Dissolution and liquidation mean the Japanese state steals properties members built with their own hands and years of investment to realize their dream
Tokyo, 24th June 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
[Series] Where Will the Believers Go? The Issue of the Family Federation’s Dissolution and Its Corporate Facilities (Church Properties) (Part 1)
“Liquidation Is Just Like Being Robbed of Our Assets.”
A Church Dedication That Finally Came True After 60 Years – in Koriyama
by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
prepared by Knut Holdhus
The legal proceedings regarding the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) have moved to Tokyo High Court. If the High Court upholds the dissolution order, liquidation of the organization’s assets will begin immediately, even before a ruling from the Supreme Court. If that happens, the church facilities where believers conduct worship and other religious activities may be lost, causing growing concern among the faithful that they will lose their spiritual home.
On 24th November of last year, a new Family Federation facility was completed in Koriyama, a commercial city in the center of Fukushima Prefecture. About 10 minutes by car from Koriyama Station, the single-story “Koriyama Church” was built by repurposing a former hot spring facility. It has a large parking lot.
Jun’ya Hirokawa (廣川淳也) (54), a church staff member proudly guiding visitors through the facility, explained that it was designed so that elderly believers could enter without removing their shoes. Hirokawa said firmly, “This new church was the dream of all the believers, a dream 60 years in the making. Please don’t rob us of a church that’s just been completed.”
On 25th March, the Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order based on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology‘s request. In the court’s written decision, regarding freedom of religion, it states: “Even if a religious corporation is dissolved by a dissolution order, believers are not prevented from continuing a religious group without legal status, or from forming a group or corporation anew in an appropriate manner. Nor are they hindered from conducting religious activities or preparing new facilities and items for religious purposes.”
However, according to the Religious Corporations Act, during the liquidation process following dissolution, religious activities generally cannot take place on properties owned by the corporation. Furthermore, if the repayment of debts requires the sale of real estate held under the corporate name, there is a possibility the church facilities will be seized. Although the court acknowledged that this may “interfere with” believers’ religious practices, is this “interference” not a matter deeply connected to the core of religious freedom?
Whether it’s Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, Christian churches, or Islamic mosques, places of worship are essential for religious faith to function.
The Koriyama Church purchased the former hot spring facility in autumn 2023. Since the walls were damaged from years of hot spring use, they were all demolished, leaving only the steel framework. A full renovation was carried out over the course of a year, making it effectively a new building.
Situated on a large site of over 1,500 square meters including the parking area, the church facility occupies about a quarter of the property.
It features a sanctuary/auditorium capable of seating 200–300 people and a café space with a nice view where about 30 people may gather and chat.
After completion, the Koriyama Church distributed 1,000 flyers reading, “Want to take a peek at the infamous Unification Church?” in an effort to gain understanding from the local community. They also held an open house event. Young believers commented, “I’m so happy that it’s become a church where I feel proud to bring people.”
The previous facility was half the size and had only one bathroom. Nearly all the Koriyama Church members had hoped for a new building, and staff had been searching for real estate for years. Yet few real estate agents were willing to sell to the Family Federation. When they finally secured the current property and moved in last November, Hirokawa recalled, “All the believers were filled with joy.”
During the renovation, simple tasks like laying floor tiles were carried out by the believers themselves. They laid them one by one, working together, and there are even a few spots where the tiles are slightly misaligned. The believers unanimously say that they feel a sense of attachment to the building because of the manual labor involved.
Takashi Ijuin (伊集院孝) (72), a believer who donated for the dedication of the church, expressed his feelings: “Even if the building is in the name of the corporation and legally belongs to headquarters, for us on the ground, this is our church. Taking away a church we built with donations given through our hard work is no different than having our own assets stolen. It’s heartbreaking.”
The court decision may say, “There is no obstacle to preparing a new facility,” but the burden of once again investing time, money, and labor is no easy matter for the believers.
Featured image above: The sanctuary of the Family Federation’s Koriyama Church. Photo: Yasuhiko Nagano (長野康彦)