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© KYODOShooter says he believed Abe promoted religious group that bankrupted his mother
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blvtzpk
Hmm. “Religious group” not named. Hmm.
David Van Cleef
Unification Church (Moonies)
voiceofokinawa
Can a man murder a political leader, thinking the politician was responsible for the bankruptcy of his (the culprit's) mother?
Chibakun
Something to do with S Korea?
u_s__reamer
The "Opium of the people" is a constant menace to the health of Japanese democracy. If you turn over the rock, you'll find a myriad of religious cults that those Japanese citizens who feel abandoned by the duplicitous LDP and live lives of quiet desperation without hope always turn to. Abe was simply the poster boy and therefore became a target for the angry, disaffected Yamagami.
EvilBuddha
Must be the Unification Church with which Abe was associated.
But for sure, going by the comments of folks on other articles, this will be used to point fingers at Soka Gakkai.
Those who don't know better will quickly come to the conclusion that since LDP and Komeito are in alliance, it must be the Soka Gakkai that is being referred to.
This has happened before. After the Aum Shinrikyo sarin subway attacks, there were numerous steps taken by the LDP to clip the wings of 'religious cults', and these steps were actually aimed at Soka Gakkai. This inspite of the fact that the antipathy of the Aum founder to Soka Gakkai and its leaders was well documented. That time, LDP was not in alliance with Komeito, and in fact the 2 sides had been feuding for several years.
The fact is that the alliance between LDP and Komeito is an alliance of convenience, and not an alliance of ideologies. There is mutual dislike between the LDPs conservative support base and the Soka Gakkai member base (who are more dovish and progressive).
Kobe White Bar Owner
One of the “elite security “ did raise a bulletproof briefcase the rest of them dropped a brick and the ball.
Yrral
Everybody in America,are asking about the Nippon Kaigi
Larr Flint
Disgusting excuse.
Antiquesaving
Why is the Japanese news avoiding saying what religious group.
Apparently a leader of that group was originally scheduled to also be with Abe, so I am sure the Japanese news organizations know the name but they are all tiptoeing around it.
Typical gutless wonders of Japanese journalism.
mountainpear
@garypen Because you have to find the origin of the moonies. Then you will know the answer.
Yubaru
No they aren't.
Yrral
Nippon Kaigi was mention on ABC news
Yrral
This guy followed Abe schedule on Abe website, according to Wikipedia dossier of the killer
Yubaru
What's the point here? Everyone in the world knows he did and everyone in the world probably, with the exception of a few, that people have been murdered for less.
What is it you really want to say? This "question" is meaningless.
Yubaru
So if something is written in an article in JT, then "everyone" in Japan is asking or curious about it?
I dont think so. I am quite sure you went to great lengths to find that tidbit of information, that really doesnt matter, as it's not a "religious" organization!
Tim Sullivan
The "elite" security team was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. The octogenarians at my local shopping center could have done a better job.
Lindsay
Abe fell victim to a complete whacko with a homemade gun. Will this be enough to make Japan start taking mental health seriously?
Yubaru
In reality, probably not, because most will probably think that this guy was the exception to the rule.
Folks still dont want to face the reality of mental health issues here, leastwise not openly.
Yrral
Yabaru mental illness is a serious problem in Japan,just sweeping under the rug,will not make it go away
voiceofokinawa
I'm not asking if he killed a political leader. Rather, I'm asking what the real reason for the homicide he committed was.
Some poster suggests a cult religious group is involved here.
Fanta
Why the religious group should be named? There is no reason of it.
Work hard and build your life rather than relying on your mother's money.
Mark
This was a total failure by the security personal responsible for Mr. Abe safety. Simple as that.
jeancolmar
Alleged murder likely predicated on pure insanity.
CEOB55
If it is SG, it will surely not be identified until well after the elections on Sunday given SG's relationship to Komeito.
browny1
Lots of indications that the "religious group" may well be the Unification Church aka "Family Federation for World Peace and Unity", known for it's rightist stance.
Quite infamous for it's strong hand tactics in aggressive fundraising.
Abe was an active supporter.
Interesting link from 10 months ago.
https://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news//index.php?id=13764
Could be wrong.
Sasza
conspiracy?
kokontozai
He is probably an idiot who has no particular deep thoughts and is prone to believe in conspiracy theories. Just a chu-2-byo who wants to show off.
