Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he considers the education and culture ministry's decision to seek a court order to dissolve the religious group formerly known as Unification Church a judgment based on objective facts.

Ministry officials have been looking into the group's management and how it collected large donations from its followers. Based on its survey, the ministry concluded the group's actions are illegal and significantly harmful to public welfare.

Kishida had a meeting with Education and Culture Minister Moriyama Masahito on Thursday. Moriyama told Kishida the ministry officially made the decision after a discussion at the ministry's advisory panel on religious corporations.

Kishida later told reporters that he thinks the ministry followed procedures under the Religious Corporations Act and made a strict judgment based on objective facts.

Reporters asked whether the decision was made for political reasons ahead of by-elections for the Upper and Lower houses and an extraordinary Diet session.

Kishida said the education and culture minister made the decision after concrete evidence was obtained through various information gathering efforts. The prime minister also said he was told careful and detailed work was needed in consideration of the feelings of each victim who suffered damage by the group.

Kishida was asked if lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party can sever their ties with the group.

The prime minister said the LDP's revised governance code stipulates the policy that its lawmakers should avoid being misunderstood they are promoting activities of the group. He said he recognizes that LDP lawmakers have cut their ties with the group in accordance with the policy.

The opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party, have indicated that they will submit to the extraordinary Diet session a bill that would secure the group's assets to use them for the victims.

Kishida said he will closely watch the move at this stage.

After the meeting with Kishida, Education and Culture Minister Moriyama said he plans to apply for the court order as early as Friday after consulting with the justice ministry.