15,000 protesting in Tokyo and throughout Japan in demonstrations against organized criminal persecution they have suffered for decades
Tokyo, 9th December 2024 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
“Abduction, Confinement, and Forced Renunciation of Faith Are Crimes”
Protest in Shinjuku, Tokyo Against Unfair Reporting and Dissolution Request
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
- “We will not tolerate religious oppression!”
- “Abduction, confinement, and forced renunciation of faith are crimes!”
- “Withdraw the request for dissolution!”
These were the slogans heard on 8th December 2024 at the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station. On a busy Sunday, amid the bustling crowds, members of the Tokyo congregations of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) staged a protest. They sought to draw attention to what they called human rights violations against Family Federation believers. Around 120 people participated in the demonstration.
Before the demonstration began, members did street preaching to highlight the human rights violations the Family Federation has faced. Toru Goto, representative of the National Association of Victims of Abduction, Confinement, and Forced Religious De-Conversion, took the stage and emphasized, “The reporting about the former Unification Church is extremely biased. The voices of current members are not being reflected at all.”
Goto also recounted his personal experience, mentioning the abduction, confinement and attempted forced de-conversion that he himself went through for 12 years and five months. He pointed out, “The Supreme Court has recognized this as abduction and confinement.”
Toru Goto shared about his own ordeal and could also convey the voices of other victims.
The protesters began their march around 3:00 pm at the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station, near Alta. They protested against the government’s request for a court order to dissolve the Family Federation, marching from Shinjuku Station’s south exit to the intersection in front of Shinjuku Ward Office. Along the way, they chanted slogans such as “The dissolution order request is unconstitutional!”
“Withdraw the dissolution request!”
“Protect freedom of religion and human rights!”
On the same day, similar protests were held at approximately 200 locations nationwide, involving around 15,000 Family Federation believers and supporters.
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Featured image above: Toru Goto (後 藤 徹), representing the National Association of Victims of Abduction, Confinement, and Forced Religious De-Conversion (center), delivering his speech 8th December 2024, Shinjuku, Tokyo. The posters behind him carry pictures of Toru Goto hardly able to walk after more than 12 years of forcible confinement. Photo: Reiwa Kato (加 藤 玲 和)