Antiquesaving
Why the religious group should be named? There is no reason of it.
Are we to take this as you knowing something we don't?
So you know the religion or you know the shooter?
Because the only way you could know he was living on his mother's money would be to have direct knowledge of one or both of the above.
If not, then did it ever occur to you that he isn't living on his mother's money but more likely stuck supporting her after the religious group took all her money?
sheepdestroyer
YubaruToday 06:14 pm JST
Nippon Kaigai followers believe that the superior Yamato pure race and their godly emperor descend from the sun.
If that not a crazy religion, what is?
Ah_so
Why deliberately withhold information?
There are good reasons not to. Religious cults are extremely damaging (taking all of someone's wealth is a good give away that this is a cult).
They need to be named and avoided. Some like Aum Shinrikyo are murderous, suicidal like Heaven's Gate, apocalyptic, like the Jehovah Witnesses. Some require money, like Scientology. But all damage their followers and need to be singled out.
painkiller
Abe died from blood loss, the police said, with an autopsy determining that there were two gunshot wounds on his upper left arm and neck. There was another neck wound, but it is unknown how that was caused, they said.
The dr. at the press conference yesterday said there were two wounds to the neck, caused by the bullet.
Maybe there was another shooter.
Danny Nguyen
I'm sorry, but that is way too easy of an excuse to throw. Some people in the United States have been trying to pin the Highland Park shooting on mental health issues when the action was totally premeditated on top of the fact that he has a violent history with political ideology. It is nothing but pure terrorism. Besides, anything that demonstrates premeditation behind a first-degree murder in court will crush any claim of mental health issues, which would imply that the person doesn't have the capacity to commit premeditated murder.
In Yamagami's case here, he has deliberately chosen to forget that he and his mother have rights they can defend in the face of a wrongdoing. Using legal means to defend your rights is a tenet of any civilized society. Taking action on some unfounded belief or following a conspiracy theory is not.
OssanAmerica
Nobody in America even knows about it.
JTC
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-09/shinzo-abe-s-death-highlights-fringe-japan-political-party-that-criticized-him
Hercolobus
I am so sorry for your loss Akie san. Such a despicable and cowardly act will not go unpunished. Rest In Peace Shinzo.
kurisupisu
Is it true?
The press in Japan deserve to unearth an answer or the general consensus of Yamagami being a ‘nutter’ will just be the easy accepted rhetoric.
HappyDaruma
I am confused. Which one is the religious group that Yamagami wanted to attack?
Doitsu Kyokai or Nippon Kaigi?
WA4TKG
And now you will hang
Alfie Noakes
Yes - there's a long and deep relationship between the Unification Church, Ryoichi Sasakawa and LDP 's Kishida/Abe families going back to the 1950s.
https://tragedyofthesixmarys.com/moon-bought-protection-japan/
It's becoming apparent that Tetsuya Yamagami's mother was a member of the Unification Church but her son reportedly had left and joined a militant splinter group, probably the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, known as the Sanctuary.
The Pennsylvania-based Sanctuary is led by Hyung Jin Sean Moon, son of the Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon and is a far-right, Trump-supporting anti-LGBT group that owns a small arms manufacturer. They came to prominence as part of the attack on the US Capital Building in January 2021. The Sanctuary and mainstream Unification Church seem to be embroiled in a power struggle which has spilled over into Japanese domestic politics.
Further, the conspiracy theory nationalist crackpots of the NHK Party have been claiming that Abe was a tool of anti-Japanese foreign groups such the Unification Church. These people are absolutely nuts:
https://twitter.com/JpPoliticsChl/status/1540868516085395456
Mr Kipling
If journalists write things the police have told them not to, they will no longer get invited to police information meetings. There is a reason why Japan scores so low on Freedom of the press charts.
Khuniri
u_s_reamer quite misses it with his “opium of the people” talk. There are good ideas, and there are bad ideas, just as there are good people and bad people. The vast majority of Japanese have nothing to do with “cults.” One could argue that those who are victims of mad or unscrupulous groups claiming to be religious are all the more vulnerable because of the spiritual vacuum they feel…The LDJ is secular. There are Shintoists, Catholics, Buddhists, and atheists. I have no idea what Abe-san’s personal beliefs were, but I am sure that he was a truly admirable patriot.
JTC
I have some followers of the Soka Gakka within my neighbourhood - it's a sorry situation, the membership is expected to donate everything they own to the Religious group (sounds familiar ?)
