Japan top court upholds order to dissolve Unification Church

Published June 23, 2026 By admin

The Supreme Court has upheld lower court rulings ordering the dissolution of the controversial religious group known as the Unification Church, rejecting a special appeal filed by the organization.
In the ruling dated Monday, the court’s Third Petty Bench, presided over by Justice Eriko Watanabe, said the dissolution order “does not violate the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and association.” The four justices unanimously supported the decision.

The top court’s ruling marks the first time for the court to finalize a court decision to dissolve a religious corporation over unlawful acts under the Civil Code. The case, brought by the education ministry following the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, now concluded after two years and eight months of legal proceedings.

The dissolution order took effect when Tokyo High Court upheld it in March this year. Procedures to liquidate the group’s assets will continue.

Content retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/23/japan/crime-legal/top-court-unification-church-dissolve/.