‘Second-gen’ of Unification Church members in Japan sue for 320 million yen in damages
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TOKYO — Eight individuals who are the children of followers of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly the Unification Church, filed a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on July 24 seeking a total of about 320 million yen (roughly $2.19 million) in damages from the religious organization.
These “second-generation” members claim that their parents prevented them from making free decisions and caused them severe psychological harm. The plaintiffs hold the church responsible rather than their parents, arguing that the parents’ actions were strongly influenced by the church’s teachings.
According to the plaintiffs’ attorney, this is believed to be the first class action by second-generation members. The plaintiffs argue, “The church instructed parents to prioritize religious practice over the human rights of their children, severely distorting the environment in which the second generation grew up. These children suffered abusive acts that violated their rights to freedom of religion and marriage, among others.”
The issue of second-generation members suffering due to their parents’ religious beliefs gained national attention after the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara. Tetsuya Yamagami, who was charged with murder and other offences in the shooting, reportedly claimed his family was destroyed by his mother’s deep involvement with the Unification Church.
(Japanese original by Kumiko Yasumoto, Tokyo City News Department)
Content retrieved from: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250724/p2a/00m/0na/017000c.