There's an article here about them, and they've expanded to the US... perhaps to take on the Mormons ?
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/0906/126.html?sh=4ce12e872189
I hope, there's a thorough investigation into their Links to the Political ranks, and what influence they actually have there. However, being a "Powerful" organization, I doubt anything will get done about them.
JTC
One could even postulate that the "Soka Gakkai" were actually behind Abe's Assassination, citing his actions in 2015 regarding the new security laws, and how those go against the whole ethos of the Religious group - thus making him a "Traitor" in their eyes:
https://apjjf.org/-Levi-McLaughlin/4386
Hopefully, a thorough investigation will be carried out, but clearly too late to have any impact upon tomorrow's Upper House Elections - from which, undoubtable the LDP will receive a "Sympathy" boost due to Abe's Death. Which makes food for thought over the role "Soka Gakkai" has within Government...
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/main-parties-contesting-japans-upper-house-election-2022-07-05/
Yrral
I bet a cult will spring up around the murderer in Japan,lots of people follow in the step of notorious criminal
ppjp
ExPM has nothing to do with your mom's stupidity...
albaleo
Really? Many in my wife's family are Soka Gakkai members and I'd guess they donate no more than any typical Scot would donate to their local church (i.e. as little as possible). They keep their money to buy their kids clothes, take them on holiday, put them through school, and other normal stuff. Whatever is left over goes on good food and booze at the weekend and occasionally a new car.
EvilBuddha
@JTC
I have some followers of the Soka Gakka within my neighbourhood - it's a sorry situation, the membership is expected to donate everything they own to the Religious group
This is patently false. Soka Gakkai is rich as it is, it does not need to arm twist anyone to donate. Contributions are voluntary.
they've expanded to the US
They have been in the US for last 6 decades. The initial Soka members in the US were the Japanese women who had married American servicemen and gone to the US with them.
One could even postulate that the "Soka Gakkai" were actually behind Abe's Assassination, citing his actions in 2015 regarding the new security laws, and how those go against the whole ethos of the Religious group - thus making him a "Traitor" in their eyes:
https://apjjf.org/-Levi-McLaughlin/4386
Traitors are those who initially are with a group and then turn against. Abe had nothing to do with Soka. If at all the Soka members regarded anyone as a traitor it would have been Natsuo Yamaguchi.
Disclaimer - I am an ex-Soka Gakkai member but I left the organization due to my own personal reasons. There are issues in Soka which many members are not comfortable about (for example, I agree that they do get involved with political people in all countries where they have organizations in) but suggesting that someone would be crazy enough to assassinate a former PM who had nothing to do with it is the stuff of conspiracy theories.
coskuri
It's not a scoop. Abe was speaking at their events, every body knew that. Well, they do tons of stuff many consider... as unsavory. But I doubt they prey widows for their money (we never know, OK).
Even the other cults that will ruin you, they are not having Abe as their grand-master.
So that does NOT MAKE SENSE to shoot him rather than aiming more directly at the cult (their buildings and/or execs).
There is more to the story.
Or less. Could be the guy won't talk at all so they take ideas from his biography to feed the media.
Japantime
It seems a lot of people commenting on here knew how to save him. Just hit the deck, one poster stated. I guess that’s why they are just a poster.
drlucifer
Soka gakkai are also known for strong hand tactics and aggressive fundraising
Members are brainwashed and donate their entire bonus, members have several subscriptions
of the seikyo newspaper, buy Several copies of Ikeda Sensei books, made to buy butsudan
costing millions. Sola Gakkai is very rich with properties in prime locations. The money comes from
members donation and expensive purchases. I remember when I was a student I was asked to donate
and there was a minimum amount and if I am not mistaken it was 20,000yen and that was more than
30 years ago. If they can ask a student to pay 20,000 yen imagine what a worker will have to pay.
kyushubill
Well since the group has not been named you psychics are full of ...
Nippon Kaigi is not religious.
