New Justice Minister Admits Ties with Unification Church
Tokyo, Oct. 8 (Jiji Press)--New Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara admitted Tuesday that he and his secretary have attended events related to the Unification Church a total of 37 times.
Such ties between Makihara and the controversial religious group had not been confirmed in a survey by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in 2022.
At Tuesday's press conference, Makihara said he reported his ties with the group to the party in February 2023. "I was not able to prepare accurate information in time for the deadline (of the survey) due to a huge schedule at the time," he noted.
Following the new revelation, Junya Ogawa, secretary-general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said at a separate press conference that the Unification Church ties were "extremely inappropriate."
Fumitake Fujita, secretary-general of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), demanded that the minister fulfill his accountability.
(2024/10/08-19:28)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATION
- 10/11 23:58 Nihon Hidankyo Chief Says Nobel Peace Prize "Like Dream"
- 10/11 22:19 (Update) Ishiba Touts Summit with China's Li as Clue to Solutions
- 10/11 22:01 (Update) Japan's Hibakusha Group Wins Nobel Peace Prize
- 10/11 21:59 Japan Set to Lead Asia Zero-Emission Efforts
- 10/11 21:20 Prominent Japanese Female Jockey Retires over Smartphone Use
- 10/11 21:00 2024 POLLS: Komeito Seeking Ruling Bloc's Majority Win in Tough Race
- 10/11 20:20 Ishiba Touts Summit with China's Li as Clue to Resolving Issues
- 10/11 20:01 Ishiba Condemns Sovereignty Violations at East Asia Summit
- 10/11 18:34 Nihon Hidankyo Chosen to Receive Nobel Peace Prize
- 10/11 18:15 Nihon Univ. Sports Club Officials Defraud Students of 115 M. Yen
- 10/11 17:53 INTERVIEW: Hayashi Vows "Effective Approach" to Abduction Issue
- 10/11 17:28 Doraemon Voice Actress Nobuyo Oyama Dies at 90
- 10/11 16:20 Over 94 Pct in Japan Feel Rising Prices: BOJ Survey
- 10/11 14:54 Man Referred to Prosecutors over Tokyo Street Go-Karts
- 10/11 13:50 Japan Defense Min. to Visit Europe, Attend NATO Meet
- 10/11 13:35 Japanese Princess Aiko Arrives in Saga Pref.
- 10/11 13:33 Japan PM Pledges to Help Laos on Decarbonization
- 10/11 13:01 1 in 3 Art, Showbiz Workers in Japan May Be at Risk of Overwork Death
- 10/11 12:43 Toyota Racing Unit Forges Partnership with U.S. F1 Team
- 10/11 12:27 INTERVIEW: Japan Environment Minister Hopes to Attend COP29
- 10/11 11:13 Japan Govt to Spend Extra 50.9 B. Yen on Noto Aid
- 10/11 10:08 2024 POLLS: CDP's Noda Eager to End LDP-Led Regime
- 10/11 08:29 Japan, India Agree to Advance Security Cooperation
- 10/10 23:58 Ishiba, China's Li Agree to Promote Strategic Ties
- 10/10 22:35 Japan, S. Korea Leaders Agree to Continue Shuttle Diplomacy
- 10/10 22:16 LDP Platform Mentions Future Abolition of Policy Activity Expenses
- 10/10 22:04 Japan Police Chief Wants Key Election Figures Fully Protected
- 10/10 19:57 Ishiba Raps Hegemonic Moves in East, South China Seas
- 10/10 18:57 Japan's Empress Emerita Begins Rehab after Femur Fracture
- 10/10 18:29 Tottori Assembly Passes Ordinance on Election Poster Board Use
- 10/10 18:12 Japan Beer, Quasi-Beer Sales Down 22 Pct in Sept.
- 10/10 17:42 China Authorities Intimidating Dissidents in Japan: Rights Group
- 10/10 16:59 Japan Police Chief Says Taking Hakamata's Acquittal Seriously
- 10/10 16:48 Aomori Pref. Asked to Accept New N-Waste Delivery Proposal
- 10/10 15:50 Japan's New Defense Chief Eyes Early S. Korea Visit
- 10/10 14:44 U.S. Navy Chopper Makes Precautionary Landing in Kanagawa
- 10/10 14:10 U.S. Marine Arrested in Okinawa for Violence against His Ex
- 10/10 12:58 Japan Producer Prices Up 2.8 Pct in Sept.
