On March 25, 2025, the Tokyo District Court is expected to make a historic ruling regarding the dissolution of the World Peace Unification Family Federation, formerly known as the Unification Church. This decision comes in the wake of significant public concern over the church's practices, particularly its high-pressure donation tactics and alleged illegal activities.
A central figure in this unfolding drama is Yoko Nakano, a woman whose mother contributed over 100 million yen to the church, seemingly pressured by its high-pressure solicitations. As Nakano noted, "I know the suffering my mother endured and the way in which this has repeated itself in various places. I wish for a swift ruling to dissolve the church." She has pursued a legal battle against the church, seeking damages for her mother’s contributions, which she claims were procured through illegal recruitment practices.
Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, which revealed the Unification Church's financial tactics to a broader audience, the need for accountability intensified. In October 2023, the government officially requested a dissolution order against the church. The grounds for this request stem from repeated civil court judgments that have affirmed the church's liability in financial misconduct, including spiritual sales and excessive donations.
The upcoming ruling from the Tokyo District Court is anticipated to address whether civil law violations indeed justify a dissolution order under Japan's Religious Corporations Law—specifically, if these actions significantly harm public welfare. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) contends that the church exploited its followers' trust to extract exorbitant donations. However, the church has countered that such claims amount to religious persecution and insists that a mere violation of civil norms do not meet the requirement for dissolution as stipulated by law.
Recent Supreme Court rulings have given rise to renewed scrutiny of the Unification Church's activities. Earlier this month, the court supported lower court decisions that had fine the church for noncompliance with government inquiries, reinforcing the legal framework against the organization. More notably, the Supreme Court has indicated that illegal acts recognized under civil law could be grounds for a dissolution order, which marks a significant shift in the judicial landscape surrounding religious organizations in Japan.
As the debate heats up, five former church members held a press conference in Tokyo just days before the anticipated ruling, urging current members to leave the church. Encouragingly, they stated, "You won’t go to hell for leaving the church. You’ll no longer have to lie to your family." They emphasized the importance of taking a step back and reassessing one’s choices away from the confines of church ideology. The National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales has also stressed the need for the church to operate with integrity, demanding an acknowledgment of its past mistakes and a commitment to rectifying its harms.
Amidst these developments, if the court issues a dissolution order, the church could face immediate legal repercussions. It can appeal to the Tokyo High Court, and ultimately the Supreme Court, should it wish to contest an unfavorable ruling. Should the dissolution be upheld, the church’s assets would be liquidated, with proceeds potentially directed toward compensating victims of its financial practices. Though the loss of religious corporation status would strip the church of certain tax benefits, it could theoretically persist in its religious activities as a non-profit entity.
On March 25, whether the Tokyo District Court rules in favor of dissolution will hinge on interpretations of public welfare implications tied to church practices and whether those practices align with legal definitions of misconduct. Legal experts suggest that the court is likely to adhere to the Supreme Court's recent precedent, but the overall decision remains uncertain.
The church's leadership, including Hak Ja Han Moon of the International Victory Federation, has publicly dismissed the potential for dissolution of related organizations, asserting, "Even if the religious corporation is dissolved, other affiliated entities will remain intact. We have no intention of disbanding voluntarily." This statement reveals an unwavering stance in the face of mounting legal pressure.
The unfolding saga encapsulates deep societal questions regarding the intersection of religion, law, and individual rights in Japan. As the nation awaits the court's ruling, the ongoing discussions reflect broader issues of accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals from exploitative practices. March 25, 2025, therefore dates not only marks a potential legal turning point for the Unification Church but could have lasting implications for all religious organizations operating within Japan's legal framework.
