Historic Ruling: Tokyo High Court Orders Dissolution of Unification Church Amid Public Outcry and Calls for Justice

On the morning of March 4, 2026, the Tokyo High Court issued an order for the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church) under the Religious Corporations Act. This decision will result in the loss of the organization's legal personality and initiate asset liquidation procedures. The High Court rejected the religious corporation's immediate appeal, upholding the Tokyo District Court's initial dissolution order.

This latest decision is based on the judgment that no effective means other than dissolution exist to prevent illegal activities related to soliciting donations. The cumulative damage is reported to exceed 20 billion yen, affecting over 1,500 individuals, with "spiritual sales" and other issues being criticized for many years.

News of the "Dissolution Order for Former Unification Church" quickly became the #1 trending topic on SNS platform X (formerly Twitter), garnering significant reactions. Many users expressed relief and welcome, with comments such as "The most joyful news of the year," "Sound judgment from the judiciary," and "Good riddance, considering how many families and relationships they shattered." Voices like "Yamagami-san has been vindicated" and "It finally happened" were also observed.

Conversely, there are considerable concerns regarding the organization's movements post-dissolution. Opinions ranged from "Will they just change their signboard and call it a day?" to "They can easily hide assets." Some users also pointed to the possibility of the organization acquiring other religious corporations as a "front," with numerous calls for strict asset management during liquidation and guaranteed compensation for victims. One heartfelt plea stated, "The government must freeze all assets until victims are fully compensated and reconciliation is achieved."

Strong voices also highlighted the organization's political ties, with many comments pursuing political accountability, such as "Are you watching, traitor Shinzo Abe?" and "Dissolve the LDP too." These comments referred to the past relationships between the organization and LDP politicians, particularly former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Ms. Sanae Takaichi.

The organization has indicated its intention to file a special appeal with the Supreme Court against the High Court's decision, meaning the final judicial determination is still pending. However, this High Court decision will set in motion the procedures for the organization's dissolution. Attention is now focused on the progress of future liquidation procedures and the extent to which victim relief will be realized.

The context

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement founded in South Korea by Sun Myung Moon. It gained notoriety globally for its mass weddings and its controversial fundraising practices, particularly in Japan. In Japan, these practices are often referred to as "Reikan Shoho" (霊感商法), or "spiritual sales," where individuals are pressured into purchasing expensive items or making large donations under the guise of spiritual threats or promises of blessings, often exploiting anxieties about family karma or misfortune.

The organization's long history of controversial activities in Japan, including allegations of coercive donations and manipulation, came under intense renewed public scrutiny following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, stated that he targeted Abe due to the former Prime Minister's alleged connections to the Unification Church, which Yamagami blamed for financially ruining his family through his mother's large donations. This incident brought the issues surrounding the Unification Church and its political ties to the forefront of Japanese public discourse, leading to government investigations and legal actions against the organization. The dissolution order is a significant legal step in Japan, as it revokes a religious corporation's legal status, impacting its ability to conduct activities and own property as a religious entity.