The Unification Church has come under intense scrutiny in Japan since a former prime minister was assassinated, but it could soon fall even further from grace.
Authorities said in October 2023 they were seeking to dissolve the influential sect, founded in South Korea and nicknamed the "Moonies" after its late founder, Sun Myung Moon.
The church is accused of pressuring followers into making life-ruining donations, and blamed for child neglect among its members -- although it has denied any wrongdoing.
Now a court order is expected to strip the group of legal recognition as early as this month, major Japanese media outlets reported.
The dissolution would remove the church's tax-exempt status while branding the organization a harmful entity.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- Japan's longest-serving leader -- was shot dead on the campaign trail in 2022, allegedly by a man who resented the Unification Church.
Investigations after Abe's murder revealed close ties between the sect and many conservative ruling-party lawmakers, leading to the resignation of four ministers.
Even after its dissolution, the Unification Church could continue religious practices, said lawyer Katsuomi Abe.
But "its reputation will decline, and the number of followers will decrease", said Abe, who represents former believers seeking compensation after making huge donations.
The amount donated by Japanese members over the decades has been estimated by some at hundreds of millions of US dollars or more.
Since 2023, nearly 200 people have demanded compensation of 5.7 billion yen in total, according to Abe and other lawyers.
"I don't think any other organization has caused such damage" to Japanese society, he told AFP.
It would be the third religious group ordered to disband in Japan -- another being the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which released a deadly nerve agent on the Tokyo subway 30 years ago.
Aum eventually declared bankruptcy, but its two successor groups continue to operate in the country.
The Unification Church -- officially the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification -- was founded in 1954.
It rose to global prominence in the 1970s and 80s, becoming famous for mass weddings often held in stadiums.
Its affiliate groups have secured addresses from Donald Trump and Japan's Abe, who was not a member of the church or its sub-groups but made a video speech at a 2021 event.
The man accused of killing Abe is 44-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, whose mother is said to have donated 100 million yen to the Unification Church in total.
Yamagami, now in pre-trial detention, could face the death penalty if convicted.
He has reportedly attempted suicide in the past, while his brother took his own life.
Their uncle has described receiving calls for help from Yamagami when his mother left her children alone and without food to attend church.
Since Abe's murder, the church has pledged to prevent "excessive" member donations.
Japan has long been a financial hub for the Unification Church, which tells members they must atone for the wartime occupation of Korea and sells expensive items to grant forgiveness from sins.
A man whose parents are members told a recent lawyers' gathering that his family could not afford school equipment or even sometimes to run a bath.
He was told not to interact with "satanic" non-members and felt "lonely and isolated". He said his brother took his own life last year after suffering mental health problems.
It could take up to a year for the dissolution order to be finalised if the church appeals.
Lawyers warn the group could transfer its financial assets elsewhere, partly due to a 2023 bill approved by the ruling party that critics say takes a light touch on financing.
"They've been sending tens of billions of yen every year to their South Korean headquarters," said Abe.
He and other lawyers are calling for stronger legislation so that money can be returned to victims.
Liquidating the church's assets will be a daunting job, Abe warned.
"There is a big question as to how many years the liquidation process will take... and whether it will go smoothly," he said.
© 2025 AFP
41 Comments
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TokyoLiving
Excellent..
Tamarama
No objections from me.
I'veSeenFootage
Dissolution is great, but prison sentences for the leaders would be even better.
GuruMick
Just read some stuff on "tithes ", the Biblical invocation to give 10% of your income/wealth to the Church.
Mentioned in the Old Testament even before the story of Moses.
Fast forward to today and you have Tele Evangels tearfully seeking people, often Americans in the South, to give generously.....with Church leaders sometimes having multiple residences and even private planes.
Religion....its a racket
L. Ron Hubbard...I'm looking at you
factchecker
Great, when you're done with these please outlaw the other forms of organised religion.
Concerned Citizen
As much as I dislike the Unification Church I don't agree with this.
Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The government doesn't have the right to interfere with that or punish people for it.
Punish illegal activities, yes. But otherwise leave them alone.
Fighto!
Good news.
Keep ALL members of the Moonies in Japan on a watch list as Aum Shinrikyo/Aleph members are.
Newgirlintown
The problem is that they’ll just rebrand.
sakurasuki
@I'veSeenFootage
That organization really involved with Japanese politics, so they can get great leniency
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c12101/
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Unification-Church-and-politics/Unification-Church-How-Japan-politicians-counted-on-members-votes
I'veSeenFootage
It doesn't guarantee freedom to brainwash your church members, fleece them for all their money and force them into marriages.
GuruMick
I like the "rebranding " idea mentioned above.
How about..."The New Moonies "
Kabuto
Let’s hope it’s the Soka Gakkai next!
Garthgoyle
Concerned Citizen
As per your comment above, the government should have never interfered nor punished anyone in Aum cult and they should stop watching the current members every move.
BigP
Good news.
WoodyLee
Should Be Flat Out OUTLAWED.
Simple as theat.
JDoe
All organized CORPORATE churchs and religions should by banned.
Religion has no place in modern governments.
WoodyLee
Japan has approx. more that 2000 cults according to AI Overview, one of which I live near and it is sickening just looking at the building and how dark it is, it's like something out of dooms day.
