Princess Kiko's pregnancy slows Japanese attempts to permit female emperor

Princess Kiko's pregnancy slows Japanese attempts to permit female emperor

The Japanese government has not decided yet whether to withdraw a bill allowing a woman to take the throne, a top official said Wednesday.

The announcement Tuesday that Princess Kiko is pregnant raised the possibility of the royal family's first male heir in 40 years, affecting the government's push to allow a woman to take the throne.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said the government had not decided whether to scrap the bill in light of the pregnancy, a change in the government's previous campaign to get the legislation passed this parliamentary session, reports the AP.

D.M.