Politicians and activists at symposium in Tokyo condemn the anti-religious dissolution case and its obvious links to faith-breaking based om criminal methods
Tokyo, 3rd March 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
Abductions and Dissolution Closely Connected
Toru Goto and Others Hold Symposium in Tokyo
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
A symposium opposing the issue of religious believers being abducted, confined, and forcibly de-converted – primarily affecting members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) – was held in Tokyo on 1st and 2nd March 2025. The event was organized by the North Tokyo Association for the Protection of Freedom of Religion and Fundamental Human Rights, which consists mainly of believers.
On 1st March, Toru Goto (後藤徹), representing the National Association of Victims of Abduction, Confinement, and Forced Deconversion, who was confined for 12 years and 5 months, and non-fiction writer Masumi Fukuda (福田ますみ) took the stage. Goto emphasized the importance of freedom, which he came to deeply appreciate after his long-term confinement. He stated, “Faith and freedom are precious, and we must eradicate abduction and confinement to protect them.”
He also pointed out that half of the testimonies submitted by alleged “victims” at Tokyo District Court as evidence for the dissolution order against the Family Federation were from individuals who had left the religious organization after being abducted and confined. He argued that this issue is closely connected to the legal proceedings for the church’s dissolution.
Fukuda expressed the view that one cannot discuss the issues of the religious organization without addressing the abduction and confinement problem. She criticized Japanese society for ignoring this matter, warning, “We must not turn a blind eye to this postwar Japan’s worst human rights violation.” She further urged believers, “Don’t stay silent – continue speaking out.”
On the second day, politicians took the stage, including House of Councillors member Satoshi Hamada (浜田聡) and Norio Hosoya (細谷典男), a city council member from Toride, Ibaraki Prefecture. Hamada, who had submitted a written inquiry regarding allegations that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) fabricated testimonies for the dissolution order, remarked, “The fact that MEXT has not denied this fabrication is a significant point.” He added, “If true, this is a serious matter, and I intend to continue pursuing it.”
Hosoya criticized the movement to label the Family Federation as “anti-social” and exclude it from society despite the lack of solid proof of wrongdoing. He warned that such actions are characteristic of totalitarianism and urged, “We must nip the seeds of totalitarianism in the bud before they grow.”
Additionally, the symposium featured a lecture by the representative of Ame no Yachimata no Kai (天（あめ）の八衢（やちまた）の会), an organization dedicated to repairing relationships between confined believers and their parents. Drawing from personal experience, the speaker emphasized that resolving the abduction and confinement issue requires parent-child reconciliation and stressed the necessity of dialogue.
Featured image above: Toru Goto (center), representing the National Association of Victims of Abduction, Confinement, and Forced Deconversion, and non-fiction writer Masumi Fukuda (right), attending the symposium in Tokyo on the afternoon of 1st March 2025. Photo: Takahide Ishii (石井孝秀).