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MASAKO JOINS IN-LAWS FOR JANUARY 1 CELEBRATIONS

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2 JANUARY 2007

Crown Princess Masako received New Year greetings from nearly 70,000 royal fans when she joined her husband Naruhito and his parents, Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko, on the balcony of the Imperial Palace on Monday.

The princess, who was looking characteristically elegant in green silk, seemed in buoyant form as she waved to the throng of well-wishers. Commentators say the mum of one's recovery from a long-running stress-related illness has been boosted by the birth of her nephew a few months ago. The former diplomat had been under intense pressure to produce a male heir, but the arrival of little Hisahito in September is thought to have eased the situation.

Emperor Akihito is obviously delighted with the new addition to his family as he has written a poem in honour of the infant. "Rejoicing with us, on the birth of our grandson ... The voices of the people - I am happy hearing them," reads the verse, which follows traditional Japanese haiku format.