Court orders dissolution of Unification Church in Japan

Finally some good news.

LDP heavily responsible for this mess.

Any news of victory against one of the many fraudulent organizations that twist faith - particularly ones which falsely manipulate the teachings of Jesus into a money-making scheme - is good news.

Now if Japan is SERIOUS about cracking down on these predatory groups, SOKKAI GAKKAI MUST be next. Their deep entanglement with businesses, media, and political influence goes far beyond what any legitimate religious organization should be involved in. For decades, they've wielded power behind the scenes, using their vast resources to push agendas while draining followers for cash. This should only be the beginning.

Yup, Soka Gakkai and Komeito will be very quiet these next few weeks while this news cycle is still alive.

Notable SOKA GAKKAI affiliations include:

Mainichi Shimbun

TBS TV

Seven & Holdings / 7 Eleven

UniQlo

Mitsubishi

Hito Communications

Benesse Corporation

Ito-En Beverages

Fuji Sankei

SMBC Financial Group

Daiichi Printing

Yamato Transport

Toho Studios

Daiwa House

Bad news for LDP, their source of income has terminated !

It took the assassination of a former prime minister for this to take place. Probably the government won't rein in other abuses by religious groups until somebody else is killed.

They'll probably just change their name, and carry on as before.

That's not enough as church can still be active in Japan even after dissolution like Aum!

Japan is a perfect freeland for cults, abusing of fragile population but as they are sponsoring political parties and have parts of many companies, government is quiet.

Good. They could still gather and continue businesses but this should be a big blow against this fraudulent organization.

Well done, Japan.

Its a start, now take away the charitable status of EVERY "religious" organization and tax them as private members clubs.

Ok, good start, BUT keep in mind that the "courts" ordered Aum to disband and look at what happened with them.

ALL religions are cults, of some shape or form. If folks want Sokka Gakkai to disband, then please dont stop there, get rid of ALL the Catholic churches, Christians, JW, Mormons, 7th Day Adventists, Islamic Mosques, and any other "religious" organization that get tax breaks here in Japan.

Never gonna happen, but it's a thought.

For decades, they've wielded power behind the scenes, using their vast resources to push agendas while draining followers for cash. This should only be the beginning.

Dont be so naïve to think that other religious organizations besides them are not doing the same thing.

The Catholic church pops to mind.

Are the Japanese followers fully aware that their "religion" was created as a psy-op by the South Korean intelligence service?

one more in a long list of reasons to vote LDP out of office for good

Good news. Now, make sure any new offshoot groups that pop up are banned also.

Monitor ALL members and ex-members going forward. Hopefully soneone can put all their names and addresses online for the protection of the general public.

a bit late but better now than never.

Imagine a world without religion.

Fighto...your suggestion " to monitor " everyone and have a data base of names is , on a grander scheme, part of what these cults have been accused of.

Why give another agency, presumably Govt., a power criticised in other forms.

I am more concerned with Govt. data base than if a Moonie lives down the street.

A good start. Let's get rid of a few more cults next.

NOT just the UC, all Cults should first be reviewed to see if they benefit society in any ways then financially investigated.

Cults in general have never been of any benefit to any society, in fact Colts have only caused Pain and Suffering and in many cases Death.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

While religion is part of the problem not the solution, some are even more loathsome and poisonous, and this is one of the worst.

ALL religions are cults, of some shape or form. If folks want Sokka Gakkai to disband, then please dont stop there, get rid of ALL the Catholic churches, Christians, JW, Mormons, 7th Day Adventists, Islamic Mosques,

That is an absolutely clown-tier comment that sounds like something a Temu Richard Dawkins would make. Equating a 2,000-year-old faith that built the moral and legal foundations of Western civilization and by extension, the Japanese constitution, with a couple of modern, politically motivated, money-grubbing cults is PEAK ignorance. Christianity gave the world hospitals, charities, universities, the very concept of human rights, and the abolition of slavery - Soka Gakkai and the Moonies are shady organizations that operate like multinational corporations, funneling money and influence for nothing but political and financial gain.

If you can't see the difference between actual faith and a glorified Ponzi scheme, that's on you.

The Japanese branch of the church had criticized the request as a serious threat to religious freedom and the human rights of its followers.

Really pity that they still do not realize what damages have been done with "their religious freedom" but seriously harming followers with fear

Soka Gakkai has not broken any laws so cannot be banned. It also pays tax on its non religious income.

Its a start, now take away the charitable status of EVERY "religious" organization and tax them as private members clubs

Yep.

The richest religion and church is the Vatican with billions of unaccounted wealth

Yep. Tax the living daylights out of them.

It also pays tax on its non religious income

They should pay tax on their non religious income.

No exceptions.

It also pays tax on its non religious income

They should pay tax on their non religious income

Mistake:

They should also pay tax on their religious income.

