Japan's crown princess Masako has baby girl

Crown Princess Masako gave birth today to a baby girl and, as Japan celebrated, court messengers placed by its pillow the sword and deep purple robes of silk that are the symbols of its lofty position.

But while the nation cheered the arrival of the newest member of its ancient royal family, a long-brewing controversy was certain to heat up in the months ahead under a postwar law, only males can assume the throne.

For several decades now, all the royal babies have been girls.

Palace officials today said both baby and mother were doing fine. The baby who won’t be named until next week was just over average weight at 3.102 kilograms (about six and a half pounds).

Crown Prince Naruhito, 41, was with Masako, 37, in the hospital at the moat-ringed Imperial Palace where the infant princess was delivered.

‘‘I am relieved and grateful that the mother and child are both healthy,’’ Naruhito said in a statement. ‘‘From now on, the two of us will look over the growth of the child and pray for her happiness.’’

The safe birth provided some badly needed good news for a Japan awash in gloomy economic predictions, record-high unemployment and the worldwide fears over the threat of terrorism.

It was heralded on live television broadcasts on all major networks. Extra editions of newspapers were handed out on street corners, and thousands of well-wishers gathered at the gates of the Imperial Palace. Some 10,000 people were expected to join in a lantern festival outside the palace gates Sunday.

‘‘The birth of the princess is a symbol of the imperial family’s further prosperity and it’s a delight for all of the public to witness this happy day,’’ Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.

Amid all the other concerns, most Japanese didn’t seem too worried about the gender issue. Many instead were simply relieved that Masako and the baby were well.

Masako, a former diplomat, married Naruhito more than eight years ago, and has been under tremendous pressure to produce an heir. She suffered a miscarriage in 1999, amid a frenzy of media attention.

‘‘It’s a joyful thing. There’s been nothing but bad news. I hope it means we will have a good year next year,’’ said Tazuko Murakami, a 61-year-old snackshop worker in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district.

Still, the lack of potential heirs after Naruhito has caused considerable anxiety and prompted some to call for a revision of the law so that women can also be in line to the throne a debate that was certain to continue once the celebrations over today’s events cool down.

The imperial family hasn’t had a boy since Naruhito’s younger brother, Prince Akishino, was born in 1965. The last seven births, including Akishino’s own two daughters, have been girls.

Naruhito is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Along with Akishino, the imperial couple also have a daughter, Princess Sayako, who has yet to marry.

The birth of the new princess was to be followed by a series of elaborate rituals.

Next week, the baby will have its first bath, as scholars in ancient court dress pluck at strings of wooden bows to ward off evil spirits and an imperial staffer reads from an 8th century Japanese history text.

After the bath, Akihito will name the baby and a messenger will deliver the news to the prince and princess.

Masako is a former diplomat who studied at Harvard and Oxford and is fluent in five languages. Although many had hoped she would breathe some fresh air into Japan’s tradition-laden imperial household, so far the princess has not changed the imperial family as much as it has changed her.

Since giving up her post at Japan’s Foreign Ministry to marry Naruhito, Masako has kept a low profile. She is reserved in public and refers to him not by his name but as the prince.

The origins of the imperial family are clouded in myth, which holds that the royal family is directly descended from the sun goddess. Most historians agree it is at least 1,500 years old.