A court in Tokyo has directed the Unification Church in Japan to dissolve, as requested by the nation’s government.
The church, officially named the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, faced greater examination following the 2022 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The suspected killer alleges that the church caused his mother’s financial ruin, and he holds Abe responsible for his party’s connection to it.
In 2023, Japan’s education ministry requested the disbandment of the church, alleging that it had caused harm to its members and their families via deceptive funding and enrollment practices.
In support of their submission, the governmental body presented 5,000 files and evidentiary items to the court, derived from over 170 witness interviews.
In its decision regarding the case, the Tokyo District Court declared on Tuesday that it would be rescinding the official recognition of the religious group based in South Korea, commonly referred to as Moonies by its adherents. The term “Moonies” originates from the surname of the church’s founder and self-declared Messiah, Sun Myung Moon.
If the group fails to overturn this ruling effectively, they stand to lose their tax-free status and will be required to sell off all their holdings within Japan.
The church, which has expressed consideration for filing an appeal, described Tuesday’s ruling as “totally unacceptable,” asserting that the court provided “an incorrect legal interpretation.”
For the first time, a religious group in Japan is facing the consequences of a revocation order as per the nation’s civil code.
The Unification Church, established in Seoul in 1954, gained official recognition in Japan during the 1960s. This development is believed to have received backing from Abe’s grandfather, ex-Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.
After Abe’s murder during a political event, attention was drawn to the connections between the church and Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party.
In 2022, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conducted a cabinet reshuffle that led to the removal of seven officials associated with the church. Prior to this, Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa stepped down due to his connections to the same group.