According to a study from 2015, Christians hold the largest amount of wealth (55% of the total world wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%).

ALL religions are cults, of some shape or form. If folks want Sokka Gakkai to disband, then please dont stop there, get rid of ALL the Catholic churches, Christians, JW, Mormons, 7th Day Adventists, Islamic Mosques, and any other "religious" organization that get tax breaks here in Japan

Freedom of religion, and more importantly, freedom from religion, is a sign of a society worth living in.

Don’t disband them - tax them.

At least some of them have theme parks you go to after you fall off the perch. What’s a few quid in tax before you go to Disneyland?

According to a study from 2015, Christians hold the largest amount of wealth (55% of the total world wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%).

And what exactly does that have to do with anything Wall? Why are you just throwing out random statistics to dodge the real issue - that Soka Gakkai isn't next? Every time SG/SGI comes up, you scramble to change the subject. Be honest and tell us WHY that is.

Soka Gakkai has not broken any laws so cannot be banned. It also pays tax on its non religious income.

What's it like being in Soka Gakkai? How often do they pressure, I mean, "ask" you for donations? How many political meetings, sorry, "Buddhist gatherings" have you attended? And do they still push members to vote a certain way, or is that just an old rumor?

Imagine a world without religion.

Human are not ready for this, they need better education first.

JayToday  11:12 am JST

Soka Gakkai has not broken any laws so cannot be banned. It also pays tax on its non religious income.

What's it like being in Soka Gakkai? How often do they pressure, I mean, "ask" you for donations? How many political meetings, sorry, "Buddhist gatherings" have you attended? And do they still push members to vote a certain way, or is that just an old rumor?

They don’t ask for donations except for small ones at the end of the year. We usually give ¥5000. There are no voting pressures. Many will vote for the Komeito or LDP.

There are no political meetings. Komeito had been a separate organization since the 1970s.

But don’t let any of that cloud your opinions.

They don’t ask for donations except for small ones at the end of the year. We usually give ¥5000. There are no voting pressures. Many will vote for the Komeito or LDP.

Thanks, you’re really selling it! No pressure, just some small donations, totally optional voting habits, and absolutely no political influence - got it, sounds like a dream! Where do people sign up to devote their lives to an organization founded by Daisaku Ikeda - a bespectacled man who found SG for t̶a̶x̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶o̶l̶i̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶l̶e̶v̶e̶r̶a̶g̶e̶ spiritual enlightenment and global peace?!

Excellent news!!..

Enough with that fake gospel..

Sayonara moooooniezzz..

LOL

JayToday 11:52 am JST

They don’t ask for donations except for small ones at the end of the year. We usually give ¥5000. There are no voting pressures. Many will vote for the Komeito or LDP.

Thanks, you’re really selling it! No pressure, just some small donations, totally optional voting habits, and absolutely no political influence - got it, sounds like a dream! Where do people sign up to devote their lives to an organization founded by Daisaku Ikeda - a bespectacled man who found SG for t̶a̶x̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶o̶l̶i̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ ̶l̶e̶v̶e̶r̶a̶g̶e̶ spiritual enlightenment and global peace?!

More nonsense. Do I need to remind you that on Sundays the church hand out donation plates? Don't have to join, you are free to belong to your organizations.

Such strict measures are surely very nice, but they are also of no or only formal theoretical use. It is impossible to declare or to forbid what people have to think or believe. If that one cult is now officially away, the same cult still in the many thousands heads of the followers prevails, btw accorded with the disadvantage of not anymore capable of handling centralized, observing, surveillance etc. So it's a draw, a positive goal and a negative own goal.

Religious persecution is what it seems like. Are you going to attack every church now for asking their members to tithe 10% of their income? How about those wealthy shrines who ask for hefty saisens? Whether you agree with their views or not, people have a right to contribute whatever amount they want to whatever they believe in. If a lunatic decides to kill another politician and puts the blame on the catholic church, are you going to cancel them, too? Of course you won't because the media will never give the platform to such nonsense.

How could the Unification Church go on for decades fleecing myriads of well-meaning people.? It took a murder to bring down this evil organization. That is the sad fact of the matter, A pity that the Moonies were not caught ear;ier. for the crooks that were. Religion can become a dangerous evil out power and money.

More nonsense. Do I need to remind you that on Sundays the church hand out donation plates? Don't have to join, you are free to belong to your organizations.

Oh, what part is nonsense exactly? The fact that Daisaku Ikeda built an empire out of a so-called Nichiren "Buddhism" while living in absolute LUXURY, treating his followers like obedient pawns, and using Soka Gakkai as a political machine? Or the fact that he amassed billions through endless "voluntary" donations while preaching about humility and detachment from material wealth? Or maybe it's the way he positioned himself as some kind of spiritual messiah, despite being nothing more than a savvy bespectacled business who manipulated people into funding his influence? Yeah, totally "nonsense."

