Kishida shaken as list of lawmakers linked to Unification Church grows to 20

As your own reporting elsewhere says, the group’s penetration of Japanese politics is far worse than this headline appears to indicate.

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/over-100-japan-lawmakers-had-links-with-unification-church-survey

UC is bad enough for Japan via its politicians, but the myriads of pachinko in every neighborhood is worse as it does harm directly to the people. UC for me is second in priority to eradicating the pachinkos.

@Simon Foster

All kinds of questions would be asked about why they're only doing something now when it's been well known for decades how the church operates.

Yep They including all oppositions announcing setting up through investigation team now

Considering the UC only makes up about .25% of the Japanese population, it’s truly concerning how embedded they are in the LDP.

kennyGToday  06:16 pm JST

Yeah it may not happen. Why you ask?

I don't need to ask if I'm the one who thinks it won't happen. First, the church or its members would have to be caught flagrantly breaking the law, and second, I doubt LDP politicians would support outlawing an organisation that's been so useful for them. All kinds of questions would be asked about why they're only doing something now when it's been well known for decades how the church operates.

Fire them all and ban all cults.

you can’t fire democratically elected officials in an autocratic system when all the bosses belong to a cult.

Yeah it may not happen. Why you ask? I just hope it will happen. I have post the comment that this would be the greatest and could be the last chance for oppositions

And yet, complete clean party seems to be only JCP and small flies including Mizuho (Although I speculate SPJ or SDP are somehow related to this cult for long time) . Congrats for JT JCP supporters. Prepare for big Japan paradigm shift in such ultimate chaos.

＠SimonFoster

Yeah it may not happen. Why you ask? I just hope it will happen. I have post the comment that this would be the greatest and could be the last chance for oppositions

wallaceToday  03:58 pm JST

blue

do you have any real evidence of any illegal action by the church or the LDP?

Do you want to know illegal actions of LDP wrt UC, or the ones of UC?

Addition: also, if you believe that people who are obviously that morally bankrupt and corrupt would not find any other toxic or nefarious people / group / organization to get themselves in bet with for the same reasons (power and money), I believe you are being extremely naive.

The only solution is to get these politicians out of their (cushy) jobs once and for all. It is indeed, a matter of national security and public (politics) health.

I understand your points but I am more focusing on this cult itself rather than dragging LDP down to be collapsed. If you leave this kind of cult as it is, whichever parties start ruling, the same thing. Anti-communism

is just a sales-manual. If you think disbanding LDP solve 98~99% of problem, I believe you are being extremely naive.

Simon Foster

when I remember back to the government corruption of the 1960s/70s, was far worse than the current situation. The problem even over the nuclear disaster.

The LDP will weather this storm and remain in power until the election comes when a strong opposition wins.

However, I do not know if the Unification Church will they will probably be thrown under the bus.

Simon Foster

What about him?

Buwahahaha you made my day

wallaceToday  05:03 pm JST

Simon Foster

What about him?

how do the Japanese citizens get the LDP to change their constitution?

By not voting for them or giving them donations until they get the hint?

How does the government ban the Unification Church?

Proving systemmatic illegality would be the first step, or passing a law in the Diet to make what they do illegal. Being unprincipled scam artists does not appear to be illegal yet or else the government would have to ban the LDP.

Simon Foster

how do the Japanese citizens get the LDP to change their constitution?

How does the government ban the Unification Church?

Simon Foston

wallace

blue

do you have any real evidence of any illegal action by the church or the LDP?

That looks like a bit of a strawman argument. The legality of politicians getting involved in the church's "religious activities" may need to be looked into, otherwise the issue is really that LDP politicians have been accepting support in various forms from church members whilst turning a blind eye to their predatory money-making activities. Illegal? Maybe not. Unethical? Definitely yes.

First I am not a citizen and do not have a vote. But if I did, I would not vote for the LDP. I support religious freedom even if I do not agree with the idealogy, like the Unification Church.

Since the shooting of ex-PM Abe many posters have made comments calling for the ban of all religions and all cults.