Some Moonies supported Abe, but the vast majority hated him because Dokdo Rocks. Keep in mind Rev. Moon and his chic had a very huge hatred of the LDP. Dokdo was to be the new Eden for Moon to fornicate with Moonie chics and replenish the earth after a nuke war between the US and USSR.
drlucifer
Died from the loss of blood but the very important piece of information that Abe was rushed to the hospital
50 minutes after he was shot is missing from the article. Nobody is asking the question why it took that long
to ferry him to the hospital by heli. Maybe he would have survived if he had been rushed to the hospital. I am sure alot of protocol and clearance had to be fulfilled before the heli flew. The manual has to be always followed even in emergency situations.
albaleo
Nonsense. The page below lists fairly cheap ones ranging from ¥25,000 - ¥82,000.
https://www.butsudan-sgi.com/category/select/cid/490
Why do I find myself defending the Soka Gakkai when I don't believe in their teachings? Probably because I find them fairly harmless, and their membership generally consisting of people who seek a little comfort. Not so different from those who go to church simply to join in the hymn singing.
EvilBuddha
Members are brainwashed and donate their entire bonus, members have several subscriptions
of the seikyo newspaper, buy Several copies of Ikeda Sensei books, made to buy butsudan
costing millions.
All that is voluntary I believe.
When I was a member I knew folks who were very passionate about their practice and no one forced them to contribute or buy journals and books of Ikeda. They did it out of their own choice.
I personally never donated, and I was never pressurized.
I remember when I was a student I was asked to donate and there was a minimum amount and if I am not mistaken it was 20,000yen and that was more than 30 years ago. *If this is true then maybe they changed their tactics towards contributions by the time I became a Soka member. I was an SGI member in 3 different countries for more than 20 years and never was forced to do anything that I did not want to do. Though I did feel at times that some Soka leaders were a bit overbearing, but once I made it clear to them that I will not do anything I don't want to do (example take part in organizing exhibitions, singing songs etc) they got the message.
I finally quit because, among many other reasons, there is too much of Ikeda in Soka these days and too little of Nichiren.
sheepdestroyer
Nippon Kaigai is a crazy racist nationalist religious cult that believes in the superiority of Pure Race Yamato people and their God Emperor descending from the Sun Goddess.
How is that not religious, as well as political of course (of the most disgusting kind)?
B.l. Sharma
Political connections of YAMAGAMI should be thoroughly investigated to ascertain whether any foreign power in involved in the shooting of Shinzo Abe . Akie Abe should now join L D P and play a significant role of nation building and finish the unfinished tasks of Shinzo Abe.
EvilBuddha
Political connections of YAMAGAMI should be thoroughly investigated to ascertain whether any foreign power in involved in the shooting of Shinzo Abe
You mean like China?
Akie Abe should now join L D P and play a significant role of nation building and finish the unfinished tasks of Shinzo Abe.
Sharmaji, this is not India where Sonia Gandhi could take over Congress after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
David Jones
JTCJuly 9 11:06 pm JST
One could even postulate that the "Soka Gakkai" were actually behind Abe's Assassination, citing his actions in 2015 regarding the new security laws, and how those go against the whole ethos of the Religious group - thus making him a "Traitor" in their eyes:
I believe the Japanese police later released a statement that it was the Unification Church the assassin had a grunge against. They probably had to finally release the name because rumors would implicate every Japanese fringe religious group people can think of.
mtuffizi
Abe san is a great political leader, did his best to protect japan.
RIP!
Robert pearce
I'm an old guy, a nobody in this world
Living in a Aussie outback small town.
But I'd like to say
I liked Abe .
I liked his soft smiling face.
There was something about this man that you could put trust in..
I'm so sorry it had to end this way for him.
The world can be a cruel place sometimes.
Septim Dynasty
Moonies are way more fascist, insane, and violent than the LDP or Nippon Kaigi.
Moonies and FLG are in the same bed that funded Trump's failed revolution in 2020.
Japanese media is afraid of telling about Moonies because the Unification Church holds a powerful political position in Japan, and the organization is also an important proxy of the CIA to disburse black funds for Asian politicians with pro-American leaning.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1209/S00029/reverend-moon-cult-leader-cia-asset-and-bush-family-friend.htm
Abe family and LDP elites are tied with Moonies because they receive financial backing and orders from the CIA via the Unification Church.
kochikame
I'm firmly against a religious group making people donate their money.
However, that's not an excuse to kill somebody, especially someone like former Prime Minister Abe, who contributed so much to the country.
JTC
There's two lines of discussion here...
The "Conspiracy" theories floating around - as to the reasons why he was assassinated, and the actual impact of that.
