Religious Freedom Symposium in Tokyo

Members, politicians and religious leaders gather for religious freedom symposium to address current persecution in Japan

Tokyo, 9th August 2024 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article

Symposium on Religious Freedom Held in Tokyo

“Let’s Speak Out to Protect Our Faith”

by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

A symposium titled “Symposium on Religious Freedom and Fundamental Human Rights”, hosted by the West Tokyo Peace Ambassadors Council, was held on 8th August 2024 in Musashino City, Tokyo, with about 100 participants, mainly members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church).

Yosuke Yokokawa (横川洋介) (46), a second-generation believer and employee of the Family Federation, commented on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s request to the Tokyo District Court for an order to dissolve the Family Federation. He emphasized that “for believers, the church is faith itself and their identity.” He called on participants to “raise their voices to protect the faith for future generations.”

Norio Hosoya (細谷典男), a city councilor from Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture, pointed out that “the issues surrounding the Family Federation have become a political struggle.” He encouraged the participants by saying,

“The believers understand best that the Family Federation is not an organization that should be dissolved.”

Featured image above: Yosuke Yokokawa (横川洋介) talks about his religious identity on 8th August 2024 in Musashino, Tokyo. Photo: Tsuyoshi Toyoda (豊田剛) / Sekai Nippo

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