In brief
A Tokyo court has mandated the disbandment of the Unification Church, rooted in financial exploitation and its involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The Unification Church's headquarters in Tokyo.Credit...Kazuhiro Nogi/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesBy Martin Fackler and Hisako UenoReporting from TokyoMarch 25, 2025, 8:29 a.m. ETA Tokyo court has ruled to disband the Japanese branch of the Unification Church, a decision that comes three years after the shocking assassination of the nation's former prime minister, Shinzo Abe. The assassination, carried out in July 2022 by a man harboring grievances against the church, pushed the organization into the spotlight, unveiling disturbing practices related to its fundraising methods.The court supported a government petition to revoke the church’s legal status, citing violations of regulations surrounding religious activities. The Japanese education ministry initiated the request in October 2023 after determining that the church coerced members into exorbitant donations and to purchase religious items. Evidence gathered from 1,550 former members indicated a collective financial burden amounting to approximately 20.4 billion yen (or $140 million) due to the church's practices. The Unification Church, originally founded in South Korea by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, is globally recognized, particularly for its large-scale wedding ceremonies.The court's decision followed a wave of scrutiny pertaining to the church’s influence, particularly after the fatal shooting of Abe, who was gunned down during a political address. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, claimed that his family was financially devastated following his mother’s forced association with the church, which he believed Abe supported.Yamagami, arrested at the crime scene, has confessed to the shooting but awaits trial. As the public examines the implications of Abe's assassination, the relationship between political figures and the church has become a focal point in the ongoing discourse regarding the group’s practices and influence in Japan.
