politics

Japan defense chief Kishi may be replaced in Cabinet due to Unification Church links

48 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

48 Comments
Login to comment

LDP ~rotten to the core.

14 ( +28 / -14 )

Drain the swamp, seriously.

22 ( +25 / -3 )

Kishida may replace

so what’s stopping it?

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Fumio all of you go to jail.all of you.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

He shouldn’t be reviewing, he should have come right out and stated he was cutting all connections with them.

Japan needs to make it a legal requirement that no politician have links with this pernicious cult. Further they should be legally required to publicly declare all and any affiliations to any organisation and all or any donations in cash, kind or manpower, directly or indirectly received. They are supposed to be the representatives of the people in the area they are representing, so the electorate in that area have a right to know to whom they are beholden.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Well I have to give Kishida credit - he acted much faster than any of his predecessors....they would have hummed and hawed and procrastinated until it was a major controversy...

Deal with it quickly, before the demoralized opposition parties could leverage it to help with their dismal ratings...

One has to ask though, are there any meaningful differences between the Unification Church and New Komeito's affiliation with Soka Gakkai, other than one is Japan-based and the other in South Korea?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Good

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Followers of the Unification Church have been arrested in Japan and received court orders in connection with money illegally obtained from people through the use of threats, including the citing of "ancestral karma." Over 80 percent of respondents in a recent Kyodo News poll said politicians need to clarify whether they have connections with the group.

This makes no sense what so ever! Before the politicians clarify anything, be nice for the author to explain what they hell they mean here!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Blue, I understand what you are saying, I was expressing a rational hope and potential solution, no doubt that is asking too much.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The UC connection is the least of the reasons to replace Kishi. Another is getting rid of an Abe faction member. But the biggest is just his health, it’s really going downhill and this is not a time for a defense minister who isn’t physically up to things.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

 this is not a time for a defense minister who isn’t physically up to things.

Wow. Just because the guy is in a wheelchair doesnt mean he cant do his job. Your comment is totally discriminatory and wrong, you should be embarrassed.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

We all know these religious cults can dodge taxes. It should be no surprise that rich families are connected to them.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

@Yubaru--maybe you are puzzled by why followers and not leaders were arrested. Japan is the source of 70 percent of the church funds, but the top tier leaders are not resident here, so it means some members/followers living in Japan are the ones in legal jeopardy, no?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There are most connected to UC in Abe's fraction compared to other LDP fractions, or in LDP compared to other parties. Don't misunderstand. UC is a disgusting bat that blandishes and parasites anyone or any parties ruling Japan to survive and blood-sucking Japan for ever.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It's not just the Unification Church. Nippon Kaigi is a fascist lobbyist cult that many belong to. The only reason Kishida is PM is because they made a deal with Abe to get more Nippon Kaigi members into the Diet.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Corruption, theft, bribery, and other crimes should be separate from membership in a church. Some may call it a cult, but remember that many religions and sects were once called cults—it is subjective.

Should politicians with ties to Shia Islam be barred from office? Jehovah's witnesses? A person can commit a crime and be a member of a church, but the punishment should be the crime and not the membership.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Japan is at a crossroads now, either stay away from the UC and take control of the nation, or fall victim to the UC ideology.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Kishi, a brother of Abe...

Why is this important piece of information only mentioned for the first time in paragraph four!

It should be in the headline, or at the very least when both individuals are stated for the first time in paragraph one.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Just in time for the other religious cults to slither into the LDP government.

It's not only the Unification church that's in question.

I find it ridiculous they continue to say - believed Abe had ties with the unification church.

Abe definitely had ties with the unification church !

0 ( +2 / -2 )

are there any meaningful differences between the Unification Church and New Komeito's affiliation with Soka Gakkai

Yes, one is a cult based on a false religion and the other is based on the correct religious philosophy

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Unless he's incompetent at his Job, now isn't exactly the best of times for changing the Defense Minister. The new Guy will take some time to become familiar with the role, which under the current crises that we're facing with China, N. Korea and Russia, is time that we all do not have.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Blue- Aum actually had a political party called Shinrito. In 1990 Asahara and 24 other Aum members ran in the Diet election but none of them got elected and Asahara himself only got 1700 votes. This is what set them on the path to 'punish society'.

@Redstorm Are you or a member of your close family a member of Soka Gakkai?

The founder of the Soka Gakkai, Tsunesaburō Makiguchi opposed the war and refused to support it. He was imprisoned for his beliefs and died in Sugamo prison on 18 November 1944 (aged 73).

