The Asianist

Japan's imperial family just might join the 21st Century and allow females to inherit the throne:

An advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has reached a consensus that an emperor's first-born child, regardless of sex, should be the heir to the Chrysanthemum throne, sources said.

More:

If the proposal is accepted, Princess Aiko, the 3-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, would be given priority to ascend the throne.

No boy has been born in the imperial household for 40 years.

Of course, the reactionary types aren't letting this get by:

However, a group of scholars on Oct. 6 issued an "emergency statement" arguing that former imperial family members who withdrew from the imperial registration after Japan's defeat in World War II should be allowed to return to the imperial lineage. Such a move would put a male in line for the throne.

The group wants to maintain the imperial tradition of passing succession on to only males.

Of course, the imperial family could really join the 21st Century was disavowing monarchy and, say, starting to work for a living.