Dissolution order for Unification Church

TOKYO, Japan, March 4 Kyodo - Nobuya Fukumoto, lawyer for the Unification Church, meets the press in front of the Tokyo High Court in the Japanese capital on March 4, 2026, after the court upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members. (Kyodo)

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Dissolution order for Unification Church

A police officer stands guard in front of the building housing the headquarters of the Unification Church in Tokyo on March 4, 2026. The Tokyo High Court the same day upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members.

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Nobuya Fukumoto, lawyer for the Unification Church, meets the press in front of the Tokyo High Court in the Japanese capital on March 4, 2026, after the court upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members.

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Nobuya Fukumoto, lawyer for the Unification Church, meets the press in front of the Tokyo High Court in the Japanese capital on March 4, 2026, after the court upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members.

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Nobuya Fukumoto, lawyer for the Unification Church, meets the press in front of the Tokyo High Court in the Japanese capital on March 4, 2026, after the court upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members.

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Dissolution order for Unification Church

Nobuya Fukumoto, lawyer for the Unification Church, meets the press in front of the Tokyo High Court in the Japanese capital on March 4, 2026, after the court upheld a dissolution order for the religious corporation as requested by the central government on the grounds that it unlawfully solicited financially ruinous donations from its members.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, after attending a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Court hearing for Unification Church leader

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Sept. 22, 2025, to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is surrounded by journalists after undergoing questioning at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is pictured after undergoing questioning at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is surrounded by journalists after undergoing questioning at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is pictured after undergoing questioning at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Special prosecutors call Unification Church leader for questioning

Hak Ja Han Moon (C), the leader of the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, arrives at the special prosecutors' office in Seoul on Sept. 17, 2025.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

TOKYO, Japan, March 26 Kyodo - Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, holds a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2025, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

TOKYO, Japan, March 26 Kyodo - Video taken on March 25, 2025, shows a building housing the Unification Church in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. The Tokyo District Court ordered the same day the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages. (Kyodo)

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Tomihiro Tanaka (R), head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2025, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, holds a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2025, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, holds a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2025, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Photo taken on March 25, 2025, shows a building housing the Unification Church in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. The Tokyo District Court ordered the same day the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church's Japan branch, holds a press conference in Tokyo on March 25, 2025, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Photo taken on March 25, 2025, shows a building housing the Unification Church in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. The Tokyo District Court ordered the same day the church's dissolution, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Lawyer Nobuya Fukumoto (front) is surrounded by journalists in front of the Tokyo District Court in the Japanese capital on March 25, 2025, after the court ordered that his client, the Unification Church, be dissolved, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Lawyer Nobuya Fukumoto (front) is surrounded by journalists in front of the Tokyo District Court in the Japanese capital on March 25, 2025, after the court ordered that his client, the Unification Church, be dissolved, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Lawyer Nobuya Fukumoto (front) is surrounded by journalists in front of the Tokyo District Court in the Japanese capital on March 25, 2025, after the court ordered that his client, the Unification Church, be dissolved, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Japan court orders dissolution of Unification Church

Journalists gather around the Tokyo District Court in the Japanese capital on March 25, 2025. The court ordered the same day that the Unification Church be dissolved, a decision that will deprive the controversial organization, criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages.

Head of Unification Church Japan branch

Head of Unification Church Japan branch

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Japan branch of the Unification Church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, speaks during an interview in Tokyo on July 10, 2024.

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

A meeting of Japan's education and culture ministry with an advisory panel on religious corporations is held in Tokyo on March 6, 2024, on whether the ministry should strengthen monitoring of assets of the Unification Church while its legal status is under review. The government requested the Tokyo District Court in October 2023 to issue an order to dissolve the group for its aggressive donation solicitations and other malicious practices.

Unification Church headquarters

Unification Church headquarters

Photo taken March 6, 2024, shows an entrance to a building housing the headquarters of the Unification Church religious group, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama speaks at a meeting with an advisory panel on religious corporations in Tokyo on March 6, 2024, on whether the ministry should strengthen monitoring of assets of the Unification Church while its legal status is under review. The government requested the Tokyo District Court in October 2023 to issue an order to dissolve the group for its aggressive donation solicitations and other malicious practices.

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

Gov't panel on Unification Church assets

A meeting of Japan's education and culture ministry with an advisory panel on religious corporations is held in Tokyo on March 6, 2024, on whether the ministry should strengthen monitoring of assets of the Unification Church while its legal status is under review. The government requested the Tokyo District Court in October 2023 to issue an order to dissolve the group for its aggressive donation solicitations and other malicious practices.

[Breaking News]No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

TOKYO, Feb. 20 Kyodo - Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama bows after the House of Representatives voted down a no-confidence motion against him at a plenary session in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, over his links to the controversial Unification Church.(Kyodo)

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is pictured at a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024. The lower house voted down a no-confidence motion against education minister Masahito Moriyama over his links to the controversial Unification Church.

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama bows after the House of Representatives voted down a no-confidence motion against him at a plenary session in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, over his links to the controversial Unification Church.

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

No-confidence motion against scandal-hit minister

Photo taken Feb. 20, 2024, shows a plenary session of Japan's House of Representatives in Tokyo. The lower house voted down a no-confidence motion against education minister Masahito Moriyama over his links to the controversial Unification Church.

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama holds a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, following a media report that his local office in Kobe received monthly publications from a group linked to the scandal-hit Unification Church. Moriyama said the group sent publications to the office unrequested, downplaying the report.

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama holds a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, following a media report that his local office in Kobe received monthly publications from a group linked to the scandal-hit Unification Church. Moriyama said the group sent publications to the office unrequested, downplaying the report.

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama holds a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, following a media report that his local office in Kobe received monthly publications from a group linked to the scandal-hit Unification Church. Moriyama said the group sent publications to the office unrequested, downplaying the report.

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japan education minister downplays media report

Japanese education minister Masahito Moriyama holds a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 20, 2024, following a media report that his local office in Kobe received monthly publications from a group linked to the scandal-hit Unification Church. Moriyama said the group sent publications to the office unrequested, downplaying the report.

No-confidence motion against Japan education minister Moriyama

No-confidence motion against Japan education minister Moriyama

Lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan submit a no-confidence motion against Education Minister Masahito Moriyama over his alleged link with the controversial Unification Church to House of Representatives Secretary General Noriharu Okada (C, R) at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 19, 2024.

No-confidence motion against Japan education minister Moriyama

No-confidence motion against Japan education minister Moriyama

Lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan submit a no-confidence motion against Education Minister Masahito Moriyama over his alleged link with the controversial Unification Church to House of Representatives Secretary General Noriharu Okada (C, R) at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 19, 2024.