That is never going to happen.

Who is going to look into the relationship between the LDP and the Unification Church? With the Komei Party and the Soka Gakkai, they made their own decisions to separate and have two independent organizations.

What is illegal and what is unethical?

If the Unification Church has done anything criminal then it should be prosecuted. Then it should be banned.

Because of the separation and state, I am not sure the government can pass laws to limit the size of donations to religious groups.

do you have any real evidence of any illegal action by the church

Unless there are any, there wouldn't be any trials at even supreme court level where they lost.

Since the first lawsuit against UC in 1986, total number of lawsuits over 100 cases of which 83 were judicially compromised, UC lost in 11 cases, some dragged up to supreme court level. Proof of illegal act by UC.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%B9%B3%E5%92%8C%E7%B5%B1%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%B6%E5%BA%AD%E9%80%A3%E5%90%88

Is it illegal for the Unification Church to ask for donations? No.

Correct. Still,

Not asking but forcing through brainwash to the extent soaking members into debt. There are manuals there for members how to borrow money.

wallaceToday  03:58 pm JST

blue

do you have any real evidence of any illegal action by the church or the LDP?

That looks like a bit of a strawman argument. The legality of politicians getting involved in the church's "religious activities" may need to be looked into, otherwise the issue is really that LDP politicians have been accepting support in various forms from church members whilst turning a blind eye to their predatory money-making activities. Illegal? Maybe not. Unethical? Definitely yes.

wallaceToday  03:52 pm JST

****Yes, the donations are private. I think Abe donated a tree and not cash. The constitution on religious freedom applies to every citizen regardless of their position.

Politicians are not supposed to participate in any religious activity in an official capacity. They're free to do whatever they like in their free time.

"Also, frankly if any of said activities was taking place as a "private individual", why are their activities always making headlines, it pretty much looks like said politicians are calling the news outlets upfront and let them know. (#sarcasm)"

****Because they are government ministers.

There are presumably TV celebrities, singers, sports stars and actors who visit Yasukuni Shrine too, but it never gets in the news. I guess they don't feel the need to let the press know in advance in order to get the media exposure. Government ministers should only be going as private citizens, and there's no need for press coverage of what private citizens do. This kind of makes me think they're deliberately blurring the lines to keep right-wing voters and campaign donors loyal.

blue

do you have any real evidence of any illegal action by the church or the LDP?

blue

＠wallace

Abe every year made donations to the Yasukuni Shrine, as a private individual, illegal, no.

Was it really as a "private individual"? I am asking as Abe (and other politicians) have been playing this "private individual" card while for example signing the guest books at Yasukuni with their official titles (e.g. Prime Minister). If any official title involved in their activities, this may prove to be highly "problematic" if not "illegal".

****Yes, the donations are private. I think Abe donated a tree and not cash. The constitution on religious freedom applies to every citizen regardless of their position.

Also, frankly if any of said activities was taking place as a "private individual", why are their activities always making headlines, it pretty much looks like said politicians are calling the news outlets upfront and let them know. (#sarcasm)

****Because they are government ministers.

Are any LDP ministers and Under Secretaries members of the Unification Church? No.

Not that we know of know, but reversely it is known that some church members have been working for politicians as "support", "volunteers", "campaign staff", etc. I think not later than this week did come out that some LDP politician's campaign treasurer was a current or former Moonie! This may prove to be "problematic", especially when considering the below.

****Volunteers from the church are not illegal provided they are not paid. I do not think any volunteer is vetted for any party.

Have LDP attended functions and events of the Unification Church? Yes as private individuals.

But they were being introduced at said events in their quality as government officials or party officials (which I would argue was the point of them being invited in the first place), this may prove to be "problematic" or transform the meeting in a political meeting...with a religious group...

****Problematic and not the best choice but not illegal

Abe has gone on record during a meeting to call for "Moonie votes to beat the enemy (opposition or communist party". This, is much much more than simply "problematic".

