The “Japan Times” published an article on July 13 saying that after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese branch of the “Unification Church” held a press conference, claiming that the church had reformed its controversial fundraising method. However, the Japan National Association of Inspiration and Commercial Law Countermeasures Lawyers, which represents the victims of the “Unification Church”, criticized this, and used examples to prove that the “Unification Church” still confuses the public and deceives the world today.
Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church Japan branch, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on July 11. Source: Kyodo News
The Unification Church claims it reformed its fundraising in 2009, when it faced police scrutiny over the issue. Lawyers who have long accused the Unification Church of aggressive fundraising in Japan have steadfastly dismissed that claim.
After the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the issue of donations to the Unification Church has come into focus. The suspect in the shooting reportedly told police he targeted the former prime minister because he believed Abe had ties to the religion he blamed for causing his mother to go bankrupt with mandatory donations from the Unification Church.
The National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (“Lawyers Liaison Association”) said in a July 12 news conference that despite claims by the Unification Church earlier this week that the situation was improved, but mandatory donations remain.
After the assassination of Shinzo Abe in Nara, Toru Yamagami, 41, told police that his mother was pressured by the Unification Church (officially known as the World Federation for Peace and Harmony) to donate all her money, according to media reports. If the family property asks him to teach, his life will be ruined.
On July 11, Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Japanese branch of the “Unification Church”, admitted that Tetsuya Yamagami’s mother was indeed a follower of the “Unification Church”. Joined the religion around 1998 and went bankrupt around 2002. Participate in teaching activities once a month.
However, Tanaka said he did not know the amount of donations and transfer details from Yamagami’s mother, and said it was unclear to what extent it caused her to go bankrupt.
Tanaka also stressed that the Unification Church has been reorganized since 2009 to ensure that “the lowest levels of the organization” can comply with the relevant laws. As recently as 2009, police raided the Unification Church premises in Tokyo for selling products such as private seals (hanko), arresting some adherents and ultimately leading to the resignation of the religion’s then-Japan head.
On July 11, the “Unification Church” did not allow some media to participate in the press conference held by the church, and the media gathered to protest. Source: Kyodo News
However, lawyers representing family members of Unification believers or those who have seceded have countered that Unification claims are false and that Unification’s exploitative donations continue to this day. The lawyers added that many believers went bankrupt, and that relatives of believers who were not religious themselves were still affected and tortured.
Hiroshi Yamaguchi, a member of the Lawyers’ Liaison Association, said: “Toru Yamagami took the life of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for whatever reason, this barbaric act can never be forgiven. However, if reports on his motive are Really, that his mother’s huge donation to the ‘Unification Church’ caused the family to go bankrupt and thus his revenge, then we can feel how much pain his mother’s actions caused him.”
Taking the recent 2021 as an example, the families and former believers of these believers are still complaining about the practice of the “Unification Church”, claiming that they were forced to donate 331 million yen (about 16.15 million yuan). That figure was based on reports gathered by lawyers, including donated cash and purchases of items such as personal seals, vases and artwork, according to an investigation by the Lawyers Liaison. Among the more than 400 cases between 2017 and 2020, the lawyers said losses totaled 5.1 billion yen (about 248.88 million yuan), with Japanese victims reporting an increase in losses compared to previous years.
The lawyers stressed that their aim was to provide aid to victims of the “weird” practices of Unification believers. Given the Unification Church’s track record, lawyers urged politicians not to support the group.
Abe reportedly addressed a so-called friendship group called the Universal Peace Federation. In a press conference for the Unification Church on Monday, Tanaka claimed that the Unification Church and the World Peace Association, despite having the same founders, have different goals and visions.
But Masaki Kito, another lawyer who has long provided aid to former members of the Unification Church and their relatives, said the activities of the Unification Church are inseparable from related groups, including the World Peace Association, noting that they are both Part of a “sectarian group” dedicated to the goal of “unifying” the world under its sect leadership.
On July 10, Toru Yamagami, who shot and killed former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was also taken to the Nara City Prosecutor’s Office. Source: Kyodo News
