Photo/Illutration Attendees wave their hands at an event involving the Unification Church held in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, on Oct. 6, 2019. (Toshihiro Kashiwagi)

Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura said he has lodged a complaint with the Unification Church after a congratulatory message from his office was doctored so that it praised the group’s leader.

The message was sent via telegram--a form of communication still used in Japan to mark ceremonial occasions. The message was read out loud at an event involving the religious organization held in October 2019 in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture.

According to Omura, an official at the Unification Church admitted to rewriting his message.

“We created (the text) as we saw fit and read it out (at the event),” the official reportedly told him.

The organization has since apologized, but at a news conference called to disclose what had occurred, Omura bristled over the contents of the message being tampered with.

“It is very disagreeable and regrettable that they made up text as they saw fit and read it out loud,” Omura said at the July 25 news conference. “I believe that because many things are being said about this organization, I have to be careful from now on.”

Omura explained that he frequently gets requests for telegrams from various organizations.

He said in this instance, he paid for the telegram with his own money and his office sent a straightforward message for the event that read: “I want to extend my congratulations for holding this event and I pray for everyone’s health and happiness.”

But the organization added in words of praise for its leader when it was read out at the gathering, so that it also said: “I pay my sincere respects to President Hak Ja Han, who coordinates our global environment to achieve world peace, for her strong belief and leadership.”

A source related to the event’s organizing committee said they “met with representatives of Governor Omura and apologized.”

The source said the committee and the Unification Church are “friendly organizations.”

But when it comes to why they requested a telegram from Omura in the first place, the source only said that “the details are unknown,” and added they could not answer why it was rewritten.

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