Former Unification Church victims’ compensation claims to be accepted from May
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The liquidator for the religious group widely known as the Unification Church says victims of the organization in Japan can apply for compensation from next month.
The group was ordered by the Tokyo High Court last month to disband as a religious corporation in Japan. Its court-appointed liquidator released by Wednesday a report he submitted to the court.
The report says a liquidating team with 415 members visited more than 400 facilities across Japan and seized at least 40 billion yen, or more than 250 million dollars, in savings and deposits.
The figure is roughly 40 percent less than what the dissolution order said the group had in fiscal 2024.
The group also owns about 200 real estate properties. The liquidator says the assets will be sold, starting with those not currently in use.
He also published a notice in the government journal Official Gazette on Wednesday saying applications for compensation will be accepted over a one-year period from May 20. This is believed to be the last chance for victims to receive compensation.
The group had roughly 1,900 employees in Japan as of March 4, when it was ordered to disband. About 340 quit voluntarily on March 10. There are now about 1,400.
Of them, the liquidator says about 900 who are not involved in the liquidation process will be dismissed as of May 20.
He also says he will not provide, with permission from the court, extra retirement money or merit bonuses to employees who quit voluntarily.
Content retrieved from: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260422_13/.
