On March 3, 2025, Japan’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling, imposing a fine of 100,000 yen (about 670 dollars) on the leader of the Unification Church for refusing to answer questions from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Unification Church Logo
In March 2024, the Tokyo District Court and the Tokyo High Court ruled that Tomihiro Tanaka, president of the Japanese branch of the Unification Church (officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), must pay a fine of 100,000 yen (approximately 4,900 RMB). The Unification Church appealed the decision. On March 3, 2025, the First Petty Bench of Japan’s Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.
Since November 2022, MEXT has conducted seven inquiries into the Unification Church, which refused to answer certain questions, claiming that MEXT was unlawfully exercising its authority.
Japan’s Religious Corporations Law stipulates that if a religious organization is found to be engaged in illegal activities or poses a threat to public safety, the court may order its dissolution, and MEXT has the authority to take action accordingly as well.
Japan’s Supreme Court noted that MEXT’s request to dissolve the Unification Church cited violations of Article 709 of Japan’s Civil Code. According to chinafxj.cn, this article stipulates that individuals or entities that intentionally or negligently infringe on others' rights or interests must bear liability for damages. The Unification Church is suspected of violating this provision through improper fundraising and other practices that infringe on the rights or interests of its followers.
