I’m going to Hello Work and looking for a job,” said a former member of the Unification Church… “The arrest of the president, the dissolution order, and the successor organization.

He wrote “Family Federation” in the section of his previous job…
I am job hunting, but it’s not easy. But I continue to hold on to my faith, and I’m doing okay.”
The former leader of the former Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) answered stoutly.
The Tokyo High Court issued a dissolution order on March 4, and it was reported that about 340 church members took early retirement. He is currently looking for a job at Hello Work.
I wanted to keep working, but I thought about it a lot and finally decided to apply for the early retirement program. When I told my family about it, their reaction was, ‘That’s fine, isn’t it? So I decided to do it.
I think the monthly salary is probably low compared to the average salary in the world. I don’t have much money saved up, but I am currently using it to make ends meet. I can’t tell you the amount, but I am supposed to receive severance pay and unemployment benefits, but I haven’t received either yet.
I was hoping to catch my breath once that came in, but it appears that the terms of the severance package presented at the early retirement recruitment briefing have changed. That would destroy the premise, and I am a bit confused.”
Resumes are an essential part of the job hunting process. What should you write in the “previous jobs” column? The former executive immediately replied , “I wrote ‘Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Although there is a possibility that this may affect the hiring process, the former executive said, “I don’t want to keep the fact from the public.
In fact, they did mention it in the interview, but they did not ask me in depth or in detail about the organization. However, even if I was rejected in the application screening, the reason why I was not hired was not revealed, so I don’t know if being in the Faith was a negative factor in finding a job.
Some of the former staff members are in shock after being dropped by several companies in a row, but some have found new jobs. I’m a little worried about the future, but I’m willing to do my best.”
Two months have passed since the dissolution order, but the former executives remain positive. He said his family has been quietly supporting him.
Many people around me thought, ‘There is no way we will be dissolved,'” he said. I thought it would be tough, so when the dissolution order came, I was not that upset. It is unfortunate, but I accept the outcome. But no one can deny faith, you know.”
<Former Unification Church to establish a new organization on April 8–“FFWPU” undergoing liquidation proceedings>.
Kyodo News reported on April 7 that the former Unification Church is seeking to establish a new organization to continue the religious activities of its followers, but “we have not been told anything,” said a former church official.
I have the impression that the reports are getting ahead of themselves. I think it is possible that they are considering it, but I don’t think it is a done deal, at least not at this point.
Mr. Koichi would stop the dissolution order.
The arrest of the cult’s top leader, President Han Harko (83), “came as a shock,” he said.
I am not familiar with Korean law, but I never thought this would happen. (It is said that the relationship between (the church and) conservative politicians was built from anti-communist ideology and anti-communist alliances during the Cold War, but I am not well versed in politics, so I don’t know much about it. The Family Coalition does not officially support any particular politician, but since we are basically conservative, I think there are some members of our congregation who sympathize with conservative politicians.”
Since last December, the existence of an internal document of the cult titled “TM (True Mother) Special Report” has been reported in both Japan and South Korea. TM refers to President Han. The document describes in detail the contacts between the cult and politicians, mainly from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including their support for elections, and the politicians admit to some of the contents, but the cult claims that the expressions are exaggerated.
The former executive said , “I have not read the document , so I don’t know more than what is reported,” but other believers said, “The document states that it is the greatest wish of Heaven that Mr. Takaichi become prime minister.
“It is possible that some people were hoping that ‘Mr. Koichi would stop the dissolution order. I don’t think he could. ……”

Believers and former staff members of the FFWPU are in the midst of confusion and bewilderment due to the dizzying changes in the environment. What is the purpose of establishing the FFWPU, will it establish a successor organization to serve as a place of faith, and what about retirement benefits and outplacement support for former church employees? When we interviewed the former Unification Church Public Relations, we received the following response.
As stated in the statement released on the X account of the Family Federation’s Public Relations and External Affairs Bureau, we, as a religious organization with more than 100,000 members nationwide, have been studying ways to allow our members to continue their religious life after the religious corporation is ordered to dissolve, but nothing has been decided yet. In addition, we will not be engaging in the kind of activities that have been identified as problematic in the future.”
He did not respond to questions about retirement benefits and outplacement for staff.
What will the people choose and where will they go as they seek new lives while maintaining their faith? What will they choose and where will they go?
Interview and text by: Yuria Fukatsuki PHOTO: Afro (2nd)