Japan: Revelations of Moon sect's entryism in high places spark wide debate

In Japan, the government has been shaken since the assassination of Shinzo Abe (our photo), at the beginning of July 2022 (illustration image).

AFP - TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In Japan, the government has been shaken since the assassination of Shinzo Abe in early July 2022. To the point that some media now speak of a “ 

regime crisis

 ”.

The ex-Prime Minister was shot dead by a man whose family was plunged into misery because of the donations they made to the Moon sect.

The killer attacked Shinzo Abe because, in his eyes, he was intimately linked to this religious movement.

And, in fact, since this tragedy, the revelations follow one another on the influence – the entryism, even – of this sect in high places.

This obviously sparks a huge debate in the archipelago.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Tokyo,

Bruno Duval

Nearly half of the members of the government as well as a hundred parliamentarians from the ruling party attended events organized by the Moon sect.

Often, they have also benefited from the help of this religious movement during electoral campaigns: followers have put up their posters, distributed their leaflets, and even donated funds to them.

“ 

Very disturbing

 ”

Which does not leave these Tokyoites indifferent: " 

It's very worrying

," said this man.

That said, at the moment, what concerns me above all is the surge in the number of cases of Covid-19

 ”.

For this woman, however, “ 

this affair seems to me to have been blown up by the press and the opposition for the sole purpose of sullying the memory of Shinzo Abe.

It shocks me 

”.

“ 

Everything indicates that this bigoted and evil sect has succeeded in intruding to the very top of the state.

It's really not reassuring 

, ”says this other man.

And for this other person, “ 

what needs to be clarified are the financial flows.

Politicians have received money from the sect.

Did they get rich and did that influence their decisions?

That's the main thing. 

»

Government trust rating plummets

According to polls, a majority of Japanese condemn these connections between their political leaders and a sect that has found itself facing justice: courts have likened some of its proselytizing practices to extortion or fraud.

The confidence rating of the government has also collapsed since this scandal broke.

►Also read

:

The Japanese Prime Minister dismisses ministers who are too close to the Moon sect

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Japan

  • Crime

  • Shinzo Abe

  • Fumio Kishida

  • Religion