Photo/Illutration Chiki Ogiue speaks about the results of a survey covering children of followers of various religions on Nov. 1. (Amane Shimazaki)

Around 90 percent of children with parents in religious organizations have been forced to attend religious ceremonies, while 34 percent have faced restrictions on who they can befriend or date, a survey showed.

Chiki Ogiue, a commentator who heads the social research association that conducted the online survey from Sept. 9 to 19, announced the results on Nov. 1. A total of 1,158 people replied to the survey.

About 50 percent of the 1,131 people who gave valid responses said their parents were members of Buddhist groups, while about 30 percent cited Christianity and about 10 percent said their parents followed Shinto.

Around two-thirds of the respondents said they were forced to participate in religious events when they were 6 to 9 years old.

Thirty-four percent of the children said they were under pressure to donate money to religious groups, while 23 percent were mobilized for election-related rallies, the survey showed.

Some respondents said their family members spread misogynistic attitudes in their households and railed against same-sex relationships.

Others said they were restricted from participating in school events because of religious reasons.

Forty-one percent of the respondents in the survey said they have left the religious groups of their parents.

Among them, 58 percent said their family relationship has worsened, and more than 40 percent said they have had difficulties adjusting to social life.

Around 70 percent of the respondents called for the creation of a system in which children can safely leave from their parents and religious groups.

They also said the government should revoke religious corporation status of any group that creates social problems and force such organizations to dissolve.

A majority of the respondents also said they want legal restrictions on cult activities, self-support groups for people who leave religious groups, medical support for religious trauma, and  enhanced educational activities.

Problems related to religious organizations have been in the spotlight since a gunman with a grudge against the Unification Church was arrested on suspicion of murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his ties to the group.

Ogiue said the Unification Church issue has drawn attention to the problems facing children who are called “second generation” followers of religious groups.

“There are people who are disclosing their identities and speaking out,” Ogiue said.

He also said their voices represent “issues that many religious children experience and share,” and that the survey was intended to put these issues out into the open and spark debate.

Ogiue said the demands placed on the religious children and the restrictions imposed on their school choices, career options, friendships and romance show that support measures should be expanded for them.

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