****I do not know about but the membership is believed to be only 600,000 but still not illegal.

Has the Unification Church made donations to the LDP? Yes. But the problem with LDP.

Well, if taking donations from a religious group is illegal or problematic, it goes both ways: the religious group should know and refrain from giving them out and so should the political party and refrain from taking them. Compliance goes both ways. For example, when it comes to bribing are both giver and receiver guilty! But again, Japan seems to be veeeeery lenient when it comes to these kind of things...

**** It is not illegal to make donations to the LDP. Like the Komeito the LDP needs to be more strict.

Does any religion receive state funds? No.

Do we know for sure? Judging from the current situation, it seems that a lot was being assumed as not taking place...but actually did take place or is currently taking place...

****Well I guess we do because even LDP governments have whistle-blowers. Lawyers and other people frequently watch out for those types of incidents.

Knowing that political parties / politicians are receiving funds from religious organizations, how can we be sure that in return money or other "services" are not being provided? Some of such services have actually be documented such as: Kishi's involvement in helping the Moonies to come to Japan to start with or the J-gov allowing for the name of change of the Moon organization which after having been rejected for 17 years got allowed and validated under Abe. Was else is out there?

***I guess there should be an oversight committee.

Is it illegal for the Unification Church to ask for donations? No.

Correct. Still, one problem being that there is not much of a legal framework around such religious groups, hence the environment is ripe for abuse. But again, any legal framework would need politicians to act, which, in case they are in cahoots with said group(s), would not be very likely. QED.

****All religions have audited accounts.

Watch them squirm.

We'll see how deep this goes, but don't forget, we're still looking for the passenger lists on the Lolita Express.

RedstormToday  03:29 pm JST

"Yes, but you know they won 't. Dodgy private donations from dodgy organisations to dodgy individual politicians are what the whole party is built on."

They might if there is enough public pressure.

What a wonderful notion. The key word is "might," though.

RedstormToday  02:22 pm JST

The LDP needs to amend its constitution on donations.

Yes, but you know they won 't. Dodgy private donations from dodgy organisations to dodgy individual politicians are what the whole party is built on.

called for a self-check and review to appease a wary public.

Eeeeer, no, what you need is a totaly external independent public report to take place, this should be undertaken by an indpendent person or board of people, they should interview each polatician, and the police can dig deeper into possible financial irregularities. all of the report should be made public upon the boards findings. unfortunetly most of these type of reports here in the UK the cost comes out of the public/tax payer pocket, which could unpopular with the Japanese public, so will this happen? probably not, the alledged sleeze and coruption will be swept under the carpet and the public will forget about it in a few weeks.

The Unification Church is anti-communist---so who would be the most hateful of them?

Answer: The Communists Left-Globalists.

Freedom of religion is always opposed by communists and Globalists.

but what was illegal?

Is it illegal for the Unification Church to ask for donations? No

Since the first lawsuit against UC in 1986, total number of lawsuits over 100 cases of which 83 were judicially compromised, UC lost in 11 cases, some dragged up to supreme court level. Proof of illegal act by UC.

Religious Organization Law Article 81 should be applied first. and then Civil Law/Constitution/new law

Who cares ,If the country is fine, its fine

I care !

And obviously the country isn't fine is it !

It's because of Japanese complacency and lack of accountability that has made parasitic extortion groups able to thrive on innocent people under the guise of religious salvation.

You make it sound as if religion has nothing to do with the issue the article is focused on and that Japan is fine.

Japan is going through alot of changes right now and many are unsettled.

Sometimes you come across stuff that’s hard to believe. Biden is only the 2nd Catholic president and yet Japan has had 3 Catholic prime ministers.In a country where Catholics are a tiny, tiny percentage. Mind blown.

There’s Catholicism, and then there’s Japanese Catholicism. Analogous to the iceberg, nine tenths of the latter’s belief system, that ineffable Japaneseness, was already there.

kennyGToday  12:58 pm JST

 but what was illegal?

UC should be banned/disbanded on grounds it is a “cult” that could have detrimental effects on society

You know it won't be.

