Japan is going head-to-head with one the most contentious forces in its political system.
What happened: A Japanese court ordered the dissolution of the Japanese branch of the Unification Church, a controversial South Korea-based Christian sect. The court found that the church had continuously behaved inappropriately for a legally designated religious group.
- The church has come under fire for accusations of brainwashing, extorting members for exorbitant donations, and institutionalized sexual harassment.
Catch-up: Founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon (his name is the reason followers are nicknamed “Moonies”), the sect preaches a radical conservative form of Christianity. It made inroads in Japan in the ’60s by allying with politicians who shared its anti-communist beliefs.
Why it matters: Ties between the Moonies and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have long been an open secret in the country, but the government only launched a probe into the church following the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
- The accused assassin said that he killed Abe because of the PM’s ties to the Unification Church and wanted revenge, as church donations had bankrupted his family.
- While Abe was not a church member, he was a vocal supporter. His grandfather, former PM Nobusuke Kishi, helped found the church’s political unit in Tokyo in 1968.
- Abe was far from the only connected LDP member. A 2022 survey found that half of governing lawmakers had ties to the church, with some even taking donations from it.
Big picture: The Moonies plan to challenge the order, but if it goes through, the church will lose tax-exempt status and be forced to liquidate its assets. However, it will still be allowed to operate in the country. Only time will tell if the move will disrupt its long-standing influence.—QH