Japan's culture ministry has informed a religious group formerly called the Unification Church of its intention to make it mandatory for the group to report any plans to sell real estate.

The group, now called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is accused of soliciting large donations from its followers and engaging in dubious sales practices.

The ministry has requested a court order that would strip the group of its religious corporation status.

A law enacted in December says a group can be categorized as a designated religious corporation if the central government or others request a court order to strip it of is legal status and its wrongdoings are expected to affect a large number of victims.

A designated religious corporation is required to submit a report before it disposes of real estate, and is also obliged to present a list of its assets every three months.

The law also says that if such a group could be hiding its assets, it is named a specially designated religious corporation. Victims are allowed to view the list of assets.

The ministry has formed more concrete criteria for those designations. Sources familiar with the matter say the ministry has told the former Unification Church of its intention to categorize the organization as a designated religious corporation.

The sources say the ministry has asked the religious group to submit a response by March 1, and that it plans to make an official decision after hearing the views of an advisory committee.