permit absolute primogeniture. On 20 January 2006, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi used part of his annual keynote speech to address the controversy when he pledged to submit a bill to the Diet letting women ascend to the throne in order that the Imperial throne be continued into the future in a stable manner. Koizumi did not announce a timing for the legislation to be introduced nor did he provide details about the content, but he did note that it would be in line with the conclusions of the 2005 government panel. Birth of male cousin Proposals to replace agnatic primogeniture were shelved temporarily after it was announced in February 2006 that the-then Crown Prince's younger brother, Fumihito, Prince Akishino, and his wife, Kiko, Princess Akishino, were expecting their third child. On 6 September 2006, Princess Kiko gave birth to a son, Hisahito, who was third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne at the time of the birth under the current law, after his uncle, the then-Crown Prince, and his father, Prince Akishino. The prince's birth provided the first male heir to be born in the imperial family in 41 years. On 3 January 2007, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announced that he would drop the proposal to alter the Imperial Household Law. Therefore, at this time, it seems unlikely that the succession laws will be changed to allow Princess Aiko to ascend the throne. Titles, styles and honours Titles and styles Princess Aiko is styled as "Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko". She also has an imperial title, . Honours National honours : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown (5 December 2021) References External links Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Household Agency website Press Conference by Their Imperial Highness The Crown Prince and Crown Princess After the Birth of Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko Press Conference on the occasion of the First Birthday of Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko (2002) (Written Answers) BBC News | Japan's new princess meets the public Japanese princesses 2001 births Living people People from Tokyo 21st-century Japanese women Grand Cordons (Imperial Family) of the Order of the Precious Crown Daughters of emperors