A United Nations panel has called on Japan to revise the imperial house law to "guarantee the equality of men and women" in the succession to the Chrysanthemum throne.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said it sees problems with Japan's system of "allowing only male offspring in the male line belonging to the imperial lineage to succeed to the throne."

In its report released on October 29, the body also renewed its calls on Japan to enable married couples to have separate surnames.

The committee made similar recommendations in three past occasions, noting that Japan's Civil Code that requires married couples to use the same surname is discriminatory because in practice it "often compels women to adopt their husband's surname."