Raising concerns over legal grounds for dissolution, a religious-linked political party criticizes the Japanese state’s action against the Family Federation
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
Under the headline “The Happiness Realization Party Says Dissolution Order for the Family Federation Violates ‘Freedom of Religion’”, on March 10, the Japanese daily Sekai Nippo published a news item about a statement released by a political party the same day.
The paper writes, “On March 10, the political organization Happiness Realization Party (幸福実現党) released a statement regarding the Tokyo High Court’s decision ordering the dissolution of the former Unification Church, arguing that ‘a dissolution order based on civil-law torts leads to a violation of freedom of religion’.
In the statement, the party argued that creating a precedent in which the state determines the rightness or wrongness of a religion based on civil-law wrongdoing and orders its dissolution could ‘leave room for arbitrary judgments by the state’.
It further emphasized that if the organization’s assets – including places of worship – are liquidated, religious activities would be severely restricted, resulting in ‘a clear violation of freedom of religion’.
The statement also claimed that it is ‘obvious that the shooting incident involving former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三) had a significant impact’ on the dissolution order. It argued that treating ‘an individual’s crime’ as a problem of an entire organization cannot be considered the stance of a state governed by the rule of law.”
The Happiness Realization Party (HRP) is a small Japanese political party founded in 2009 that is closely tied to the religious movement Happy Science (幸福の科学). It functions essentially as the political wing of that religious organization.
It was founded by Ryuho Okawa (大川 隆法 – 1956-2023), the spiritual leader of Happy Science. The party was created to translate the movement’s religious and ideological ideas into political policy.
Happy Science itself is a new religious movement founded in 1986 that mixes elements of Buddhism, Christianity, New Age spirituality, and Okawa’s own teachings.
The party describes itself as conservative, and typical policy positions include strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and revising Article 9 of Japan’s constitution – the pacifist clause.
The economic policy includes tax cuts and creating new industries to boost growth. The party also puts an emphasis on religious values in politics and promotes a “spiritual foundation” for the Japanese state.
Despite fielding many candidates, the party has never won a seat in Japan’s national parliament. In the 2009 general election, it ran hundreds of candidates but failed to win seats. It has had some minor success in local councils, with a small number of local representatives. So politically, it remains marginal, though it maintains visibility through activism and media.
The Happiness Realization Party (幸福実現党) commenting on the dissolution case of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification is not accidental. Both Happy Science and the Family Federation are religious movements actively involved in creating a world of peace. It can be said that the HRP has a direct institutional interest in how the state treats religious groups.
Their concern is that if courts establish a precedent where the government can dissolve a religious organization based on civil-law violations, similar legal reasoning could potentially be applied to other religious movements, including Happy Science. So the party frames the issue as a broader defense of religious freedom, not merely support for the Family Federation.
The case revolves around whether the government can dissolve a religious corporation based on civil-law torts rather than criminal convictions.
Historically, in Japan, dissolution orders for religious corporations have been rare. They were typically tied to serious criminal activity, such as in the case of Aum Shinrikyo after the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995.
In the current case, the government argues that repeated civil-law violations justify dissolution. Groups like the HRP worry that this expands the legal grounds for dissolving religious institutions.
The issue became politically explosive after the assassination of Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三) in 2022. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami (山上徹也), claimed he targeted Abe because of perceived ties to the Family Federation, which he held a grudge against because of his mother’s donations.
The HRP’s statement argues that the emotional and political fallout from the assassination influenced the legal process.
The HRP often presents itself as a defender of civil liberties and religious freedom against state overreach. By opposing the dissolution order, the party can reinforce its ideological stance, appeal to religious voters, and signal solidarity with other religious groups concerned about government intervention.
Even though the HRP and the Family Federation are separate movements, they share an interest in resisting what they perceive as state intrusion into religious affairs.
The Happiness Realization Party is speaking out because the case could establish a legal precedent allowing the Japanese state to dissolve religious organizations based on civil liability, which religious movements – including the one behind the party – see as a potential threat to freedom of religion.
Featured image above: The Happiness Realization Party campaigning in Umeda, Osaka, December 2, 2012. Photo: Ogiyoshisan / Wikimedia Commons. License: CC ASA 3.0 Unp