Japan Dismisses U.S. Religious Freedom Concerns

Japan rejects U.S. criticism and religious freedom concerns over request to dissolve large religious minority the Family Federation

Tokyo, 27th February 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article. 

Government Claims Dissolution Order Against Family Federation Does Not Violate Religious Freedom

by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

Response to opposition from U.S. religious adviser

The Japanese government has released a written response regarding the opposition expressed by Paula White, religious advisor to President Trump, against the Japanese government’s request for a dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church).

White had cited reports from the U.S. State Department and other sources criticizing a dissolution order. The government’s response was made public in reply to a formal inquiry submitted on 7^th February by Satoshi Hamada (浜田聡参), a member of the House of Councilors from the NHK Party.

In December of last year, White sent a video message to a seminar held by the Japanese Committee of the International Religious Freedom Coalition (ICRF). In her message, she stated that a UN Special Rapporteur on religious freedom had officially requested to visit Japan to investigate potential violations of religious freedom, but the request was denied by the Japanese government.

In his inquiry, Hamada asked whether the government would accept an investigation by the UN rapporteur. The government’s written response acknowledged that the video message existed but avoided commenting on its stance regarding the request.

Additionally, in response to Hamada’s question about the U.S. State Department’s annual report on religious freedom, the government stated that it was aware of the report but asserted that the request to dissolve the Family Federation does not violate Article 20 of Japan’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.

The U.S. State Department’s report, published in June last year, noted that the U.S. Embassy in Japan had closely monitored issues related to the Family Federation and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The report stated that embassy officials had engaged with Japanese lawmakers, regulatory authorities, affected individuals, and religious representatives to emphasize the importance of religious freedom.

Concerns over religious freedom and fabricated testimonies

If a religious organization is dissolved, its clergy would lose their positions, and assets, including places of worship, could be lost, potentially depriving believers of their places of worship. According to official statements from the Family Federation, the organization has approximately 560,000 followers, raising concerns about the impact on religious freedom.

Meanwhile, regarding the request for the dissolution of the Family Federation, it has come to light – through reports in this paper – that some of the testimonies submitted as evidence by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to the Tokyo District Court were fabricated.

On 19^th February 2025, the religious organization released a report from its legal representatives titled MEXT’s Fabrication of False Evidence, which pointed out that some individuals listed in the statements either denied writing them or had no record of membership in the organization.

Regarding this issue, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe (阿部俊子) stated at a press conference on 21^st February that the dissolution order request had been appropriately carried out. She did not, however, address the accuracy of the submitted testimonies.

Featured image above: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe (阿部俊子) 17th Feb. 2025. Photo: 文部科学省ホームページ / Wikimedia Commons. License: CC Attr 4.0 Int. Cropped

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Also related to religious freedom concerns: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to religious freedom concerns: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to religious freedom concerns: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to religious freedom concerns: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to religious freedom concerns: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

Even more, related to religious freedom concerns: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

And yet more, related to religious freedom concerns: Japan Censured at Religious Freedom Event

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More, related to religious freedom concerns: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

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More, related to religious freedom concerns: Dissolution Request Condemned at Freedom Summit

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