Conspiracy Theories:
@EvilBuddha - "And so say all of us" ... sadly, you just reinforce what I have said, supporters of the S.G. will do whatever they can to deny anything other than their own truth... Probably a bit like Trump Supporters on Steroids after a night out. So as you know, Evil is just simply Evil... who knows. Politics is incredibly decisive, "believers" on one side will do what they can, to deny whatever those on the other-side or elsewhere say.
@Redstone - "Komeito" is a smaller faction that is part of the Collation Government, and never-the-less, quite influential within it. Given, my personal unbiased experience, (since I have no Legal right, to vote here in this Country that I pay my taxes to), my local neighborhood "members" , tried (rather coercively & naively - for the aforementioned reason) to get support to promote their own "Political" Candidate, in order to push for certain agendas in their interest, and when you speak with them, it's really like listening to a hyperactive Evangelist towards their own cause... I hate it when Religion and Politics mix - it's an "Evil" mix in itself, and should be banned Globally by the UN as a membership requirement.
These people DO, give away both their time and monies to the so called "Churches" - read the article I posted too.
Furthermore, I'd be pissed off too, if my Parents had ended up being brainwashed by this (or any other Religious) group and given away their money ( had they had any... ) - though, I wouldn't have resorted to the same actions he took. But who knows how others would have reacted. Similar situations exist elsewhere in the World - the U.S, too has its own (un)fair share of such organizations.
As for actual Impact...
The fact of this matter is that now, Abe is dead; some disillusioned "mental" guy killed him, for whatever reason, regardless to the motives for that, (which I hope the Police investigation will properly and without interference, or persuasion/influence, uncover the truth over). Although I don't know them - I feel sympathy for Abe's direct relatives - they are the ones left with the current Pain of this situation - the rest of the Public's (& Political Elite's) showing of Grief in front of TV Camera's is fake in Comparison to that of their own.
How will his absence now impact Japanese Politics ? Well... that will be one to watch, often "Kishida" has been seen to be under the influence of Abe - though now without him around - is he now "his own man" - potentially able to make his own decisions, and if so, where will those go ?
The time is now for true investigative Journalism, and should those Reporters be stopped, the Public should be informed, and given answers as to "why" the truth is being withheld ? That is of course assuming that the Japanese Public really care about their own Politics here, which I sometimes doubt, but should they do so, then some rather hard and rather painful questions will need to be answered, and not simply white-washed away with wishy-washy answers or blamed upon foreign influences or dead individuals who can't answer back.
therougou
And how did they get so rich? It seems almost everyone knows somebody who donated way too much of their savings to this religious cult, so there must be something going on there.
frog
This page is conprehensive for the backgroud of the former PM Abe and the Unification Church.
https://tragedyofthesixmarys.com/moon-bought-protection-japan/
kurisupisu
I have never met a religious group that didn’t ask for and depend on donations from their members
EvilBuddha
And how did they get so rich?
Ikeda’s publications and books for one. He is a prolific writer, and his books are open for non-SGI members to buy.
Soka has their monthly journals in most countries. In Japan they have their daily newspaper Seikyō Shimbun.
Apart from that they also sell Butsudans and other merchandise. It’s quite an effective money making operation.
Soka also has universities in US and Japan and schools in a few countries.
The point is that it is voluntary to donate or subscribe to their journals. At least that has been the case for last 3 decades. Sometimes some Soka leaders are a bit pushy as far as the subscription part is concerned, but if you are firm they generally back off.
I took the good parts during my days as a member and learned to ignore the bad parts.
I parted with them on a harmonious note, and some folks from Soka still call me up inquiring if I would like to rejoin. I still practice on my own at my home but my polite answer to them is that I am done with their organisation.
jeancolmar
There is one character to appear in this tragedy. It is the mother of suspect. At some point she must be a material witness and she must speak in court about her son's behavior and her own involvement with the yet unidentified religious organization. Until this happen we have a big hole in front of us--a big hole which is filling up with speculation.
Zaphod
My immediate thought was Sokka Gakai, but why does the article not specify that? Which religious body exactly? Why is the writer so bashful?
Ricky Kaminski13
Conspiracies floating around already, but we all know what this fella was. Usually they end up killing a family member, but this idiot managed to stumble his way unto the former PM and infamy. He’ll get the death penalty, but it’ll be a long and drawn out process , maybe 10 to 20 years as he gets to wake up every morning wondering if today is THAT day. Bet he is chuffed with himself at the moment though.
All those rushing to scorn the Abe legacy, before he is even cold, also tells another story.