The Hidden Truth Behind Japan's Battle Against the Controversial Unification Church

The Japanese government has requested a court to dissolve the Unification Church branch in Japan, following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022. This decision follows a comprehensive investigation into the church, which is formally recognized as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan.

Japanese prosecutors have indicted Tetsuya Yamagami on murder and firearm charges following his claims that he fatally shot Abe due to his alleged association with the church. Yamagami blamed the church for causing financial ruin to his family through the excessive donations made by his mother, who was a member.

The investigation by the government found that the actions of the group, which included fundraising activities that reportedly coerced followers into making extremely large donations, were in violation of the Religious Corporations Act of 1951. This legislation empowers Japanese courts to order the dissolution of a religious organization if its actions are deemed to significantly harm public welfare.

The Tokyo District Court will now proceed with the judgement based on the evidence presented by the government, as stated by Japan's public broadcaster NHK. This marks the third occasion where the Japanese government has pursued a dissolution order against a religious group alleged to have violated the act.

Tetsuya Yamagami is escorted by police officers at a police station in Nara, western Japan on July 10, 2022.

Kyodo/Reuters/FILE

Japan indicts man suspected of murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

The Aum Shinrikyo cult, responsible for a devastating sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, was targeted for dissolution. Similarly, the fraudulent activities of the priests at Myokaku-ji Temple, who charged individuals for exorcisms, led to its dissolution as well. Both orders issued by the government were upheld by the courts. Despite accusations against it, the Unification Church in Japan has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has promised to reform, dismissing the news coverage as biased and fake.

The Unification Church expressed its disappointment in the government's decision to seek a dissolution order, stating that it had been actively involved in church reform since 2009. The church plans to present legal arguments against the order in court.

If the dissolution order is granted, the Unification Church, established by Reverend Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954, will no longer be recognized as a religious corporation in Japan and will lose certain tax benefits. However, it will still have the ability to function as a corporate entity.

Experts argue that an order to disband the group completely could take years to process and could even risk pushing the entitys activities underground.

Video Ad Feedback

Police have theory about what motivated Shinzo Abe murder suspect

04:11

- Source:

CNN

Why this order?

The Unification Church gained global recognition through its practice of conducting mass weddings, wherein thousands of couples are married at the same time, often meeting their partners for the first time on their wedding day. Following the fatal shooting of Abe during a campaign speech in July, there has been heightened public scrutiny of the church in Japan.

According to NHK, the individual who attacked Abe informed the police that his family was destroyed due to the significant contributions his mother made to a religious organization, which he claimed had strong connections to the deceased ex-prime minister. Reuters reported that a representative of the Unification Church acknowledged that the suspect's mother was a member but stated that neither Abe nor the assailant were affiliated with the group.

Following the death of Abe, local media published a series of reports alleging that several legislators from the ruling party of the country had connections to the church. In response, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has directed an investigation to be conducted.

Reconstruction Minister Kenya Akiba announced his resignation at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official residence in Tokyo, Japan on December 27, 2022. The photo, taken by Kyodo, shows Minister Akiba speaking to the media. Please note that the image was provided by a third party and credit must be given to Kyodo. This photo is for editorial use only and cannot be used for commercial or editorial sales in Japan.

Fourth Japan minister leaves PM Kishida's cabinet after concerns over political influence by the Unification Church

Since November of last year, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in Japan has been investigating and requesting documents from the Unification Church. Additionally, they have gathered testimonies from approximately 170 individuals who claim to have been coerced into making significant donations, referred to as "spiritual sales," in Japan. According to Sakurai Yoshihid, an expert in religious studies from Hokkaido University, this practice entails urging followers to purchase items such as urns and amulets, on the basis that these actions will appease their ancestors and secure a favorable future for coming generations.

CNN has contacted the Unification Church for an official comment but has not yet heard back.

Previous controversies

The Unification Church has been involved in controversies multiple times. A former member, Naomi Honma, revealed that she spent twelve years working on a legal case called "Give Us Back Our Youth." The lawsuit accused the Unification Church of employing deceitful and manipulative tactics to recruit individuals without their knowledge.

They claimed that this could potentially infringe upon the freedom of thought and conscience protected by Japan's constitution. Following a 14-year trial, numerous testimonies from plaintiffs, and a comprehensive 999-page report exposing the group's "mind control" tactics, the trial finally reached its climax.

The 20 former Unification Church members who sued the group in a landmark case were granted a favorable ruling by the Sapporo District Court. As a result, the Unification Church has been ordered to pay approximately 29.5 million yen ($200,000) in damages. This ruling was made due to the group's recruitment and indoctrination practices, which involved concealing the true identity of the church, as well as coercing former members into purchasing expensive items and making substantial monetary donations.

Unification Church

CNN

Japanese Prime Minister initiates an inquiry into the contentious Unification Church.

During the period from 1987 to 2021, the Unification Church in Japan faced substantial lawsuits amounting to approximately $1 billion due to the sale of amulets and urns. These claims were brought forth by the National Lawyers Network against Spiritual Sales, an organization founded in 1987 with the primary objective of opposing the Unification Church.

Nobutaka Inoue, a specialist in modern Japanese religion at Kokugakuin University, critiques the church's methods for recruiting and generating financial resources. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that certain individuals within the Unification Church experienced feelings of happiness and tranquility upon contributing donations.

Whats next?

Some critics argue that the measures taken by the government against the Unification Church are insufficient, as the group could still function as a non-religious entity. One possible course of action for the government would be to pursue a court order to revoke the church's corporate status, although experts estimate that this process could take up to two years.

Sakurai, an expert in religious studies, warned that if the Unification Church is no longer recognized as a religious corporation, it would no longer be subject to the regulation of Japan's Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, making it more challenging to oversee its activities.

Sympathizers gather at the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association office in Taipei on July 11, 2022, to express their condolences for the loss of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe, who held the position for the longest duration in Japan's history, tragically lost his life on July 8 while campaigning—a rare occurrence of gun violence in one of the world's safest nations. (Photo by Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Unification Church puzzled by reports of alleged grudge held by Shinzo Abe assassination suspect

Sakurai warned that even if a new law allowing government surveillance of the Unification Church's activities could be passed, it would not be as effective.

"(Aum) has only around 1,200 members or so, but the Unification Church has managed to infiltrate various strata of Japanese society. Among the ranks are housewives, factory workers, and even teachers, making it impossible for the police to monitor all of the organization's movements and activities," stated Sakurai, emphasizing the challenging task faced by law enforcement.

Time for religious education?

Experts argue that Japan should increase efforts to educate the public about non-traditional religions, as they are thought to be gaining influence in society. Kimiaki Nishida, a social psychologist and chairman of the Japan Society for Cult Prevention and Recovery (JSCPR), highlighted that Japan has maintained a separation between state and religion since World War II, with the new constitution banning the teaching of religious studies in schools.

Religion, as stated by Nishida, has become a sensitive subject, resulting in its avoidance as a discussion topic. Consequently, religious education is not included in the curriculum of elementary, junior, or high schools in Japan, in contrast to the majority of EU member states. Toshiyuki Tachikake, a professor at Osaka University specializing in cult countermeasures since 2009, argues that this situation has made students, especially those in university campuses, susceptible to recruitment pressures.

Tachikake and other experts argue for enhanced religious education amongst young Japanese, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of various faiths and their teachings. This knowledge would enable individuals to make informed choices, especially in the event of recruitment attempts by specific religious groups.

CNNs Francesca Annio contributed to this report from Tokyo.