Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama: ``We are cutting ties now.'' Ritsumeikan demands an explanation and his resignation.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama, who was reported to have received election support from groups affiliated with the former Unification Church, has now severed ties with the organization and indicated that he will continue to respond to requests for dissolution orders. In response, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will continue to ask for an explanation and replacement in the Diet on the 7th.

During the previous House of Representatives election in 2021, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama was reported to have received letters of recommendation and support from groups affiliated with the former Unification Church, and at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 6th, he said, ``I requested election support.'' There is no truth to the matter, and we were unable to confirm that any activity was reported to the office."

Furthermore, he stated that he has now severed ties with the former Unification Church, and indicated that he would continue to respond to requests for dissolution orders.

Prime Minister Kishida also stated, ``I hope he will continue to fulfill his responsibilities.''

The government and Liberal Democratic Party do not want this to affect deliberations on the new fiscal year's budget bill, and have decided to urge Minister Moriyama to fulfill his accountability.

In response, Representative Izumi of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan criticized the Kishida administration, saying, ``The government is dysfunctional, and due to a series of scandals, the number of human resources to lead the government is almost exhausted.''

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will request an explanation of the relationship with the former Unification Church and the resignation of Minister Moriyama at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 7th.

The opposition party also plans to intensify its investigation into the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party.