What's made all of this worse for the LDP is the church's origin is Korean.

The LDP and Nippon Kaigi has fired all up all this nationalistic sentiment over the years to stay in power. This however this has now gone horribly wrong because it's really fueling conspiracy theories about Korea's involvement in running Japan.

Japanese have told me recently they believe the majority of their tax money is being funneled off to Korean and this is the explanation why they're getting poorer and the yen is crashing. Some believe they are working hard to make Korea richer.

At this point, who would actually know exactly what is going on with the Church and the LDP but it is certainly unusual and I can't blame people for feeling a little weirded out by it.

When I first came to Japan as a student,I got a part time job where I met a Japanese lady who took me out for dinner and after she asked me to join her and her friends.She drove me to a hall which had a locked door and when the door was opened,it was full of people in suits.I was the only one without a suit and maybe the only gaijin.She introduced me and told me to sit beside her.People then started reciting and chanting and in between we would be told to raise our hands and shout "Saikou"

After all was over,she told me not to tell people at my school or part time job.I avoided her like a plague after that.She tried to corner me several times but I told her no.I think there're so many weird cults here.

 but what was illegal?

UC should be banned/disbanded on grounds it is a “cult” that could have detrimental effects on society

Civil law Art.9 public order and morals

Japan constitution Art. 12,13,22,29 Public Welfare

Pass the new law if needed.

.

The latest total is 7 out of 20 ministers, and 20 out of 54 vice ministers linked to the Unification Church.

Ministers:

Kato Katsunobu (Health, Labour and Welfare) - Motegi Faction

Yamagiwa Daishiro (Economic Recovery) - Aso Faction

Terada Minoru (Internal Affairs and Communications) - Kishida Faction

Takaichi Sanae (Economic Security) - LDP, no faction

Hayashi Yoshimasa (Foreign Affairs) - Kishida Faction

Nishimura Akihiro (Environment) - Abe Faction

Okada Naoki (Countryside Revitalization) - Abe Faction

It initially seemed as though one of the purposes of the cabinet shuffle was so that Kishida could distance his administration from the Unification Church, but that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. If anything, this has only brought more attention to the issue.

Bonus: Journalist Suzuki Eito recently uploaded what is described to be a photograph of PM Kishida with an official from the Unification Church.

https://twitter.com/cult_and_fraud/status/1556792126347743233

There is a continuing investigation into the link/role this cult has into the tragic death/homicide of former Prime

Minster Abe!

Prime Minister Kishida seems ignorant to the point of indifference, as to what action to take.

I think a little more than a show of hands as to who is a "Moonie" or not is needed here.

The legal needs to be sorted out from the illegal if any.

Abe every year made donations to the Yasukuni Shrine, as a private individual, illegal, no.

Are any LDP ministers and Under Secretaries members of the Unification Church? No.

Have LDP attended functions and events of the Unification Church? Yes as private individuals.

Has the Unification Church made donations to the LDP? Yes. But the problem with LDP.

Does any religion receive state funds? No.

The LDP might not have made the wise choices but what was illegal?

Is it illegal for the Unification Church to ask for donations? No.

Kishida has said freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution should be respected, but it goes without saying that religious groups also need to abide by the law as members of society.

Remarkable, Prime Minister Kishida appears oblivious to the concerns that members of his cabinet, his government have links, affiliations with the Moonies, a cult, that the inevitable accusations of conflicts of interest in respect to there allegiance, pledges to there constituencies is not paramount in taking office.

I think Prime Minister Kishida is asleep at the wheel.

Oh my! He's "shaken". Well, that settles it... they are not only going to have to thoroughly review their ties if found having them, they will then have to check again and thoroughly review that check! Kishida might even have to suggest they think about things.

Much ado about nothing. It always makes me laugh how such insignificant issues become scandals in Japan. Oh no, they're a 'cult' because they make scummy appeals to religious and spiritual matters to get people to give them their hard-earned cash? Better give more of your money to the politicians then, they'll put a stop to strong-arming people for donations wink wink!

I hope the guy who killed Abe will be punished, or even be executed. Killing a country leader is an act of terrorism. In addition, the church in question, why are we "mad" they were involved with the church? Is it wrong to be involved with a religious group? I am Japanese, but this anti religion mindset is ridiculous and dumb. Who cares, if the country is fine, its fine. No religion guy killed Abe, not some religious person. No religion did terrorism.

Is it time for a petition?

Article 16. Every person shall have the right of peaceful petition for the redress of damage, for the removal of public officials, for the enactment, repeal or amendment of laws, ordinances or regulations and for other matters; nor shall any person be in any way discriminated against for sponsoring such a petition.

Disband the LDP (and Isshin as well) and it seems that 98-99% of the problem will be solved.

Don't think so. UC would charm the pants off of any parties ruling Japan, even its worst enemies to keep sucking blood of Japanese people , which is the mission of its Japan branch. UC and its affiliates must be completely exterminated.

I think it's an overreaction and too soon also. Giving a speech several years ago at some event is not really a "close link" to this church/cult.

> I just don't like the timing of this Unification Church witch hunt. Sure it is needed but the further the fallout this quickly after Abe's assassination the more it somewhat validates the means in which it was started.

Yes, but Japan is not a democratic nation by ANY stretch of the word

That's not entirely true !

Different nations have different types of democracy !

Not all Democracies are the same .

Even tho the Japanese constitution was written by the USA the Japanese democracy isn't the same as the USA.

Just an example !

I just don't like the timing of this Unification Church witch hunt. Sure it is needed but the further the fallout this quickly after Abe's assassination the more it somewhat validates the means in which it was started.

Japanese politicians seem to be deeply linked to this abusive church.

The question is why?

What benefits did they receive from it?

Why has it been protected?

Easy answer.

The church rips people off, the diet members take hush money to keep authorities off their back, everyone wins.

It was protected because when you have everyone including the PM in on the illegal transactions scams, of course they are going to hide things.

It’s not complicated at all.

Those vampire suits are just weird and add to the cult like vibe the whole LNP has going on lately.

This is a National Security Issue and I am surprised that it is NOT handled in that manner, Mr. Kishida thinks China is a threat, well you got a much bigger threat right here at home when you got a foreign Cult infecting and influencing the central government

Love it. Give us more.

everyone knew they were criminal trash, it’s just now finally becoming public.

keep going, and I’m sure you can connect at least 95% of the men in the diet.

the question is. Will something actually be done to make some REAL

changes?

well, it’s japan. don’t get your hopes up.

Remember that none of this would have come out without the murder of Abe.

""Kishida has said freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution should be respected, but it goes without saying that religious groups also need to abide by the law as members of society.""

And the people are saying "DRAIN THE SWAMP" Mr. Kishida and flush this Cult out of the government.

The really weird thing is that the Moonies make special efforts in Japan to target people whose ancestors had in some way done bad things to Koreans. This supposedly would include things like: Hideyoshi's 16th century invasion of Korea, Japan's brutal colonization of the country during 1910-45, Korean forced laborers in Japan and the "comfort women." With (perhaps) the exception of the first, Abe and his rightwing political clique have strenuously opposed redress of these historical issues.

Yet he cultivated close ties with the Unification Church. It is a little like Hitler (secretly) supporting some Jewish organizations before World War II.

It's bizarre. Sick.

Wasn't there a rumor somewhere about a Unification plan to gradually dominate Japan's politics because it was less risky than South Korea?

The LDP should be abolished due to the corruption scandal and the CDP become the new leading party

after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for a self-check and review to appease a wary public

Self-check eh? I'm sure that all the lawmakers will be dilligently reporting all their connections . . . .

20 just sounds like the ones who aren't embarrassed about their associations. The ones who are embarassed will be trying to hide/distance and obfuscate their way out of this.

Tip of the iceberg.

The 20 need to stand down, from all parties. Simple as that.