Members never say hello, or even show their faces.
WoodyLee
Donations should be returned to donors, assets should be sold and the sales $ should be used to pay back the Donors too.
This Cult victims were fooled, tricked, and manipulated stripping them of the pleasure and fun of life so they can make these donations, Evil work at it's best.
WoodyLee
""Japan has long been a financial hub for the Unification Church, which tells members they must atone for the wartime occupation of Korea and sells expensive items to grant forgiveness from sins.""
Unbelievable stuff, and people accepted it and donated.
YeahRight
Go after the Mormons while you're at it.
Ah_so
Religious cults destroy lives and families. They brainwash their member and take theirminds and then their money. In some cases their lives.
The world would be a much better place without any religion at all.
JDoe
ALLLLL organized religions are cults. All of them.. . including the largest ones in the world. Cult. =. Religion. Same same!
Jimizo
Plenty of fleecing going on outside of religion.
I can’t think of many that are exempt from paying taxes while fleecing and scamming though.
It is a disgrace that they get away with this.
Tax them. I’m sure their often self-proclaimed moral compass wouldn’t countenance any tax avoidance or evasion.
Mr Kipling
None of this would have happened without Tetsuya Yamagami shooting ex PM Abe. The Moonie cult would still be cozying up to politicians, they would still be exploiting their cult members. Obviously not condoning murder but important not to forget the reason why this is news today.
Mr Kipling
Tax exemption for religions should be abolished. Most are run as businesses or pyramid marketing schemes that need to recruit new members to fill the coffers.
Jay
Anyway, the Unification Church can get stuffed, just like every other cult that hijacks Jesus's name for profit. They're nothing more than parasitic scams preying on the gullible and desperate. True Christianity isn't about brainwashing followers into blind obedience, arranging mass weddings, or funneling millions into the pockets of self-appointed "messiahs." These FRAUDS exploit faith for cash and turn salvation into a business model - proving that their real god isn't Christ, but cold, hard cash.
itsonlyrocknroll
"Unification Church" has infiltrated government, why attempt to hide the fact?
The question is how far?
Such horrors, could well have cost Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- Japan's longest-serving leader. his life.
Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe has been left bereaved bereft.
Only an independent judge led statutory public inquiry will bring closure.
Jacobo
@Mr Kipling, You are exactly right.
socrateos
Now, how can the media know before the judge announces his decision?
Marc Lowe
Shocking. So unfair. As soon as there are unfounded rumors regarding a foreign bank or church, there is a witch-hunt here. It is not the Unification Church's fault corrupt politicians get targeted by patriots. This is akin to blaming any elementary school or kindergarten for the future crimes or poor decisions of the kids who went through them. I truly hope the church appeals and continues to offer services for those inclined to practice their religion of choice freely.
GuruMick
Socrates above....my guess is the Judges wife is a former Moony with a lifetime of donations.
Cephus
Jay,
"Anyway, the Unification Church can get stuffed, just like every other cult that hijacks Jesus's name for profit. They're nothing more than parasitic scams preying on the gullible and desperate. True Christianity isn't about brainwashing followers into blind obedience, arranging mass weddings, or funneling millions into the pockets of self-appointed "messiahs." These FRAUDS exploit faith for cash and turn salvation into a business model - proving that their real god isn't Christ, but cold, hard cash."
Very true!!, just imagine how many hospitals, wineries, fisheries, and bakeries Jesus could have started for profits. But, He gave freely.
Jimizo
Yes, he said to give everything you own to the poor and follow him. Everything. Very extreme idea.
A true believer in wealth distribution. Some regard him as a prototypical socialist. A fair argument.
Also a believer in paying taxes.
GuruMick
Marc above "practise their religion freely "
Ahh....I think the problem hangs on the word "freely " when talking about "adherents/devotees/suckers...no too cruel...delete suckers ' of this Church.
Issues of coercion, enforced payments and such like are not features of a religion practiced "freely "
Jay
Haha, yeah no. Nice try Jim, but Jesus wasn't handing out government welfare checks - He told individuals to give their own wealth to the poor, not to vote for Caesar to do it for them. That's called charity, not socialism.
Jimizo
Either way, he believed in huge wealth redistribution, no matter the means.
Give everything. Really extreme stuff.
Still, there are some good messages in amongst the nonsense, barbarism and crackpottery in the Bible.
The stuff about truth and despising liars is quite good. Not original nor revelatory, but good for the ages.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
Harry_Gatto
Freeze their bank accounts tomorrow and go from there.
Agent_Neo
Even if former Prime Minister Abe had not been assassinated, this issue would have been one of the reasons for the LDP being criticized.
This is because former believers have already filed a lawsuit and it is an issue that is socially recognized.
If it is not acceptable for the LDP to ask religious organizations for cooperation in gathering votes during elections, why does no one say anything about the Komeito Party?
If they are going to strictly separate religion and state, then they should definitely ban Komeito organized votes as well.
Claire
This is good news. I hope it happens.
Simon Foston
Agent_NeoToday 12:27 pm JST
Probably because they're coalition partners with the LDP and LDP candidates benefit from Komeito campaigning activities too?