Although he started a Zen religious organization known as 'Higashikuni-kyo' on April 15, 1950, he was notified in June of that same year by the Ministry of Justice that the use of the name 'Higashikuni-kyo' was prohibited because it might cause a problem if a former member of the imperial family founded a religious organization.
1950年（昭和25年）4月15日に禅宗系の新宗教団体「ひがしくに教」を開教したが、同年6月、元皇族が宗教団体を興すことには問題があるとして法務府から「ひがしくに教」の教名使用の禁止を通告された。