Openness and Transparency Stressed in Interview

Openness and transparency emphasized as part of reforms of organizational culture

Tokyo, 3rd December 2024 – Published as the 46th article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article

Series: Freedom of Religion Under Threat – Part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders

Reform Means Changing Culture

Part 3 of interview with Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広), President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan

See part 1, part 2 of interview

by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

See part 1 of the series: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 42nd article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 47th article, 48 article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

Q: As a result of the government’s request for the dissolution order, many believers interviewed by this newspaper have been criticized and discriminated against by those around them. There were also voices calling for the religious organization to provide mental care to second-generation believers who are particularly hurt.

A: There are likely various areas where people have been hurt, and we may not fully understand what the best form of mental health care is. However, we must do what we can. One initiative the organization undertook, albeit belatedly after this incident [Editor’s note: the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三) in July 2022], is the establishment of “Certified Family Counselors”. Around 1,450 individuals have registered after completing organizational training, and we have created a system where members can request consultations through a dedicated app.

In the past, people might have thought, “If my consultation gets reported back to the staff in charge of my group, it’s better not to say anything.” Now, individuals can make appointments on their own and even specify the person they want to consult with.

However, for members who have been hurt and distanced themselves from the group, the most critical aspect is likely the organization’s culture itself. I feel the best way forward is to demonstrate how the culture of the organization has changed.

Q: Although the organization issued a compliance declaration in 2009, wasn’t the reform insufficiently thorough?

A: I acknowledge that it was inadequate. I feel the church’s approach to families was lacking. The failure to adequately address this in our education efforts hindered reform.

In 2009, the organization issued a compliance declaration

This declaration emphasized that members must not be pressured to donate out of fear or anxiety related to ancestral issues and that no donations should exceed what is reasonable given a person’s financial situation. We repeatedly gave guidance on these points and insisted on transparency in evangelism by identifying the organization from the outset. As a result, the number of lawsuits dropped significantly.

Since the compliance declaration, there have been only four civil lawsuits filed by former members involving donations, all before 2016. No such lawsuits have occurred since then.

Even so, we have been criticized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for “not adequately educating on compliance”. One of MEXT’s questions, as part of its exercise of inquiry rights, was: “Provide proof of compliance education.” We have submitted substantial evidence, including compliance education topics from national conferences, lecture outlines, and official documents circulated nationwide.

Q: Are you investigating the progress of organizational reforms?

A: Our reform efforts are centered on two main pillars:

1. Urgent measures:
   When accepting donations, we ensure they are not funded by loans, tied to disputes, or likely to harm family life. Both the organization and the individual must be mutually satisfied before any donation is made. This has been a major focus due to significant public scrutiny.
   Regarding donations, we have fundamentally changed our practices. We introduced strict guidelines to ensure compliance, strengthened verification processes, and now issue official receipts to donors.
2. Cultural transformation:
   Without a shift in culture, there is no future. We aim for fundamental reform to establish an open and transparent organization. This is not something that can be achieved overnight, but we are committed to this vision as a major pillar of our efforts.

Currently, second-generation members have taken on leadership roles, with one-third of regional leaders nationwide being second-generation members. Their approaches to engaging with members, managing families, operating the organization, and conducting meetings reflect a new era for the organization.

This marks a significant transformation for our community and its culture.

See part 1, part 2 of interview

End of part 6 of the series

Featured image above: Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広), President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, during the interview conducted 15th November 2024. Photo: Kato Reiwa (加藤 玲和)

See part 1 of the series: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 42nd article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 47th article, 48 article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

Related to openness and transparency: 2nd-Generation Denouncing Wry Media Portrayal

Also related to openness and transparency: 2nd-Generation Members Protesting Persecution

Also related to openness and transparency: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to openness and transparency: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to openness and transparency: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to openness and transparency: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to openness and transparency: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

Even more, related to openness and transparency: Japan Following the Way of China

And still more, related to openness and transparency: 12 Religious Freedom NGOs Denouncing Japan

And even more, related to openness and transparency: Conference on Religious Freedom Violations

Still more, related to openness and transparency: Japan: Threat to Religious Freedom

Even more, related to openness and transparency: Call to End Witch Hunt

More, related to openness and transparency: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

More, related to openness and transparency: Japan: 4300 Abductions and Forcible Detentions

And more, related to openness and transparency: Illegalities of Activist Lawyers Exposed

Yet more, related to openness and transparency: Lawyers Manipulating, Coercing, Lying

Still more, related to openness and transparency: Biased Information from Leftwing Lawyers

Even more, related to openness and transparency: Dangerous Precedent to Crush Religions

Even more, related to openness and transparency: Kyodo News: 100s of Rights Violations Claimed

Even more, related to openness and transparency: Fabricated Torts Part of Wily Strategy in Japan

Related to openness and transparency: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Goal

Related to openness and transparency: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

Related to openness and transparency: Kishida Has Opened Can of Worms

Related to openness and transparency: Bizarre Atlantic Report Condoning Terror

Related to openness and transparency: Japan Times: Warning of Terror

Related to openness and transparency: Did constant hate-mongering cause terror?