- 10/10 09:19 University of Tokyo Inches Up to 28th in World Rankings
- 10/10 08:49 Japan Foreign Min. Urges Israel to Exercise Restraint
- 10/09 23:41 Japan, China Foreign Chiefs Reaffirm Strategic Ties
- 10/09 22:17 Ishiba Instructs LDP to Discuss Asian Security Framework
- 10/09 21:42 Over 1,170 People Plan to Seek Lower House Seats
- 10/09 21:35 (Update 3) Japan's Lower House Dissolved for Oct. 27 Election
- 10/09 21:21 Ishiba Vows to Squarely Face Voters' Judgment
- 10/09 19:40 (Update 2) Japan's Lower House Dissolved for Oct. 27 Election
- 10/09 18:42 Hikone Castle's World Heritage Listing Possible: UNESCO Panel
- 10/09 18:16 (Update) 12 Miss LDP Endorsement as Candidates over Scandal
- 10/09 16:47 (Update) Japan's Lower House Dissolved for Election
- 10/09 14:51 IAEA Team Catches Fish Samples off Fukushima
- 10/09 14:21 Hokkaido Boat Operator Pres. Charged over 2022 Sinking
- 10/09 13:19 Hakamata's Acquittal Becomes Final 58 Years after Arrest
- 10/09 13:00 INTERVIEW: Japan Aims for Growth-Oriented Economy
- 10/09 12:41 12 Miss LDP Endorsement as Candidates over Scandal
- 10/09 11:29 Japan Govt Decides to Dissolve Lower House
- 10/09 11:02 NHK to Charge Monthly Online Viewer Fee of 1,100 Yen
- 10/09 10:30 INTERVIEW: Japan's New Volleyball League to Open with Big Dreams
- 10/09 08:57 Japan, U.S. Agree to Cooperate over China, N. Korea, Russia
- 10/09 00:09 At Least 10 "Slush Fund" Lawmakers to Miss LDP Endorsement
- 10/08 22:18 (Update) Acquittal of 88-Yr-Old Hakamata Set to Become Final
- 10/08 20:45 Abenomics Failed to Boost Personal Consumption: Ishiba
- 10/08 20:29 New U.S. Forces Japan Chief Vows to Strengthen Alliance
- 10/08 20:17 Acquittal of 88-Yr-Old Hakamata Set to Become Final
- 10/08 19:28 New Justice Minister Admits Ties with Unification Church
- 10/08 19:14 Lot More Sea Bathers Suffer Dolphin Bites in Fukui Pref. This Summer
- 10/08 19:06 (Update) Ishiba to Make Diplomatic Debut in Laos
- 10/08 18:43 Japan House London Introduces Food Replica Culture
- 10/08 18:29 Retiring Ex-PM Kan Calls for Another Change of Govt in Japan
- 10/08 18:13 (Update 2) Ex-Kadokawa Chm. Pleads Not Guilty over Tokyo Games Bribery
- 10/08 17:58 Diet Passes Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill
- 10/08 17:20 (Update) Ex-Kadokawa Chm. Pleads Not Guilty over Bribing Tokyo Games Exec
- 10/08 16:28 Sapporo Boy Sexually Abused by Older Boy
- 10/08 15:57 Ishiba Voices Hopes for Parliamentary Talks on Imperial Succession
- 10/08 15:28 Ex-Kadokawa Chm. Pleads Not Guilty over Bribing Tokyo Games Exec
- 10/08 15:10 Japan PM Ishiba to Visit Laos from Thurs. for Diplomatic Debut
- 10/08 14:17 Japan's Current Account Surplus Hits Record High in Aug.
- 10/08 13:38 Japan Household Spending Falls 1.9 Pct in Aug.
- 10/08 12:28 Japanese Empress Emerita Michiko's Surgery Successful
- 10/08 11:31 Japan Real Wages Down 0.6 Pct in Aug.
