Tokyo International News Agency

According to a report by Shukan Bunshun Digital, a local organization of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an affiliate of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church), allegedly purchased 40,000 yen worth of party tickets for a political fundraising event held in 2019 by a branch of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) represented by Sanae Takaichi, a prominent politician. Following this report, multiple media outlets, including Kyodo News and Nikkei, covered the story, and opposition parties are strongly demanding that Takaichi fulfill her accountability. Takaichi had previously vehemently denied any ties with the Unification Church on her X (formerly Twitter) account, stating she had "thoroughly investigated and found none, none, none, none." The contradiction between these past statements and the recent report has drawn further criticism from the public and opposition parties. Regarding the government's response, D...

On the 28th, Weekly Bunshun and Bunshun Online published an exclusive scoop alleging that Sanae Takaichi's office had concealed political fundraising party ticket purchases, revealing details from a "secret ledger" reportedly obtained from involved parties. This report contains information that contradicts Ms. Takaichi's past statements denying financial dealings with the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), sending ripples through the political world. According to the report, Ms. Takaichi's office allegedly purchased tickets for a party held in March 2019 by the "World Peace Federation Nara Prefectural Alliance," an affiliate organization of the Unification Church, but failed to publicly declare the financial transaction. In August 2022, Ms. Takaichi had categorically stated on her X (formerly Twitter) account regarding her relationship with the Unification Church, "No election support. No attendance at events. No...