The problem is Soka Gakkai diverted from Buddhism and became a cult teaching Ikedism. Where is Daisaku Ikeda anyway. He hasn't been seen for many years. Is he still alive? Or does he have dementia? Why does he not appear in public anymore?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The problem is Soka Gakkai diverted from Buddhism and became a cult teaching Ikedism.

One of the many reasons why I left.

The Soka Gakkai continues to follow the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.

Nowadays they don't even read the Gosho. They read Ikeda's interpretations of the Gosho.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Redstorm So he personally wrote you letters/messages or were they general letters sent out to all members?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

EvilBuddha

Today 09:29 pm JST 

are there any meaningful differences between the Unification Church and New Komeito's affiliation with Soka Gakkai 

Yes, one is a cult based on a false religion and the other is based on the correct religious philosophy

Sounds like a 17th century take by the Catholic church about the protestants. Who are we to judge what is a religion and what is a cult? Religious beliefs should be a personal matter not dictated by the party or the govt.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Religious beliefs should be a personal matter not dictated by the party or the govt.

Sure. A poster asked an open question and I gave an answer based on my personal convictions and experiences.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Beware the CCP's mis-information influence upon us, just like Russia's. This level of contorting truth, is confusing to everyone - but it serves the needs of the principal "enemy" which is clearly now China.

Its time now, for Chinese Nationals to consider leaving Japan if they have concerns over being accused of spying.. which will inevitably arise under the current strained relations. It's also, time, for the Japanese Right Wing, to tone down their Rhetoric, in order to try avoid a dire situation arising which may impact Japanese residing in China.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Kishida is enacting a political purge against the Abe faction.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

EvilBuddha

Aug. 7 10:26 pm JST 

Religious beliefs should be a personal matter not dictated by the party or the govt. 

Sure. A poster asked an open question and I gave an answer based on my personal convictions and experiences.

All fun and games until your religious belief is the one that is banned.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What about Aso?? He had “connections” too right…

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yes, one is a cult based on a false religion and the other is based on the correct religious philosophy

I can't tell which one is which, as I could easily apply cult status to either, and an adherent would call their own the correct religious philosophy.

The difference between a religion and a cult is that the leader of a cult hasn't died yet.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I wonder when they will get round to investigating the connection between the LDP, Komeito and Soka Gakkai. This is far more sinister.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I wonder when they will get round to investigating the connection between the LDP, Komeito and Soka Gakkai. This is far more sinister.

If you would have asked this question back in the mid1980's it MIGHT have meant something.

Not today! The two, Komeito and Sokka Gakkai have been openly separated for at least a generation now. Time to get up with the times!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I can't tell which one is which

Well then you need to practice both maybe and then you will be able to differentiate.

I wonder when they will get round to investigating the connection between the LDP, Komeito and Soka Gakkai. This is far more sinister.

You mean the time when Komeito was in opposition and LDP brought in rules to restrict the power of religious cults in the aftermath of the Aum Shinrikyo train attacks, and those rules were aimed at clipping the wings of Soka Gakkai. Despite the fact that Asahara wanted to assassinate Ikeda and also wanted to pin the blame of the train attacks on Soka Gakkai.

Or was it the time when LDP, after losing power in 1993, got together various anti-Gakkai groups like tabloid journalists, rival religious groups like Rissho Koseikai and backed them to launch vicious attacks on the Soka Gakkai.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You mean the time when Komeito was in opposition and LDP brought in rules to restrict the power of religious cults in the aftermath of the Aum Shinrikyo train attacks, and those rules were aimed at clipping the wings of Soka Gakkai. Despite the fact that Asahara wanted to assassinate Ikeda and also wanted to pin the blame of the train attacks on Soka Gakkai.

Another big reason for the rising anti-Soka Gakkai movement is that the Ikeda has Korean heritage, and Japanese ultranationalists hate all Koreans. Ironically, ethnic Koreans have been controlling many important parts of Japan, most of which are tied with North Korea (the US is still in control of everything in Japan but Koreans are just lesser). The Unification Church has a history with North Korea.

Japanese people just can't stand the fact that Koreans are capable human beings surpassing pure blood Yamato people within Japan. Yakuzas, black companies, and pachinko parlors are generating massive revenues for Koreans that Japanese elites can't get their hands on. Many elites of ethnic Koreans still fund North Korea out of patriotic feelings through these businesses.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Even if you drain the swamp and replace the dirty brew with fresh water it won’t take long until it becomes muddy again

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites