Japanese Government Likely to Investigate Tongilgyo... "Possibility of Filing Dissolution Order"

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Japanese media reported on the 16th that the Japanese government is considering investigating whether there are any legal violations related to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church, hereafter Family Federation) as the issue spreads mainly within political circles. There is also analysis suggesting that depending on the investigation results, this could lead to a request for a dissolution order stripping the Family Federation of its religious corporate status.

The Japanese government plans to investigate the Family Federation based on the right to question established through the revision of the Religious Corporations Act following the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack by Aum Shinrikyo. This is the first time the Japanese government has exercised the right to question, which can be considered a preliminary step to requesting a dissolution order, against a religious organization. By utilizing this right, the relevant authorities can demand reports on the religious organization's business and operations. If it is found after the investigation that the religious organization has engaged in acts that significantly harm public welfare, the court may order dissolution upon request from the competent authority or prosecution.

Until now, the Japanese government had been reluctant to investigate or request a dissolution order against the Family Federation, citing the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. However, as controversies over the Family Federation's ties with political circles continue and reports of harm related to the Family Federation from the general public increase, the government appears to have shifted its stance. It has been confirmed that nearly half of the 379 members of the Liberal Democratic Party have connections with the Family Federation, with 180 members identified. Additionally, the Family Federation consultation hotline established by the Japanese government on the 5th of last month received over 2,200 suspected damage reports in less than a month. As the controversy surrounding the Family Federation shows no signs of subsiding, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's approval rating recently dropped to the 20-30% range.

Kyodo News reported that Prime Minister Kishida is expected to announce the investigation plan against the Family Federation at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 17th, based on recommendations from a consumer agency expert panel that has been discussing the Family Federation's spiritual sales tactics (selling ordinary goods as spiritual items at inflated prices). The Nihon Keizai Shimbun forecasted that "Prime Minister Kishida is also likely to express measures to support victims of the Family Federation, such as canceling large donations or revising the Consumer Contract Act," but also pointed out concerns that "if the Family Federation refuses to cooperate with the investigation, resolving the issue may take time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.