Celebrations greet Japan's new princess

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Festivities have begun to celebrate the birth of a daughter to Japan's crown prince and princess, the first child born to the heir of the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne.

The new princess weighed 61/2 pounds at birth at 2.43p.m. local time Saturday.

However, she will not be named until next week and for the time being is referred to as simply "Her Imperial Highness the Princess".

No pictures have yet been released of the royal couple's daughter.

Mother and daughter were reported in good condition at the hospital in the Imperial Palace as thousands headed there Sunday to attend a lantern festival and celebrations.

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About 10,000 people were expected to join in, and long lines were expected as people line up for a second day to sign the palace congratulatory book.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was among those to express their "heartfelt joy" at the news of the new arrival.

"I can only imagine the joy of Their Imperial Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess," he said.

"The birth of Her Imperial Highness the Princess symbolizes the continued prosperity of the Imperial Family and the entire nation is indeed encompassed with joy to greet this wonderful day."

Many people are now hoping to avoid a debate over whether the girl should be allowed to reign because Japanese law forbids women from taking the throne.

They say Crown Prince Naruhito, 41, and his wife Masako, who is 37, still have time to produce a male heir.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he would oppose changing the male-heir law, but added on Saturday that doing so would require a cautious approach, Kyodo News reported.

A male heir has not been born to the royal family in more than three decades -- Naruhito's younger brother, Prince Akishino, was born in 1965.

The last seven births, including Akishino's own two daughters, have been girls.

Princess Masako, a former diplomat who speaks several languages and studied at Harvard University, had been under tremendous pressure to give birth to a boy and avert a succession crisis.

Some Japanese analysts have said the news could help will lift the country's economic gloom -- at least temporarily -- encouraging consumers to get out and spend.

According to royal tradition the latest birth will be followed by a series of elaborate rituals.

Within hours of coming into the world the royal baby was be presented with a specially made sword inside a crimson and white silk case and embossed with the seal of the imperial family.

Later, when she is given her first bath, court officials will stand outside the bathhouse plucking the strings of wooden bows in a ceremony said to ward off evil spirits.