Breakthrough: High Court to Hear Active Members

Breakthrough for fairness and religious freedom as current members are to be heard for the first time in Family Federation dissolution proceedings

The 5^th October 2025 Kyodo News report marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), formerly known as the Unification Church. For the first time, the Tokyo High Court has scheduled the testimony of current, active members of the movement – a crucial step toward a fair and balanced evaluation of the organization. This represents a clear departure from the earlier Tokyo District Court process, which relied heavily on statements from former members, many of whom had undergone so-called “deprogramming” [See editor’s note below] and later expressed hostility toward their former faith.

See also “Media Deliberately Killed 2 Birds with 1 Stone”

See also Politics Fueled Japan’s Attack on Federation

The inclusion of present members’ voices – those who continue to live by the teachings of the Family Federation and actively serve their communities – signals a recognition that genuine religious perspectives must be heard in court. It is, in effect, a long-awaited acknowledgment that freedom of religion and fairness in legal proceedings require hearing from those who actually practice the faith being judged.

During his 5^th October remarks to reporters in Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture, Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広), President of Family Federation in Japan, expressed confidence in the judicial process. He noted that the High Court’s decision on the government’s dissolution request is expected around January or February 2026, with witness examinations set for late October and final written submissions from both sides due in late November. Tanaka’s calm and transparent approach underscores the organization’s determination to confront misunderstanding with truth, patience, and respect for due process.

The article also referenced the situation surrounding Hak Ja Han, the worldwide leader of the movement, who was recently detained by South Korean authorities. Tanaka voiced concern about her health while reaffirming the movement’s trust in her integrity – words that reflect both deep loyalty and moral strength in the face of adversity. His response conveys a quiet conviction: that faith, when sincere and principled, remains unshaken even under scrutiny.

When asked about the recent election of Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) as the new president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, Tanaka simply replied,

“I have no message, as it is a political matter.”

This clear boundary between religion and politics demonstrates a mature and responsible stance – an important reminder that the Family Federation is committed to its spiritual mission, not political ambition.

Overall, the developments reported by Kyodo News signal a moment of cautious optimism for the Family Federation. For the first time in this long process, voices of living faith will be heard directly by the court, helping to correct one-sided narratives and paving the way for genuine understanding. President Tanaka’s leadership – marked by composure, transparency, and compassion – embodies the organization’s resolve to uphold truth and spiritual freedom while contributing positively to society.

See also “Media Deliberately Killed 2 Birds with 1 Stone”

See also Politics Fueled Japan’s Attack on Federation

Text: Knut Holdhus. editor

Featured image above: Tomihiro Tanaka being interviewed by Japanese media 30th July 2025. Screenshot from video by FFWPU

[Editor’s note: Coercive faith-breaking (“deprogramming”) in Japan refers to the practice of coercively attempting to separate individuals from their religious affiliations or beliefs, typically through intervention by family members, professional faith-breakers (deprogrammers) or organizations hostile to new religious movements (NRMs). This phenomenon often targets members of such movements, e.g. relatively large faiths like the Family Federation or Jehovah’s Witnesses, but also smaller groups like Happy Science (Kōfuku no Kagaku) and other newer religious movements.

However, also Soka Gakkai, a Buddhist-based lay organization with more than 8 million Japanese members, and affiliated with Nichiren Buddhism, has occasionally been subject to faith-breaking attempts.

The practice gained attention in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. Parents or concerned family members often hired faith-breakers who taught them how to abduct and forcibly detain believers. Almost all such cases involved confining the individual believer and cutting him or her off from the religious community. During the confinement, the believer was subjected to intense questioning or indoctrination designed to break his or her faith. The aim was to “rescue” the person from what the family often had been tricked by faith-breakers or lawyers to regard as harmful influence from the religious organization.

Critics of forced de-conversion argue that it violates fundamental human rights, including freedom of thought, religion, and association. Reports of psychological trauma and accusations of unlawful detention have sparked debates over its ethical and legal implications. In response, some religious groups, particularly NRMs, have lobbied for greater protections against such practices.

Japanese courts have been inconsistent in addressing cases of coercive faith-breaking. While some verdicts have condemned the practice as illegal detention, others have been more lenient, citing family concerns about “mental health” or alleged “exploitation” as mitigating factors.]

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