politics

Japan's lower house speaker admits links with Unification Church

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Hiroyuki Hosoda, the speaker of the House of Representatives, said in a statement that he delivered speeches twice at ceremonies and took part in two other gatherings between 2018 and 2019, all of which were hosted by the church or affiliated groups.

Other than the cult scandal, Speaker Hosoda is also suffering sexual harassment allegations and the violations of election laws. Let him resign, or urge him to do so.

細田衆院議長が公選法違反で告発さる 21年衆院選で応援に報酬か セクハラ疑惑、旧統一教会関連に続き…資質問われる

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/65dbb569214c2ad2a23cca5ffa95ba300e02e014

10 ( +12 / -2 )

 Hidehisa Otsuji, the president of the House of Councillors, said in a separate statement that he had no relationship with the Unification Church.

well then, it must be true if he said it…..

why is anyone wasting time on any of this?

Just wipe the entire slate clean, and get rid of everyone in office.

just put 150 new jokers in office and let them fill in and do nothing all day.

it will not make any difference what’s so ever, but it’ll save us from all this fake investigation talk.

when people start getting their assets frozen, blackballed and put in jail, then it’ll actually mean something.

until then, it’s just talk. As always

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I wouldn't be surprised if officials down to ward-level officials are also members. Replacing that many people is difficult, replacing them with other officials who have absolutely no ties to the church would be harder. Maybe the government should have a screening process for those running for office and ban those who have ties to any religious cult?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Are my Taxes going to this Moonie-bin ?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan's lower house speaker admits links with Unification Church

Another survey already stated that nearly half of current party has tie with that church.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/08/national/ldp-unification-church-survey/

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I say so what? Religious freedom applies to elected representatives too.

Bold of you to assume the elected officials are practitioners of this "religion".

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@andy

So when are they going to totally ban this and other Abrahamic religious cults?

I guess when the Abrahamic religions in Japan pressure, con, deceive 1,000's of folks out of $100millions and apply extra-ordinary influence on the political front (read mainly ldp) by using the said money to fund politicians, then I'd agree to an investigation.

In addition if vast sums of this "coerced" money was sent to Church of England HQ or to Saudi or to Tel Aviv - then an even heavier approach must be taken.

But till then.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This is common sense, in Japan you are subjected to fail if you don't take money to run your election campaign. But what money? Who donates those money to the candidates? Either the Yakuza disguised as "Construction company" or the Unification Church(U.C.). So the L.D.P. is a very corruptive political organisation and they have committed treasons, against the interest of their own people!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

So the disease is all over the body politic.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

why moonies are not banned yet?

is there any issue with it?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Moon had a really powerful pyramid scheme. Even dead he is bilking away.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Just keep them coming, no surprise at all more to come.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

And yet again nothing will be done about it and the LDP will continue to show it's contempt for voters as long as they keep voting for them. Trying to justify this cult as a religion is also a very long bow!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The "Unification Church" is a "Cult" it's not a Real Religion. So, anyone who has associations with it, should consider their position seriously - as being Compromised.

Kick them out.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Maybe a 20 year ago speech, was what it took for that Politician to get to where he is now... and influence ... matters....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Its sad that many politicians, whose salary comes from the tax payers, donate hundreds of millions of yen to the UC. Hosoda is 78 years old. Its a fact that the older you get, the less you spend on personal things and the more money you donate to charity. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Hosoda gives the majority of his salary to the UC every month.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japan's Media is doing the government work, well done KYDO, Routers, AP, JT, and many more. This is how it works in normal situations but in this case the government is sitting and waiting for the media to bate and hook those who refuse to come forward for the love of that seat and paycheck.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The words "links" and "ties" are bandied around a lot when reporting on this cult and some explanations of the circumstances of these links need to be made. There is a big difference between a politician making a speech at a cult meeting 10 or 12 years ago and one who regularly accepts donations and physical assistance from these people. Proper investigations need to be made and the appropriate action taken against the latter before the cult is made to disband and have its assets frozen.

I won't hold my breath.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

.......maybe.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan’s ‘no see um’ method of acknowledging unfinished business. Obfuscation and denial on the one hand, but condoning massive wealth transfer via pachinko and cult extortion on the other. Hypocrites!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

People have the right to follow whatever religious belief they want. I haven't seen the members of the church cause any terrorist attack on the public because they aren't a violent threat. On the contrary, it seems people who oppose this church (e.g. Abe's murderer) are the one's to watch out for. If people want to give away their life savings to a church, that's on them. I won't complain either if people want to give their life savings to a pachinko, or worse, a hostess. Are we now to target all the pachinkos in Japan? Give me a break.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

So when are they going to totally ban this and other Abrahamic religious cults?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Getting bored with these just "LINKS" or "TIES" as those are not phenomena only for LDP.

For example, CDPJ had ties too , Kiyomi Tsujimoto who has been bashing LDP for these ties just got her boomerang she threw hit her back by media reports that she herself had ties taking part in a gatherings (UC study meetings more than just once) .

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japan's politicians were so corrupted, the ruling L.D.P. is taking money from that criminal organisation: The Unification Church. The U.C. had been using blackmailing, threatenting,harrassing and other kinds of extortion method to take money from followers and they were above law, unpunished and free to run this criminal activity everyday!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Japan's politicians were so corrupted, the ruling L.D.P. is taking money from that criminal organisation: The Unification Church.

LDP is taking money from UC? Nowhere in this article or any media reports in the past said that far.

Isn't that still a bit of stretch even if it is common practice in China?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I say so what? Religious freedom applies to elected representatives too.

I  wouldn't be surprised if officials down to ward-level officials are also members. Replacing that many people is difficult, replacing them with other officials who have absolutely no ties to the church would be harder. Maybe the government should have a screening process for those running for office and ban those who have ties to any religious cult?

What right does a government have proscribing it's elected representatives, or anyone, from belonging to a particular religion? Whey a government gains the power to do that it can strip its people of any freedom. I'm the least religious person imaginable, and am harshly critical of most, but a government must never under any circumstances be allowed to ban a religion or prohibit citizens from worshipping.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Hosoda - in confessing to having "connections" to this dangerous cult, must resign or be disendorsed. What a traitor and a dropkick.

Hopefully soon all members of this cult nationwide will have their names, addresses and workplaces up on the internet.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Don't get how anyone believes the admittance of a connection means anything. The actions weren't illegal before the assassination, and it's not illegal now. And some how you think they would voluntarily lose their jobs over this? Not to mention it's likely protected by religion freedom.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

sakurasuki

Another survey already stated that nearly half of current party has tie with that church.

Oh its WAY more than half. After all that nationalistic huffing and puffing the LDP ends up with a S Korean leash up its Mawashi. Comedy Gold!

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

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