Photo/Illutration Representatives of the Unification Church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, talk to reporters after a court hearing on Feb. 22. (Ryuichi Kitano)

The Unification Church said it demanded a “fair judgment” at the Tokyo District Court, where the first hearing was held on the government’s request for an order to dissolve the religious organization.

The hearing, which was closed to the public, began at 2 p.m. on Feb. 22 and lasted for about 50 minutes.

Representatives of the church, now formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, told reporters after the hearing that about 10 people attended, including the church’s president, Tomihiro Tanaka, the church’s lawyers and officials from the Cultural Affairs Agency and the Justice Ministry.

The government has said its investigation uncovered illicit acts by the church concerning donations collected from its followers.

According to the investigation, the church took advantage of “brainwashed” members and coerced many into buying exorbitant goods to ward off misfortune.

The government also said the church has concealed its true identity to gain followers and funds. It said such practices have continued for years despite previous court instructions to halt such activities.

The government in October requested the court order for a dissolution, which would deprive the church of its religious corporation status and the accompanying benefits, including tax breaks.

During the hearing, Tanaka read a statement of the church’s opinion, saying, “The dissolution of (the church) cannot be allowed,” according to the church representatives.

The church side also asked the government to clarify which law had been violated. But the government did not provide a specific answer, the church representatives said.

Government officials responded to questions from the court and from the church, but the state did not submit a statement of opinion, the representatives said.

Tanaka said in the statement that the central government’s claim that the church “is a fundraising organization is clearly mistaken.”

He also said that receiving donations is part of the group’s religious activities, and that it no longer conceals its status as a religious corporation.

Tanaka said the government has submitted testimonies from 233 “high donation victims” in its request for the dissolution order, but the church has already resolved the problems with most of them.

The church came under the spotlight again after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot in July 2022.

The suspected gunman said he held a grudge against the Unification Church because his mother had donated all of the family’s money to the group. He said he targeted Abe because of his close ties to the religious organization.

“I must say that it is an extremely abnormal situation, with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe falling victim to a terrorist bullet and the state mobilizing all its power to dissolve our corporation in accordance with the wishes of the perpetrator,” Tanaka was quoted as saying in the hearing.

After the government requested the dissolution order in October, both sides have continued to exchange written correspondence.

Given the overall complexity of the case and the arguments, the court is believed to have held the session to hear directly from the parties and to clarify the points in dispute.

The church is considering submitting new written arguments, statements from current followers and opinions from experts. It might also seek a hearing in which it can question former followers who have complained about financial damage.

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