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© KYODOAt least 5 members of Kishida's new cabinet had links with Unification Church
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sakurasuki
Why reshuffle when still have tie with that Church?
kurisupisu
There is something addictively appealing to Japanese politicos about an organization that bilks thousands of Japanese out of their hard earned cash-what could it be?
dagon
Conservative forums have been known for giving helpful advice for protecting the environment in the world of crony LDP interests.
What the church would really regret would be if some lawmaker grew a spine and yanked the church's tax exemption and seized a great deal of their fraudulently procured assets.
Yubaru
They all probably came running back to him, once they heard they were selected for the cabinet, kissed his hand and vowed that they "impartially" reviewed their ties to the church.
All while keeping their fingers crossed behind their backs.
All along I thought it was the PM's job to vet people for his cabinet. Guess it doesnt matter one way or another!
Yubaru
"Main opposition", be really nice for once if you and the other "opposition" could get your acts together and actually do something about it.
CoffeeCrusher
"Keep 'Korea' out of Japan."
And likewise I'd imagine.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
And the corruption continues.
They cant run the LDP without the unification church.
The LDP must be abolished
dbsaiya
Copy / paste.
MarkX
I guess what this cabinet shuffle tells us is that Kishii, Abe's brother, and Hagiuda were in so far, that Kishida had no choice. The other new cabinet ministers either were more careful or their level of involvement was not enough in Kishida's eyes to warrant being left out. So the people we are stuck with are the lesser of two evils!
antifun
The bar for accountability is underground.
Toshihiro
Oh, but they do. I think erasing religious ties to political figures will be difficult if not impossible. If there's an issue that I'd like for the media to dig up, it's this.
voiceofokinawa
According to the article, a total 8 cabinet members have had connections with the Unification Church one way or the other. So, what's the meaning of this reshuffling of the Kishida administration?
Much ado about nothing?
Fighto!
At least these cultists have now been named and shamed. The public can vote accordingly if they see this dangerous cult as a threat to politics and the good of the nation.
Next up - hopefully media and internet will name teachers, doctors, businessmen, public servants, celebrities etc who are also members of this dangerous cult. Public have a right to know.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Fighto
Obviously naming and shaming has done diddly squat.
The LDP knows no shame.
They don't care.
They bamboozled the public into believing the problems bin dealt with and then move ahead with their hidden agenda.
The unification church is still in control of the government
Mark
Pointless, I am now under the impression that May be Mr. Kishida himself also has ties to the UC.
Jazzyjazz
Working hard for the Japanese people. Good job LDP.
Randy Johnson
One woman in Kishida's cabinet.
You know, I've never thought of any japanese pm as being the sole leader of japan because we all know that all the decision making is done by consensus.
In saying that, humans do have their own personality and in saying that most if not all japanese pms have boring personalities but in saying that, I would much rather have pm Abe over kishida. There's something not quite right about this guy. He reminds me of the old hard core political extreme right faction of japan but he's trying to appear as though he is a moderate.
At least Abe had a few women in his govt and tried to mingle among the international crowd. Kishida seems to fumble about on both those topics.
louisferdinandc
“The emperor’s new clothes” come to mind:
‘Two swindlers arrive at the capital city of an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of state matters. Posing as weavers, they offer to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent. The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work. A succession of officials, and then the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress. Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool.
Finally, the weavers report that the emperor's suit is finished. They mime dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that everyone has been fooled. Although startled, the emperor continues the procession, walking more proudly than ever.’
Sanjinosebleed
Just shows how politicians have zero shame and are happy to "review" their ties but NOT actually cut them! Never get rid of rock oysters like Aso from the party! Hopefully the Japanese people and the media keep hounding them until they actually do something concrete to stop Japan from being controlled by the Moonies!
kennyG
Rather than who and how many in the party had ties to, LDP should pass the law asap to kick this Korean evil cult out of country. Follow the example how Singapore has done that by passing new bill to protect citizen against freedom of religion BS.
The Avenger
Murder, political or otherwise, might be inexcusable, but it certainly created resonance and diverted attention to what seems to be a pressing problem.
stormcrow
Not surprising, and the Sami probably holds true anywhere else. Dig deep enough, and you’ll find dirt.
James
Now lets look at the links between Nippon Kaigi and The Unification Church
HBJ
Rotten to the core
shogun36
a surprise to NO ONE.
why do we keep hearing things that are blatantly obvious to anyone with a functioning brain?
John Noun
Of course they did. Hopefully this might be the start of some kind of change in politics, here.
Out with the cronyism, and same old faces, and in with a younger, fresher more progressive set of politicians to represent the country.
I think it's due time.
Simon Foston
kennyG
Today 09:57 am JST
Maybe they should. But they won't. They can't.
fxgai
Please also investigate the links between Komeito and Soka Gakkai.
mountainpear
@kennyG What law has Singapore passed? As far as I know even semi fascist Singapore's constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
These LDP politicians in bed with the Unification Church (including Abe) are 売国奴 (ばいこくど)
u_s__reamer
The UC is the "Won"-der-working religion for the vote-hungry, faux-nationalist grifters of the LDP lusting after Moonie money.
kennyG
Google is your friend. You find lots of info.
https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/803-1982-04-02.pdf
https://www.state.gov/reports/2016-report-on-international-religious-freedom/singapore/#:~:text=The%20government%20banned%20the%20Unification,home%20affairs%20or%20by%20parliament.
The government banned the Unification Church in 1982 on grounds it was a “cult” that could have detrimental effects on society. The Presidential Council for Religious Harmony reports on matters affecting the maintenance of religious harmony and considers cases referred by the minister for home affairs or by parliament.
Beto Ramirez
I really hope their boat sinks deeply. They have no right to run the country under these circumstances. The more info that’s dug up, the quicker these warts can be wiped out of office
mountainpear
@kennyG
You said a NEW bill. The bill that was passed on the Moonies dates back to 1982! You made it sound like a new bill was passed that restricts religious freedom.
Did look on Google and nothing came up because there is no NEW bill restricting freedom of religion in Singapore!!!
nero
The takeaway is YES you can discriminate against a religion.
Harry_Gatto
In many countries that's exactly what would and should happen but it's not going to happen here.
elephant200
The Unification Church owns the Japanese LDP, you can't get rid of them!
elephant200
The Unification Church is a criminal organization with money scaming/blackmailing and sex scandals,she has no place in any lawful country. The U.C. existence was due to their anti communist doctrine and bribery to politicians.
Pukey2
Key words: at least
Alan Harrison
LDP - The Moonie Party.
kennyG
@mountainpear'
It seems misunderstanding. Singapore passed a new bill to prohibit UC in 1982. Though respecting freedom of religion, Singapore expelled UC . That is what I meant as you can see from the links I provided. If you notice, the head of UC in Japan keeps referring to that freedom and warning on religious oppression, which I called BS.
elephant200
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
For the Japanese LDP, the Unification Church was their blood brothers, they shared the wealth acquired through money scaming/blackmailing and sex scandals ! "Moon SunMyung" was accused of mass sexual assaults of female worshippers, he was a criminal!
smithinjapan
It's all good. They have no doubt vowed to thoroughly review their ties, Surely that is enough. And next time they send for donations, they'll check the box that asks them to list it as "health and beauty products".
voiceofokinawa
Unlike the U.S., ministers in the government are appointed at the whim of the prime minister, who appoints candidates on the basis of his personal favorite and assessment, carefully balancing LDP factions' ratio. No scrutiny or grilling of candidates by a Dietary session. This time, the prime minister asked each candidate if he or she had any connections with the Unification Church, to which all the candidates seem to have answered none at all.