A young mother from a persecuted religious minority in Japan fears that her child may be harmed by the witch hunt
Tokyo, 9th October 2024 – Published as the 32nd article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article
“Keeping distance from the religious organization, but happy with the marriage”
by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
In response to the media coverage of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), current believers claim “biased reporting.” Second-generation believers who are not actively practicing their faith also raise concerns.
Nayo Tobita (pseudonym), a woman in her 30s living in Chiba Prefecture, is currently married to a man she met at a so-called mass wedding, and they have one child. However, she rarely attends church and has hardly practiced offerings or home prayer meetings since getting married. When asked about the reason, she explained, “I’m not comfortable with the church.” She says, “Everyday life and hobbies are more important than God, church teachings, or the founders. It’s a hassle to go to church, and I often decline invitations.”
She has few good memories from childhood. During her elementary, middle, and high school years, church training sessions were held during school vacations, but she was uncomfortable with these retreats, known as “training camps”, “The gap between those who were enthusiastic and those who weren’t was large, and I often found myself isolated. Although many people there were meeting for the first time, there wasn’t a sense of building friendships, and once the training was over, the relationships ended.”
She couldn’t fit in with the more enthusiastic group, and it was also very stressful when it was her turn to lead prayers in front of many people at mealtimes.
She also harbors deep resentment towards her parents. She criticizes them, saying, “From a child’s perspective, it seemed like they turned a blind eye to family issues and instead focused their energy on the church’s work.” She further expresses her distrust, saying, “During the difficult times in my life, they didn’t really step in to face things with me. It felt like their own position and reputation were more important, and they didn’t want to disrupt their own lives.”
Tobita emphasizes that there haven’t been many times where she felt glad to have been born as a second-generation member of a religion.” However, she also reveals her complex feelings, saying, “I can’t bring myself to betray my parents. Leaving the church would mean severing ties with them, and I don’t want to become that lonely.” She continues, “I don’t think the teachings or the organization are wrong, but it’s hard to keep pretending to be interested in faith and the church when I’m not. I think there are quite a few believers like that.”
For Tobita, what mattered more than whether to remain in the faith or leave was “whether I could feel a sense of security.” Despite her lack of interest in the church or faith, she still chose to participate in the church’s mass wedding ceremony because she thought, “Maybe I’ll feel happier after getting married.” She adds that she is currently happy with her married life.
However, regarding the request for the dissolution order of the church, she firmly states, “If possible, I don’t want it to be dissolved.” She fears that if the dissolution is finalized, hatred towards the religious organization and its believers will increase, leading to more slander on social media and even direct violence or attacks. “I worry that my child might also be subjected to violence,” she says, expressing her worst fears.
Regarding the continuous media coverage of the Family Federation following the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe, she acknowledges, “There are victims, and the argument that this should be rectified is not wrong.” However, she reflects, “I felt that all the press conferences and supportive statements from the church side were shut down with the single phrase ‘People from the Unification Church are crazy.’ The media concluded everything with their own claims.”
She recalls feeling a sense of futility and even nausea, thinking that no matter what was said, no one would listen.
Regarding the faith of second-generation religious adherents, Tobita pointed out, “What matters is what the individual wants.” While the dissolution of the religious organization has become a popular topic, she suggests, “Some just want their parents to apologize or to be acknowledged. If we truly want to solve the issues faced by second-generation religious adherents, we should first create a space where they can talk with their parents.”
Click here to read more on Religious Persecution
Featured image: Nayo Tobita holding the hand of her child on 7th October 2024 in Chiba Prefecture. Photo: Takahide Ishii (石 井 孝 秀)