Japan's Upper House has passed a bill to regulate religious donations, including those to the group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The new law would ban religious entities from exploiting people's anxieties to solicit donations, or from implying followers have a spiritual obligation to give.

The legislation also requires entities to consider whether their solicitation practices negatively impact the free will of individuals.

This requirement was added after opposition lawmakers demanded a ban on donations made under the influence of so-called mind control.

Violators could face up to one year in prison, or be fined up to 7,300 dollars.

The bill was enacted after a vote in the Upper House on the final day of the Diet session on Saturday.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party voted in favor of the bill, while the opposition Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi voted against it.