Japan is facing an uphill battle in its attempt to wield influence at UNESCO.

The government confirmed Friday that it has not paid Japan's ¥3.85 billion contribution to the U.N. body this year in an apparent effort to push for reforms of the Memory of the World program, which registered China's "Documents of Nanjing Massacre" last year.

It is mandatory for members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to pay the fees.