The Japanese government has submitted a request to a court, seeking the dissolution of the Unification Church, popularly known as the “Moonies,” after it was investigated in relation to the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. The church’s reputation came under scrutiny after Tetsuya Yamagami, Abe’s assailant, accused the church of bankrupting his mother and held Abe responsible for promoting it. The Unification Church denies these allegations and claims it has been unfairly portrayed in connection with Abe’s assassination. The investigation, which was initiated by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, lasted for a year.
If the court grants the dissolution request, the Unification Church will lose its tax benefits, but it will still be allowed to function as an organization. Yamagami alleged that his mother was coerced into making donations to the church, where she had been a member for thirty years. Similar accusations have led to lawsuits worth millions of dollars. Under Japan’s Religious Corporations Law, a religious order can be dissolved if its actions are “clearly recognized as being substantially detrimental to public welfare.” Prior to this request, Japan’s education ministry had asked the Tokyo District Court to impose fines on the church for its failure to respond to inquiries about its activities.
The relationship between Abe and the church had been a topic of speculation, particularly on social media, prior to his untimely death. In 2021, he participated in a church-related event as a remote speaker. Abe’s grandfather, also a former prime minister, was reportedly close to the church due to its anti-communist stance. The Unification Church was established in South Korea in 1954 and is renowned for conducting mass weddings. Its members, commonly referred to as ‘Moonies,’ follow the teachings of its late founder, Sun Myung Moon. The church entered Japan in the 1960s and cultivated relationships with politicians to expand its following and reputation, according to researchers. It has been surrounded by controversy for years, with critics labeling it as a “cult-like” organization. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by members who claim to have been coerced into donating to the church. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs assert that these individuals have lost at least 5.4 billion yen ($39 million; £33 million) over the past five years.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) conducted an internal investigation, which revealed that 179 out of its 379 lawmakers had interacted with the Unification Church. In response, Prime Minister Kishida instructed LDP lawmakers to sever ties with the church, emphasizing that he had no personal connections to the group. Despite initially resisting calls for an investigation, Kishida eventually ordered a probe into the church in October, expressing concern over allegations of financial exploitation of followers. Professor Yoshihide Sakurai of Hokkaido University, an expert on cult issues who has authored a book on the Unification Church, suggests that the group’s influence could significantly diminish as the public becomes more cautious and politicians find any affiliation scandalous.
Nonetheless, the Unification Church maintains numerous affiliated political and commercial entities, including newspaper publishers, travel agencies, and retailers, whose operations cannot be halted by a court order. Professor Sakurai believes that the court may even reject the petition for dissolution, considering the thousands of followers who claim to have joined the church willingly and continue to participate in its activities. With both victims and loyal followers coexisting, the court may find it challenging to label the organization as entirely criminal.
Japan Requests Dissolution of Church Following Shinzo Abe Killing
