET
| By GARY SCHAEFER, Associated Press Writer
Posted on 12/01/2001 1:27:07 AM PST by Rubber Duckie
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Princess Masako, a well-educated commoner, was hailed by women's libbers for her marriage into the Imperial Family 8 years ago with expectations she would turn the old order topsy turvey. Instead, she has chosen to follow the traditional path and keep trying for a pregancy even after her last one, at age 38, ended in miscarriage.
Congratulations to the new parents. To American eyes, much of this imperial and royal stuff seems rather silly, but the ceremonial fanfare has been known to give the economy here short-term boosts in the past. It could certainly use one now.
To: Rubber Duckie
Best beware of the posting police. This was up a couple hours ago with some rather funny machine translation. First one I've seen in proper English, though.
To: Vigilanteman
Can't we simply be happy for these guys? They have wanted a baby for so many years...It is being broadcast all over the Japanese airways-- Dear Masako. Bravo and best wishes....
To: benningtonconservative
Yes!Good for them.
4
posted on
12/01/2001 1:41:08 AM PST
by
Bogie
To: Rubber Duckie
To: Rubber Duckie
With unemployment at an all-time high and the New Year's gift-giving season just around the corner, I'm not sure how much of an extra economic boost we can expect from this news. Personally speaking, though, the tidings are very welcome; as Princess Masako's father is my boss, we're sure to have an office party on Monday!
To: The_Expatriate
Hope the party is a good one. Pass my good wishes along to the Princess' father, if you would, please. :)
I was stationed in Okinawa in the mid-80's, and I remember there were concerns about the succession even then.
To: Keith in Iowa
Actually, if you go to Post #3 of that thread, Rubber Duckie is first up with the link to Japanese version of events. As far as I see, this is the first English version not in the hillarious Babelfish translation.
Babelfish reminds me of some of the gems of Japanese English. My favorite: "American sailors welcome to use beaches. But no seamen may be left when withdrawing."
To: expatriate
Hope you have a wonderful party. Japan is one of our few friends in the world at the moment, so I hope Americans can celebrate the baby's birth with a sense of due respect.... Who knows? We may see the day come when an Empress ascends the throne...interesting.
To: The_Expatriate
Princess Masako's father is my boss . . . No kidding! That's cool. Would you mind telling us the name of the organization, or Freepmail me if you'd rather not post.
I was here when they were married. A special national holiday was declared then. Ah, those were the days. The boom from the 1980s still had not petered out. The government was trying to encourage workers to take their paid vacations instead of overtime. My office colleagues and I joked that the prince should get busy with his new wife and make a lot of babies, because we'd probably get a new holiday when each was born.
I guess it wasn't for lack of trying. Considering that she's 41, this will probably be her only child.
To: Silverdrake
Well, I'm not sure Ambassador Owada (Masako's father) will even bother to attend any celebration we have in the institute; something tells me that he'll have more pressing business elsewhere...he always does. :-)
To: Rubber Duckie
Yes, I also remember when they were married, and I recall the hopes (subsequently dashed) that Masako would become Japan's Princess Diana, adding a bit of dash and style to the tradition-bound imperial household and using her skills and Foreign Ministry experience to serve as an unofficial ambassador. Oh, well, another bubble burst.
Do you suppose we'll have a special national holiday on Monday? I could certainly do with another three-day weekend!
To: The_Expatriate
Oh please not a Monday holiday this week. I need the Post Office to be open!!!!!
To: benningtonconservative
Come to think of it, I've got some things I need to do on Monday, too (though the post office in my area is open 24-hours-a-day for most services), so it might be better if we postpone it a day. Does Tuesday work for you? :-)
To: The_Expatriate
Tuesday is definitely better!
To: Rubber Duckie
I find it interesting that the article said that the post-war Japanese law forbids an Empress, which really surprised me. Any baby coming into this world is reason to celebrate. Happy Birthday!
To: Aggie Mama
Should be interesting to see if the law changes in Japan with the birth of the new princess--one never knows....
To: The_Expatriate
Hi The_Expatriate, Must be a real downer... given two choices she came up with the lesser...I had heard that most of the royalists were praying for a boy for the continuence of the monarchy. These boring halfwits can't do anything right! LOL...
18
posted on
12/01/2001 4:25:43 AM PST
by
lonnie
To: lonnie
You addressed this to Expat, but regardless of his reply...Most people here just wanted this couple to have a healthy baby and be happy--just like anyone else.... Regardless of whether the baby is a girl or boy.
To: benningtonconservative
They answered 'No Preference' in your poll?
20
posted on
12/01/2001 5:05:53 AM PST
by
lonnie
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