Long-Running Donation Claims Settled in Japan

Family Federation settles for early resolution of persistent claims managed by hostile leftwing group of lawyers as new independent compensation committee advises change of strategy

Tokyo, 15th November 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.

Settlement Reached with 132 People in Collective Mediation

Family Federation to Pay Over 2.1 Billion Yen

by editorial staff of the Sekai Nippo

See also Japan: Establishing A New Compensation Committee

See also Buddhist head: “Donations as Spiritual Training”

See also Press Release: Final Submission to Appeal Court

See also Warning Signal from Japan: Dangerous Precedent

See also Japan: President Tanaka (69) Names Hori Successor

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) announced on 14^th November that it has reached a settlement with 132 petitioners – including former followers – who had sought the return of donations and other compensation through a collective mediation [See editor’s note below] process. The organization will pay approximately 2.134 billion yen [about 13,6 million US dollars] in settlement funds.

According to a press release issued by the organization, there had been a significant gap between the claims of the group and those of the petitioners. However, because “there was concern that the situation would continue with no end in sight,” the organization stated that it had “shifted to a policy of seeking an early resolution to the case from a flexible standpoint, unconstrained by existing legal interpretations.” The organization also noted that it had received “advice prioritizing settlement” from a compensation committee established on 29^th October to serve as an independent third party.

Settlements in the collective mediation [See editor’s note below] process had also been reached on 2^nd and 27^th October. With this latest agreement, the total number of settlements has reached 174 people, and the total amount of settlement payments now stands at approximately 3.477 billion yen [about 22,2 million US dollars].

See also Japan: Establishing A New Compensation Committee

See also Buddhist head: “Donations as Spiritual Training”

See also Press Release: Final Submission to Appeal Court

See also Warning Signal from Japan: Dangerous Precedent

See also Japan: President Tanaka (69) Names Hori Successor

See also Social Media, Reporting Cited as Fueling Terror

See also Dissolution, System of Faith-Breaking, Lawsuits

Featured image above: Sign at the entrance of the headquarters of the Family Federation of Japan in Shibuya, Tokyo. Photo: FFWPU

[Editor’s note: The group mediation referred to here is a mediation process between the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan and a network of activist leftwing lawyers called National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales. The hostile network of lawyers represents a group of 186 petitioners.

On 28th October 2025, the Family Federation of Japan issued a press release about the group mediation, writing,

“With respect to the group mediation currently being conducted between our organization and the National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (hereinafter, ‘the Lawyers’ Group’), we hereby report that a settlement has been reached with a portion of the petitioners.

Our organization has, from the beginning, responded to each of the 186 mediation cases sincerely and individually.

We have conducted thorough fact-finding investigations and promptly submitted the results to both the petitioners and the court.

We have also provided, to the fullest extent possible, all materials in our possession that the petitioners requested for submission and have earnestly engaged in discussions.

Under these circumstances, beginning this year, the Lawyers’ Group requested urgent resolution for certain petitioners, such as those aged 80 or older or suffering from serious illnesses.

In response, our organization decided to significantly change its approach – shifting from handling each case individually to pursuing early resolution as a general policy.

After multiple mediation sessions, on 27^th October, we successfully reached settlement agreements with 39 petitioners who are elderly or have other special circumstances.

Our organization will continue to face each petitioner with sincerity and will remain committed to achieving an early and comprehensive resolution of this matter.”]

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