- 10/08 10:34 (Update 2) Wanted Suspect in Saitama Robbery Case Arrested
- 10/08 09:48 (Update) Wanted Suspect in Saitama Robbery Case Arrested
- 10/07 22:25 Possible Suspect in Tokyo, Saitama Robberies Found in Niigata
- 10/07 22:09 Japan's Empress Emerita Breaks Thighbone, to Have Surgery
- 10/07 21:56 Komeito Not to Back Some LDP "Slush Fund" Lawmakers
- 10/07 21:24 (Update) Ishiba Reluctant to Reinvestigate LDP "Slush Fund" Scandal
- 10/07 20:01 Japan Urges All Parties in Gaza to Abide by Int'l Law
- 10/07 19:55 FOCUS: LDP Linchpin Moriyama Holds Big Influence over Ishiba
- 10/07 19:43 Japan Coincident Economic Index Falls in Aug.
- 10/07 19:30 CDP Platform Includes Ban on Corporate Political Donations
- 10/07 18:20 BOJ Raises Economic Views on 2 of 9 Regions
- 10/07 17:49 New PM, Tokyo Gov. Confirm Disaster Cooperation
- 10/07 17:24 Ishiba Reluctant to Reinvestigate LDP Slush Fund Scandal
- 10/07 17:23 Japan Lower House OKs Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill
- 10/07 16:49 Tokyo Mayors Ask People to Follow Rules during Halloween
- 10/07 16:39 Komeito Pledges Highlight Abolition of Policy Activity Expenses
- 10/07 15:52 Japan PM Ishiba Flip-Flops over Election Endorsement
- 10/07 15:19 INTERVIEW: Internal Affairs Min. Vows Regional Revitalization
- 10/07 13:28 Japan Party Leaders' Debate to Be Extended to 80 Minutes
- 10/07 13:17 Taiwan Welcomes Japan's "Policy Shift"
- 10/07 13:10 Japanese Comedian Saito Accused by Police of Sexual Assault
- 10/07 12:18 Japan Alcoholic Drinks Catching On in Britain amid "Washoku" Boom
- 10/07 12:11 Ishiba Apologizes for Fund Reporting Irregularities
- 10/07 09:06 Kikuchi to Become Vatican's 7th Cardinal from Japan
- 10/06 21:09 (Update) LDP Not to Endorse Ex-Abe Faction Execs in General Election
- 10/06 18:24 Japan, S. Korea to Expand Initiative to Cut Methane Emissions
- 10/06 17:24 2 New Japan Ministers Visit 2025 Expo Venue
- 10/06 16:14 LDP Not to Endorse Some Slush Fund Lawmakers in General Election
- 10/06 12:25 Rise of Spot Work Schemes Leading to Scams in Japan
- 10/06 11:20 LDP Eyeing Large-Scale Extra Budget after General Election
- 10/06 10:51 Japan Govt to Survey Stockpiles at Designated Shelters
- 10/06 09:09 Japan PM Ishiba's U-Turn on Interest Rates Surprises Market
- 10/06 08:00 Japan Ministry Reports Issues Facing Bookstores
- 10/06 01:16 Japanese Food Critic Yukio Hattori Dies at 78
- 10/05 22:42 Rally Held in Tokyo for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
- 10/05 22:10 Concert Held in Hope of Reunion with Abductee Megumi Yokota
- 10/05 21:08 New Industry Min. Muto Inspects Fukushima No. 1 N-Plant
- 10/05 20:37 CDP, Komeito Leaders Visit Disaster-Stricken Noto Peninsula
- 10/05 19:35 (Update) Japan Baseball Star Sugano Announces MLB Bid
- 10/05 19:24 (Update) Sept. Noto Rain to Be Designated as Severe Disaster: Ishiba
- 10/05 18:28 Emperor, Empress Attend Japan Games Ceremony in Saga
- 10/05 16:22 Man from Pakistan Supporting Young Language Carers in Japan
- 10/05 14:26 Japan Govt to Help Boost Safety of Dangerous Railway Crossings
- 10/05 14:18 PM Ishiba Visits Disaster-Hit Noto Peninsula
- 10/05 13:30 Japan Baseball Star Sugano Announces MLB Bid
- 10/05 11:30 Possible Dud Shell Found in Tokyo Residential Area
