Elspeth said:
Well, since the announcement ofr the pregnancy had that discrepancy between the stage of her pregnancy and the time she was expected to give birth, it's possible that the gender had been confirmed before the announcement was made.
By now - only about 10 more weeks to go for Princess Kiko, they should know. As there are no reports of an increase of rumours (which should have happened if the information was new) IMHO they knew from the beginning.
let's try to look at the situation with a positive approach:
One could start musing about the effect on CP Masako if a boy is being born - wouldn't that help her in getting rid of the enormous pressure she must feel? Maybe she would feel better without that public pressure and could try again to become pregnant.
And I'm thinking of an interview with Queen Silvia of Sweden, when she talked about her and the king's preference for their son as next king. She said that it's easier for a man to inherit a throne and to do the duties involved then for a woman. Having read quite some interviews with the queen, I never had the idea she was against gender equality. I've believed her when she said that she said this from the point of view of somebody who knows the job and all it involves.
But - if a modern woman like the queen of Sweden says something like that - couldn't it be that the whole of the Japanese Imperial family thinks that way?
I'm not sure if the government wanted to change only the succession laws from male only to male primogeniture or if the plan was to introduce gender equal primogeniture?
If they decided to be very modern, it could be ALLl wanted to stop that law. Because even if Masako would bear a son then Aiko as the oldest would be the heiress - not a fate not all Royal parents want for their children as the example of the Swedish Royals show.
If Masako is still treated for depression, she probably can't get pregnant because taking most medication does not allow for a healthy baby. But if they needed a male baby, who but her or Kiko should be the mothers?
Just an idea.