Editorial: The Unification Church dissolution ruling in Japan solves nothing by itself
Published By admin
The dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, has been finalized. Japan’s Supreme Court dismissed the group’s special appeal and upheld the Tokyo High Court decision ordering its dissolution. But this does not mean the problems surrounding the group have been resolved. Relief for victims of spiritual-sales schemes and excessive donations must be steadily and reliably carried forward.
The group has long collected donations through malicious tactics, such as telling people struggling with serious worries that they were suffering from “ancestral karma” and stoking their anxiety. The damage recognized through civil court rulings and settlements alone exceeds 7 billion yen (approx. $43.16 million).
The Supreme Court found that having believers solicit donations by setting fundraising targets that could not be achieved through ordinary means “significantly harms the public welfare.” It rejected the church’s claim that ordering its dissolution would violate the Constitution by infringing on freedom of religion.
In past dissolution orders over legal violations involving groups such as the AUM Shinrikyo cult, senior figures had faced criminal punishment. This is the first dissolution based on civil wrongdoing. It sets a precedent that improper solicitation of donations will not be tolerated.
The focus now shifts to liquidating the group. Its assets will be sorted out and used to compensate those who come forward with claims of harm. Following the high court ruling, those procedures have already begun.
Some former believers do not have records on hand proving their donations. There will also likely be cases in which people still have not fully broken free from the group’s brainwashing and hesitate to report the harm they suffered. Support is needed to ensure they obtain steady and meaningful relief.
Even if the church is dissolved and loses bases such as its facilities, believers will still be able to continue their religious activities. Nor can the risk be dismissed that the same kind of problematic donation solicitation could resume. To prevent harm from being repeated, the state must strengthen its consultation system and respond quickly.
Problems with the group had been pointed out since the 1980s, yet the state’s response was slow. The dissolution process only moved forward after the 2022 shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by a defendant who was a second-generation follower of the religion.
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers, in return for receiving election support, attended events tied to the church and in effect gave its activities a stamp of approval. Even so, the LDP’s review and explanation remain inadequate.
Uncovering all the facts is a political responsibility, after years of leaving the problem unaddressed and allowing the damage to spread.
Content retrieved from: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260630/p2a/00m/0op/013000c.
