Although local excitement appears to be building about a plan for the Group of Seven leaders to visit Japan's most prestigious shrine later next week, some religious scholars are taking issue with the move as a possible conflict with the principle of the separation of religion and state.
Government sources have confirmed that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to show the leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union around Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture when they gather for the Ise-Shima summit talks on May 26-27.
Viewed by many to be the spiritual home of Japan, it was the main reason the area was selected for the summit, with Abe calling the Shinto shrine "the most suited to get in touch with the Japanese spirit."