As you are aware, on March 4 at 11:00 am, the Tokyo High Court rendered its decision and dismissed the appeal our organization had filed. Our legal arguments were not accepted in the appellate proceedings, a result we find profoundly regrettable.
In particular, with respect to the original decision rendered by the Tokyo
District Court, we emphasized before the High Court that the ruling effectively deprives individuals of the most superior and fundamental human right to freedom of religion. Despite this, the court allowed long-standing legal interpretations to be arbitrarily altered and retroactively applied. Such a course of action constitutes a violation of both the constitution and international law. Furthermore, we argued that speculative conclusions not grounded in verifiable facts or evidence run contrary to the fundamental judicial principle that judgments must be based upon proven facts.
Moreover, in October last year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a press release warning that the decision of the Tokyo District Court was inconsistent with international law. Nevertheless, the Tokyo High Court dismissed the arguments cited above and rendered its decision while disregarding the warnings from the international community.
In addition, since 2022 our organization has undertaken substantial reforms within the church, including the introduction of written confirmation procedures for donations and the establishment of certified counseling personnel. Since the enactment of the Act on Prevention of Unjust Solicitation of Donations in 2023, not a single case has arisen in which our organization received a recommendation or order from the Consumer Affairs Agency. More recently, through settlements with the parties involved in the class action lawsuits and through the establishment of a compensation committee, we have made considerable efforts to address the claims of many individuals alleging harm, even beyond what is required by law.
It is profoundly regrettable that, despite the absence of concrete evidence of any violation of statutory law and without due recognition of the efforts made toward reform and improvement, the District Court’s dissolution order was upheld primarily on the basis of settlements and negotiated agreements. We intend to consult promptly with our legal counsel and proceed with preparations for an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Also on March 4, the court appointed a liquidator to oversee dissolution procedures. We intend to engage sincerely with the liquidation process.
At the same time, it is deeply unfortunate that immediately following the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe, and during the period surrounding the District Court’s dissolution decision, numerous incidents of discrimination, prejudice, defamation, and other violations of human rights were directed against members of our church and their families. We sincerely request of all members of society that no further human rights violations occur against church members and their families.
In the end, we are an organization devoted solely to the service of God, our Heavenly Parent, and to the realization of God’s will. Even if our legal corporate status is denied, our commitment to religious activity in pursuit of realizing Heaven’s will remains unchanged. Rather, we will take these circumstances as an opportunity to more widely convey the truth of our activities to people in society. Through our continued witnessing and missionary efforts, we remain committed to earning the trust of the broader public.
March 5, 2026
Hori Masaichi