Japan's education and culture minister, Nagaoka Keiko, says she will exercise the government's legal authority on Tuesday to question the religious group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The group is accused of soliciting large donations from followers and conducting dubious marketing practices known as spiritual sales.

Nagaoka told reporters on the day that a panel of experts had advised on Monday that the government ask the group to submit reports related to the matter.

She said her ministry will send a notice by mail on Tuesday, asking for the group to submit documents, including management provisions and books. She added that the submission deadline was set for December 9.

The authority was given to the government in a revision to the Religious Corporations Act in 1996. The government is allowed to exercise it in cases such as when a religious group is suspected of legal violations.

It will be the first time for the government to exercise the authority to question a group.

If the government uncovers facts that warrant an order to disband the group, it is expected to seek a court order to do so.