Second-generation believers speak out against Japanese state’s robbery of all assets and places of worship
Tokyo, 27th March 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
Fear of Being Robbed of Their Places
Court Order to Dissolve Family Federation
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
prepared by Knut Holdhus
Second-Generation Association Representative Kojima: “Believers Are Hurt”
Following the Tokyo District Court’s decision to order the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), the “Second-Generation Association for Protecting the Human Rights of Believers” – led by Nozomi Kojima (小嶌希晶) – which consists of second-generation believers of the Family Federation, held a press conference in Shibuya, Tokyo, on 26th March. They expressed concerns that believers are suffering, feeling hurt, and anxious about losing their place.
Kojima stated, “Journalists often ask me, ‘Even if the organization is dissolved, you can still continue your faith, right? There’s no problem, right?’ But our church is built on community activities, including volunteer work.”
She added, “Being told by the government that we are not allowed to exist is deeply painful for many believers.”
Masaki Shirasu (白數将明 – 25), a resident of Osaka, compared the situation to losing something irreplaceable, saying, “Losing our places of faith feels like losing something fundamental to our lives. It’s like telling a singer to sing alone on a deserted island.”
Makoto Imanaka (今中誠真 – 29), a staff member of the religious organization, acknowledged that there are people who have suffered harm from the organization but argued that the media’s coverage has caused even more believers to suffer. He emphasized, “I want people to understand that many believers are experiencing immense hardship due to the media’s portrayal.”
Expressing concern over the widespread negative perception of religious organizations, he expressed his determination to help people see the true nature of the Family Federation.
Attorney Shinichi Tokunaga (徳永信一), who represents believers and affiliated groups in legal proceedings, also attended the press conference. He criticized the Tokyo District Court’s decision, stating, “I am extremely dissatisfied with whether sufficient consideration was given to the disadvantages of stripping the religious organization of its corporate status, particularly in terms of believers’ freedom of religion.”
Tokunaga lamented what he saw as a lack of respect for the core religious value of forming a community where people with shared beliefs coexist. He also pointed out that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) had used the organization’s partial refusal to answer certain government inquiry questions as a basis for presuming its wrongdoing. Looking ahead to the Tokyo High Court case, he asserted, “This will be a battle to overturn that presumption.”
[Editor’s note: The phrase “Fear of Being Robbed of Their Places” in the headline refers to the anxiety and uncertainty that members of the Family Federation (formerly the Unification Church) feel about losing their religious community and support system due to the court-ordered dissolution of the organization.
For many believers, their faith is closely tied to a community where they worship, engage in volunteer work, and share a common identity. The dissolution order threatens to take away this communal space, making them feel displaced or without a spiritual “home”. The article highlights how members are concerned that their sense of belonging, religious practices, and way of life will be significantly disrupted.]
Featured image above: Nozomi Kojima (center), representative of “The Second-Generation Association for Protecting the Human Rights of Believers”, speaking at a press conference on 26th March 2025 in Shibuya, Tokyo. Photo: Yasuhiro Uno (宇野泰弘).