Further, all public servants - including teachers, police and military - who are members of this cult need to stand down or be fired. I shudder to think about the devious means of recruitment they have been engaging in.

Flush all moonies out of public office and employment in Japan.

Are they double agents of the South Korean National Intelligence Service, who created the Unification Church as a psy-op to thwart the spread of communism? That cat is out of the bag, and has been for awhile. ANd people still get sucked into that thing? Educated people?

Taro Kono, a minister in charge of consumer affairs, said Friday that his agency plans to set up a committee to look into complaints from people falling victim to spiritual sales.

Kono’s grandfather was elected at the same time as Abe’s grandfather (Kishi). Hatoyama’s grandfather too. As the UC was getting its claws into the LDP, these people were ‘at the scene of the crime’.

There is no way people like Taro Kono should be involved in any committee looking into issues linked in any way to UC. Anyone that might have historical familial ties to the main root of the problem should be kept well away.

Abe's killer will not go down history only as a murderer and the life he took. But also as the guy who opened Pandora's box.

agree.

Fire them all and ban all cults.

One of the reshuffled cabinet members had continued to remain silent and uncooperative with inquiries up to his appointment. It's a breach of public trust.

山際経済再生相 内閣改造前は旧統一教会との癒着“完黙”→留任後カミングアウトの超悪質

https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/life/309682

A flower laying ceremony for Abe was held .... by the Unification Church (!) rather unilaterally, ahead of the planned state funeral. Trump offered a video message. How could we possibly deny any link of Abe and his associates to the anti-Japanese cult?

“統一教会”が韓国で大規模会合　安倍元首相に“献花”　トランプ前大統領はビデオで…https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3df465ef6545f32f76123f232b24cb86202ce300

I hear that many Japanese are upset about this because of the Korean roots of the Unification Church. But I wonder what percentage of the public is aware of the fact that their extortion business is exempt from taxes, which I think is a much bigger issue.

Is the Japanese press mentioning this tax exemption in their reporting or are they again beating around the bush?

Abe's killer will not go down history only as a murderer and the life he took. But also as the guy who opened Pandora's box.

These revelations would bring down any democratic or so-called democratic government, anywhere in the world.

yes, but Japan is not a democratic nation by ANY stretch of the word.

It's a criminal syndicate extorting money from people.

Same as the LDP

It should be no surprise there are many politicians involved in this rort.

I'm not surprised at all.

Needs to be treated as a National Security issue.

Some people will do anything to accumulate wealth.

It's not a church! It's a criminal syndicate extorting money from people. The only reason it calls itself a church is to avoid paying tax on the money they extort. It should be no surprise there are many politicians involved in this rort.

while they are at it, might as well ask about other groups. Wasn't Grandpa Kishi cozy with both the Moonies and the Yakuza?

While I wouldn't put anything past Taro Aso, I do know that he is a Catholic. So that may have prevented him from seeking there help. But, again, I wouldn't put anything past him. As for Nikai, 100% he is connected!

Kishi backed an anti-communist political group linked to the Unification Church, which was established in Japan in 1968.

There is no way Taro Aso and Nikaido, the real LDP bigwigs were also not involved.

The LDP is rotten from the head down.

What was he expecting? Sheesh! This toxic cult has it’s tentacles deep in the political class here.

Taro Kono, a minister in charge of consumer affairs, said Friday that his agency plans to set up a committee to look into complaints from people falling victim to spiritual sales.

…..

Japanese politicians seem to be deeply linked to this abusive church.

The question is why?

What benefits did they receive from it?

Why has it been protected?

I personally have witnessed a certain religious group in Japan do nefariousness actions, it always seems to involve a large sum of money (from a follower) in order to put some alleged karmic wrong right!

Basically, fraud is being committed.

There needs to be an independent inquiry into this; one that is not controlled by politicians nor government, but that will never happen…

If a "self check" turned up 20, odd's are there are at least that many or more.

Kishida called for a self-check and review to appease a wary public.

are the public appeased? perhaps dear leader, it would've been better to find out before appointing the cabinet....