Blatantly “Being Robbed” of Rights and Freedoms

Family Federation leader slams dissolution order, claiming being robbed of assets represents being robbed of freedom of religion and human rights 

Tokyo, 28th March 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article. 

“Being Robbed of” Rights and Freedoms

Family Federation President Holds Press Conference at Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Tokyo

by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広), president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), which was ordered to be dissolved by the Tokyo District Court, held a press conference on 27^th March at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo.

Tanaka expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling, stating, “It is extremely regrettable that our claims were not recognized.” He reiterated his belief that there is no valid reason for the dissolution of the Family Federation.

During the Q&A session, when asked whether the organization could continue its religious activities even without its corporate status, Tanaka responded,

“If it were only about freedom of thought, that might be true. However, freedom of religion also includes the right to preach and hold gatherings.”

He emphasized that if the dissolution leads to the confiscation of the organization‘s assets, “it would make it impossible for us to take action to protect our human rights.”

He also pointed out that some local governments have declared a severance of ties with the organization, and stated,

“This situation goes beyond just religious freedom – believers are even being deprived of their right to live.”

Regarding media coverage of the organization, Tanaka argued that “some reports were distorted or maliciously presented”, suggesting that biased information has spread throughout society.

Norishige Kondo (近藤徳茂), Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Office at the Family Federation headquarters, who attended the press conference, explained that since the religious organization’s compliance declaration [See editor’s note below] in 2009, the number of lawsuits has significantly decreased, a fact that was “clearly acknowledged” in the court’s decision.

On the other hand, he criticized the ruling for including assumptions about “potential harm that may exist even if it is not visible,” stating that it involved speculation in recognizing alleged illegal activities. He also expressed concern that the revocation of corporate status was carried out through a process with “sloppy standards”, saying, “I feel a strong sense of unease about this.”

[Editor’s note: The 2009 compliance declaration of the Unification Church of Japan (now the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) was a formal commitment by the organization to reform its practices in response to longstanding public criticism and legal challenges.

The Unification Church in Japan had faced numerous allegations related to recruitment tactics and donation solicitation, termed “spiritual sales” (霊感商法) by a hostile network of activist lawyers who had declared the religious organization an enemy. These issues led to multiple lawsuits orchestrated by the activist lawyers and significant media backlash. This prompted the organization to take measures to restore its reputation and demonstrate compliance with legal and ethical standards.

The religious organization pledged to stop possibly unethical donation practices, including what the hostile network of lawyers claimed amounted to “pressuring members into making large financial contributions under spiritual pretexts.”

This was in response to accusations from the same activist lawyers that followers “were being manipulated into giving away substantial amounts of money or property.”

The Unification Church stated it would enhance internal oversight to ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards. Measures included better training for leaders and stricter guidelines for evangelization and solicitation of donations.

After this compliance declaration, there was a significant decrease in the number of lawsuits against the Unification Church – since 2015 called the Family Federation. The religious organization has used this as evidence that it has improved its practices and should not be subject to dissolution.]

Featured image above: To the right: Tomihiro Tanaka ((田中富広)), President of the Family Federation in Japan, speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan on the afternoon of 27^th March in Tokyo. To the left: Norishige Kondo (近藤徳茂) Photo: Takahide Ishii (石井孝秀).

Related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: “Poorly Compiled Evidence Including Falsehoods”

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Huge Scandal: “Ministry Is Falsifying Affidavits”

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Japan’s New Laws to Curb New Religious Movements

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: New Law Designed to Bankrupt Family Federation

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Religious Faith Framed as Mental Health Concern

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Terms from Consumer Law Used to Rob Faith

And also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: New Law Manufacturing “Victims”, Dividing Families

And also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Maverick Minister Lets “3 Foxes in the Henhouse”

More, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Journalist Reveals Ugly Leftwing Conspiracy

And more, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Militant Lawyers Dictate Government Policy

And more, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Courts Using Debunked Concepts Against Minority

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Dissolution Case: Wild Claims, Illegal Actions

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: 2nd-Generation Members Protesting Persecution

Also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to being robbed of rights and freedoms: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

Even more, related to robbery of rights and freedoms: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

And yet more, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Japan Censured at Religious Freedom Event

And still more, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Lawyer Exposes Dirty Leftwing Plot

And even more, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And still more, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Malicious One-Sided Government Source Selection

More, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

More, related to Japanese state’s robbery of rights and freedoms: Kishida Has Opened Can of Worms