My opinion on this story is that religion causes many problems and that we would be better off without it. Here are some examples of problems religions can cause.

Conflict and Division – Religious differences have contributed to wars, persecution, and social divisions.

Intolerance – Some religious beliefs promote exclusion or discrimination against others.

Suppression of Science – At times, religious institutions have resisted scientific progress (e.g., opposition to evolution or heliocentrism).

Moral Rigidity – Strict religious rules can sometimes limit personal freedom or social progress.

Exploitation – Some religious leaders or institutions misuse faith for power, wealth, or control.

Guilt and Fear – Certain teachings emphasize sin, punishment, or guilt, which can affect mental well-being.

Gender Inequality – Some religious traditions reinforce patriarchal systems or restrict women’s rights.

The cult formerly called itself the Unification Church. Now, it calls itself the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, supposedly changing many a doctrine along the line.

On what bases, then, can one call the two groups are the same or different?

Jay

More nonsense. Do I need to remind you that on Sundays the church hand out donation plates? Don't have to join, you are free to belong to your organizations.

Oh, what part is nonsense exactly? The fact that Daisaku Ikeda built an empire out of a so-called Nichiren "Buddhism" while living in absolute LUXURY, treating his followers like obedient pawns, and using Soka Gakkai as a political machine?

None of that is true. Daisaku Ikeda lived in the same little wooden house in Tokyo up until the time of his death. He rented the house first but was able to buy it. He did once own a bicycle and you would see him riding it but he came it up with age. He never owned any luxury cars or apartments. He died in that house. Daisaku Ikeda passed away peacefully due to natural causes in the middle of the night on Nov. 15, 2023, at his residence in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

Or the fact that he amassed billions through endless "voluntary" donations while preaching about humility and detachment from material wealth? Or maybe it's the way he positioned himself as some kind of spiritual messiah, despite being nothing more than a savvy bespectacled business who manipulated people into funding his influence? Yeah, totally "nonsense."

Daisaku Ikeda earned a salary and also from publishing. But all of that money went back into the organization. He did not leave a great wealth when he died. He used the money to build more than 1,000 cultural centers in 135 countries. The Fuji Art Museum. Universities here and in the US. Schools. You speak about someone you know little about.

Someone explain to me why in the hell Aum is still allowed to exist . Because they changed their name?

The Japanese I have discussed this with agree that Yamagami has succeeded in his mission (their word) despite of course facing punishment for his action (which essentially makes him a martyr). They also maintain that had Yamagami not done what he did, absolutely nothing would have happened. That creates the jeopardy of others in the future concluding that similar extreme measures are the only way to bring about change.

A world without religion, societies that utterly abandon any attempt to find God and blend His will into their lives, invariably turn into oppressive, murderous hellholes.

Most of the western countries are becoming increasingly atheist and none of that is happening. The khmer rouge massacres in Cambodia weren't based on any atheist ideology, but on an autocratic, racist, nationalistic, anti-intellectual one. Like a murderous version of MAGA.

Why do the most "religious" often come across as the most illogical, intolerant and perpetually angry?

I guess their "religions" aren't working well for them.

an organization founded by Daisaku Ikeda - a bespectacled man who found SG 

Certainly not a fan of Soka Gakkai or Ikeda. But what does his eye-sight have to do with anything? Would it have been better if he wore contact lenses? What kind of "argument" is that?

Soka Gakkai and Ikeda's early actions certainly included violence and pressure for donations. Not so different from the moonies. Now? Soka Gakkai in 2025 is not the same as in the 50es or 60es. Disbanding them now... for what? Some misinformation about what companies they own? Stuff from 60 years ago? Won't happen.

Of course there's lots of hypocrisy involved in the ban of the moonies. They get blamed for Abe's death, (wrongly, nobody forced Aber to be friendly with them) so now they get disbanded. The reasons to do that were there before, and are probably there for a number of other groups, but Abe's death needs to be avenged.

Maybe if a son of a Soka Gakkai member kills the bespectacled Ishiba...

Jay

an organization founded by Daisaku Ikeda - a bespectacled man who found SG 

Soka Gakkai wasn't founded by Ikeda.

I'm totally amazed at the knee jerk reactions of people who think they know all about religions/cults when they don't and are only repeating someone else's ideas about it. Some of the posts here are just as "cultish" as the religions/cults they put down.

Last September, immediate before LDP party leader election, Asahi revealed new fact with picture that face-to-face meeting of the then PM Abe and Unification Church chairman at PM residence 2013 before election.

But, on that night, LDP 9 candidates who were quest about it from anchor person at news show had silenced, and all denied re-investigation. Such their attitudes told how important and taboo Unification Church is for ruling party LDP.

Whole of deep relation of LDP and Unification Church for decades is still un-clear.