Dissolution order controversy: Family Federation follower takes legal action against government ministry officials over alleged forgery
Tokyo, 11th March 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
Ministry of Education Officials Accused
Family Federation Follower Alleges Fabrication of Statement
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
prepared by Knut Holdhus
A male follower of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) filed a criminal complaint with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office on 10th March 2025, accusing officials from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of document forgery and the use of forged documents. This comes amid allegations that statements submitted by MEXT as evidence in its request for a dissolution order against the organization at the Tokyo District Court may have been fabricated.
The individual filing the complaint is Hiroshi Ogasawara (小笠原裕), a follower of the Family Federation. He announced the accusation in a video released on YouTube on 11th March.
The complaint targets three MEXT officials responsible for drafting statements from two former followers of the Family Federation, which were used as witness testimony in the court proceedings regarding the dissolution order.
Ogasawara expressed outrage, stating, “We have dedicated our lives to this faith. As a believer, it is unbearable to see fabricated evidence used to justify the dissolution order.”
He emphasized that the criminal complaint would ensure that “a third-party perspective properly examines the matter.”
Attorney Shinichi Tokunaga( 徳永信一), representing the complainant, questioned the integrity of the entire legal process, saying, “This raises serious doubts about whether other procedures were conducted fairly as well.”
On 19th February 2025, the Family Federation published a report titled “MEXT’s Fabrication of False Evidence – The Grave Crime of State Power Exposed in the Dissolution Order Lawsuit.” In it, the organization pointed out multiple fabricated or false statements, including those from the two former members whose testimonies were used in the case. Additionally, on 7th March, the Family Federation formally requested an explanation from the Agency for Cultural Affairs regarding the alleged fabrication.
Featured image above: Press conference disclosing the allegations, released on 11th March 2025, via the YouTube channel “Ogasawara Family Church Channel”. Hiroshi Ogasawara (right) and attorney Shinichi Tokunaga. Photo: Sekai Nippo