TOKYO, Aug. 5, 2022—The late prime minister Shinzo Abe’s faction members within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party were closely connected to Sun Myong Moon’s Unification Church’s Japan chapter, receiving campaign financing, other grafts and probably ballots.
Nobuo Kishi, younger brother of Abe, who serves as defense minister, said Aug. 2 that he would ‘need to review the relationship’ with the World Peace Unification Family Federation, the Japan chapter of the Unification Church renamed several years ago.
Trade minister Koichi Hagiuda, former education minister Hirofumi Shimomura, LDP secretary-general Toshimitsu Motegi, and several other incumbent ministers and LDP heavyweights admitted receiving donations, campaign financing and other grafts.
Yet, opposition party members also acknowledged connections with the church.
Article 20 of the Japanese constitution provides the freedom of religion for all people in Japan and that ‘Any religious entities shall not receive special favors from the state and/or execute political power.’ It also says the state and its institutions shall not engage in religious educations or any other religious activities.
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