Christian leader points out that new laws in Japan let lawyers assist many to exploit the laws, pose as victims, and extort money from the religious minority in a way that resembles a “form of organized crime”
Tokyo, 25th November 2024 – Published as the 39th article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article
Tsukishiro Christian Church – Pastor Ryuichi Sunagawa
Evaluating Anti-Communist Activities
by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
prepared by Knut Holdhus
In front of the Okinawa Prefectural Office, there is a man who regularly delivers street speeches alone. He is Pastor Ryuichi Sunagawa (砂川竜一) of Tsukishiro Christian Church in Nanjo City, located in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
Pastor Sunagawa is known for his outspoken views. He calls for the resignation of Governor Denny Tamaki (玉城デニ), whom he criticizes for failing to uphold a Supreme Court ruling regarding the relocation of a U.S. military base. Additionally, he identifies parental gambling addiction as the greatest factor contributing to children’s unhappiness. This concern led him to run for the Nanjo City Council election for the first time in April 2022. Despite being a pastor, Sunagawa stands out for his strong interest and active engagement in politics.
Pastor Ryuichi Sunagawa has expressed strong anger over the government’s request for a disbandment order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church). He questions why the media is so hostile toward the organization. Regarding its connections with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三), Sunagawa stated, “Based on the facts I have seen and heard, there was nothing inappropriate about their relationship.”
He believed that “the public has been misled into accepting the narrative that ‘Prime Minister Abe was assassinated because the Unification Church was evil’.”
Sunagawa pointed out that it was only natural for the former Unification Church to have close ties with former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi (岸信介元) and members of the Liberal Democratic Party, considering that the church‘s founder, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, was a frontrunner in the fight against communism. He praised the Family Federation as “the only religious organization that has stood squarely against a demonic communism that denies God.”
During a symposium on religious freedom held in Naha City on 3rd November 2024, Sunagawa quoted from John 8:44 to emphasize, “The devil is a liar. The devil is a murderer. And the devil is the father of lies.”
He argued, “The International Federation for Victory over Communism (IFVOC) and the former Unification Church, which supports it, are enemies of the devil. Therefore, we must stand with them.”
Sunagawa praised the reforms undertaken by the Family Federation and said, “There may have been issues in the past, such as large donations and ‘spiritual sales’ practices, but the attitude of reform and transformation is what truly matters.”
Referring to the organization’s rebranding as the Family Federation, he expressed hope that it would continue evolving into “a group that brings joy to God.”
Since its compliance declaration in 2009, the Family Federation has reportedly restrained excessive donations that conflict with donors’ financial situations. However, Sunagawa criticized the media’s failure to acknowledge these changes, remarking, “Despite becoming an organization that values family, the public discourse continues to condemn it based solely on past scandals, without recognizing its progress. This is a dangerous tendency.”
Nevertheless, the government enacted a special law for victim relief in December last year (2023). Sunagawa expressed concerns about potential repercussions for other religious groups. He warned that donation refund demands could arise from other religious organizations’ members or their families. He noted, “I can understand the psychology of former members who, due to a change of heart, demand the return of past donations. However, it is alarming that families or relatives who have not suffered any harm team up with lawyers and pose as victims to sue and extort money, exploiting these laws for financial gain. This ‘victim business’ is becoming a form of organized crime.”
Sunagawa also critiqued Japan’s religious corporation system. While acknowledging that religious entities enjoy strong protections, such as tax benefits, he highlighted abuses within the system, stating, “Many religious organizations exist primarily to evade taxes.”
Ryuichi Sunagawa also pointed out the need to review the system surrounding religious corporations, “Faith should inherently benefit believers, their families, and the community, and should not be a membership club for the benefit of specific organizations or political groups. To prevent illegal activities within these corporations, it may be necessary for the government to have some degree of oversight over all religious corporations in the future.”
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Featured image above: Pastor Ryuichi Sunagawa, Tsukishiro Christian Church, Nanjo City, Okinawa, Japan. Photo: Sekai Nippo