Japan's imperial couple take daughter Aiko to Tokyo Disneyland

The 4-year-old daughter of Japan 's crown prince and princess was welcomed by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on Monday at Tokyo Disneyland, an official said.

Photo: Japan's imperial couple take daughter Aiko to Tokyo Disneyland

Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako took their only child, Aiko, to the amusement park to let her experience the same things as other children, said an Imperial Household Agency official who spoke on condition of anonymity, under agency protocol.

Aiko is to enroll in kindergarten next month.

Making her first visit to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea , Aiko shied away from shaking hands with Mickey Mouse, national broadcaster NHK's television footage showed.

Aiko and her parents enjoyed various attractions at the park over a full day, the official said.

Recent news that Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito's second son, is pregnant has taken the steam out of a government drive to change the country's male-only imperial succession law.

The change would have put the emperor's first child, boy or girl, on the throne bringing Naruhito's daughter Aiko next in line after her father.

Earlier this month, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said the Cabinet has decided to postpone a decision on the legislation, saying more discussions will be needed, reports the AP.

D.M.