Former Unification Church: Local residents are in big trouble with a splinter group over the construction of a new church.

Fuchu City, Tokyo
Construction has begun on land in front of the main gate of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. Nearly 100 residents participated in a demonstration against the project.

There is a building under construction near the main gate of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (Fuchu City). The foundation work has been completed on the site, which measures approximately 35 tsubo. It is the site where a group said to be an offshoot of the former Unification Church is planning to build a church.

Around May of last year, a member of the group came to greet us, saying, ‘We’re building a church and we’re looking forward to working with you. Around 6:00 a.m., at the most, I witnessed about 10 believers visiting the planned church site to meditate. Construction stopped after the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July of last year, but when it resumed this year, they came to greet us again,” said a local resident.

The local community is currently in an uproar. In February of this year, a demonstration against the construction was held, which was attended by nearly 100 residents. Naomi Koda, a representative of the executive committee, is indignant.

The construction site was labeled ‘RRS Fuchu Church,’ but we found out that the builder was a group called ‘Reirensei Kyokai. The scripture of the former Unification Church says, ‘The Reirensei Kyokai is responsible for the activities of the next generation. When we sent a letter of inquiry to the representative, Mr. S, asking about his relationship with the former Unification Church, he said that he had nothing to do with it because he was expelled from the church about 10 years ago. However, Mr. S. stated that the purpose of the organization’s establishment was ‘in line’ with the philosophy of the ‘Yeongryonseong Association’ as envisioned by Moon Sun Myung, the founder of the former Unification Church, so it cannot be said that there is no relationship.

TUAT and Fuchu City are also concerned.

The TUAT and Fuchu City are also alarmed. “We have asked the group not to conduct any recruiting or proselytizing activities on the TUAT campus, as there were concerns that it would have a negative impact on their studies and research. We have been alerting students to the cult group on our Web bulletin board,” said a TUAT Planning Division staff member.

We do not recognize any connection with the former Unification Church, but we believe that we have to take some measures if the concerns of citizens increase.

When we asked the “Family Federation for World Peace and Unification” (former Unification Church) about the relationship with the “Reirensei Kyokai,” they responded as follows: “We are not aware of any relationship with the representative, Mr. S., or with the former Unification Church.

We do not know anything about Mr. S, the representative, or the reason why he owns land that has nothing to do with our organization. We have no relationship with the Reirensei Association” (Public Relations Department).

Journalist Fumiaki Tada, a former member of the former Unification Church, urges caution.

When we talked to the followers of the ‘Reirirensei Kyokai,’ we found out that they are a group of people related to the former Unification Church, as they said they would faithfully follow the teachings of Mr. Moon Myung Moon. If a church is established, believers will gather, and recruiting activities will be conducted vigorously.

The former Unification Church and related groups have been active in the Tokyo area, purchasing other land. Residents continue to be concerned.

From the June 9, 2023 issue of FRIDAY