An unconventional proposal put forward by some ruling party members and economists that the government should print money to boost the economy has Cabinet ministers up in arms, with the fiscal policy minister branding the idea as "heresy" on Tuesday.

The idea calls for the government to issue bank notes — normally the function of the Bank of Japan — as a means to procure funds without increasing future debt-servicing costs.

Former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga and other ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers have publicly expressed interest in the idea.