It is a curious thing that the gender of a single baby should still be a matter of profound importance in the world’s second biggest economy. But then again this particular 2.6kg Japanese boy, who entered the world last week, is no ordinary baby.

The infant (to be named this week) is the first for 41 years in Japan’s imperial family to be equipped with a Y chromosome, and thus is now third in line to ascend the throne of the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy.