Photo/Illutration Fumio Kishida, then policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, exchanges business cards with Michael Jenkins, head of Universal Peace Federation International, a friendship organization of the Unification Church, on Oct. 4, 2019. (Provided by Newt Gingrich)

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich indicated that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida likely understood that people connected to the Unification Church were present at a meeting he attended in 2019.

In written responses received by The Asahi Shimbun on Dec. 6, Gingrich said he met Kishida in October 2019 at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo along with Michael Jenkins, the current president of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) International, a friendship organization of the Unification Church.

Masayoshi Kajikuri, chairman of UPF Japan, was also in attendance, Gingrich said.

Kishida was the LDP’s policy chief at the time.

Jenkins was president of the U.S. branch of the Unification Church between 2000 and 2009.

“First we exchanged business cards,” Gingrich said. Then “(we) all sat together” and “had a discussion about the historic alliance between the U.S. and Japan.”

Gingrich sent several pictures taken during the meeting.

One shows Kishida, Gingrich, Jenkins and Kajikuri posing together.

The photos also show Kishida shaking hands with Jenkins and looking at a business card that was apparently exchanged.

Gingrich said, “At the time, it was clear who was in the meeting.”

Gingrich also said the meeting “was arranged by UPF Japan.”

Kishida has repeatedly said he was unaware if he had met people connected to the Unification Church when he “paid a courtesy call” on Gingrich. Kishida has also said he had “no recollection” of whether business cards were exchanged at the meeting.

When asked about Gingrich’s explanation, Kishida told reporters on Dec. 7: “I am not aware of who accompanied (Gingrich). This understanding remains unchanged.”

Kishida also said he has been trying to contact Gingrich.

“But even if there were an official related to (the church), it would not change my understanding,” the prime minister said. “The fact that (Gingrich) was accompanied by such a person does not indicate that I had any relationship with the Unification Church.”

When asked about Gingrich’s assertion that the UPF arranged the meeting, Kishida said, “It was Mr. Gingrich who requested that we meet, and I met him in my capacity as a former foreign minister.”

UPF Japan told The Asahi Shimbun on Dec. 6, “It is our understanding that they originally tried to arrange a meeting between (then) Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe and Mr. Gingrich but were unable to find the time, so Prime Minister Abe set up a meeting with then Chairman of the (LDP) Policy Research Council Kishida.”

Several sources close to the Kishida administration have told The Asahi Shimbun that Abe planned to meet with Gingrich at that time, but he had to deliver his policy speech in the Diet that day, so he asked Kishida to meet with Gingrich in his place.

The UPF was established by Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, and his wife, Hak Ja Han Moon, the current leader of the religious organization now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

UPF International manages about 150 branches spread around the world.

Gingrich is known for his close ties to the UPF, having spoken at several of the organization’s large-scale gatherings.

Abe was assassinated in July 2022 apparently over his close ties with the Unification Church.

(This article was written by Nobuya Sawa, senior staff writer, and Yosuke Takashima.)

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