The 'Unification Church' Pointed Out by Abe's Shooter... Nearly Half of Japan's LDP Involved

Motegi Toshimitsu, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, holding a press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announced on the 8th that 179 members of the National Diet were found to have connections with the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification). This accounts for nearly half of the total party members (381).

According to local media, Toshimitsu Motegi, LDP Secretary-General, announced these self-investigation results at a press conference held at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on the afternoon of the same day. Last month, the LDP instructed its members to report any connections with the Unification Church by the 2nd of this month.

The investigation covered eight items, including whether members sent congratulatory messages to Unification Church-related meetings, whether interviews or dialogue articles were published in Unification Church promotional materials, whether they attended Unification Church-related group meetings and donated membership fees, and whether they received organized support from the Unification Church during elections. The results were initially scheduled to be announced on the 6th but were delayed by two days due to insufficient information provided.

The investigation into the Unification Church is related to the assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, cited the reason for the crime as his mother having donated a large sum to the Unification Church, which ruined their family, and pointed to the connection between Abe and the Unification Church. Since then, criticism has surged in Japan regarding the relationship between the Unification Church and the political sphere, especially the LDP.

In response, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conducted a major cabinet reshuffle on the 10th of last month, replacing 14 out of 19 ministers. Among them, seven ministers who were found to have connections with the Unification Church were also replaced. However, as the controversy did not subside and the cabinet's approval rating dropped, a full survey of party members was conducted.

Secretary-General Motegi, while announcing the investigation results, said, “We take the results seriously and honestly reflect on them,” and added, “We will thoroughly adhere to the party’s policy of having no relationship whatsoever with the Unification Church going forward.” Prime Minister Kishida also stated on the same day at the House of Representatives Steering Committee, “We will strive to regain the trust of the people.”