Japan got its first glance at Prince Hisahito. The nine-day-old prince is the first boy to be born to the Japanese royal family in 41 years and third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Hisahito's birth was a dream come true for conservatives as it led outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to drop plans to introduce female succession to the world's oldest monarchy.

Traditionalists believe the imperial family has descended from a male line dating back more than 2,600 years. Historians agree the lineage dates back from at least the sixth century AD.

Source: AFP