Tokyo - Japan's newborn Prince Hisahito on Friday appeared in public for the first time as he left the Tokyo hospital where he was born on September 6.
Wrapped in a white satin robe and embraced in his mother's arms, the potential heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne left Aiiku Hospital with his parents Princess Kiko and Prince Akishino, the emperor's second son.
The family was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers lining the streets, waving Japanese flags, as they were driven from the hospital to their Tokyo residence.
Prince Hisahito, the first male heir born to the Japanese imperial family in nearly 41 years, stands third in line to succeed the world's oldest surviving monarchy after his uncle Crown Prince Naruhito, 46, and his father Prince Akishino, 40.
Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, 40, have two daughters, 14-year-old Mako and 11-year-old Kako, who are waiting to meet their younger brother.
Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako, 42, have a 4-year-old daughter, Aiko.
The first grandson of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Tuesday received the name Hisahito from his parents wishing to live long and to grow up with a deliberate and virtuous disposition.
Prince Hisahito, who has been nursed by his mother, is expected to move into a new room of more than 13 square metres with a kitchen in Tokyo's Akasaka Estate, where Crown Prince Naruhito's family also lives.
The prince will be attended by a full-time nurse and two part-timers for care, but Princess Kiko has been changing her son's diapers, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Princess Kiko was admitted to hospital on August 16 for pregnancy complications and she gave birth to the 2,5kg imperial heir by Caesarean section. - Sapa-dpa