Unification Church’s Japan Head Resigns

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–Tomihiro Tanaka, Japan head of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, resigned from the post Tuesday. “We cannot underestimate the fact that we have caused deep pain to some people,” Tanaka told a news conference held at the head office in Tokyo of the controversial religious group’s Japan branch. “I’m sorry.” Tanaka, 69, was succeeded by Masaichi Hori, 55, former Japan vice head, the same day. Hori is a second-generation follower. Tanaka explained his resignation as a “moral” decision, citing people who have complained about damage from the organization. He also touched on the conclusion of Tokyo High Court hearings regarding a dissolution order for the religious group, as well as the need to create an environment for new leadership following the group’s reforms after the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by a son of a follower in 2022, who believed that Abe had ties with the group. Tanaka noted that mediation efforts, in which former believers sought the return of large donations, ended with a settlement involving 182 individuals by Tuesday, and that a compensation committee composed of outside lawyers has also been established. He had refused to apologize to donation victims, but he said on Tuesday, “We have started an initiative that goes beyond the framework of the law, and I would like to apologize.” On the court hearings over the dissolution order, he expressed confidence in the high court’s future decision, saying, “We have made confident arguments, and I believe the high court will surely overturn it.” Tanaka, who became the 14th Japan head in 2020, handled the issue of massive donations by the organization’s followers, which attracted fresh attention following the fatal shooting of Abe. Tanaka also dealt with a dissolution order sought against the religious organization by the culture ministry in 2023. In March this year, Tokyo District Court ordered the Unification Church to dissolve itself. It was the first court decision in Japan ordering a religious group to disband due to illegal acts under the Civil Code. The Tokyo High Court hearings held in response to the organization’s appeal against the order ended on Nov. 21. The National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales, a group addressing Unification Church issues, held a press conference Tuesday. A member lawyer said that Tanaka’s resignation is a “mere publicity stunt aimed at influencing the dissolution order.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]