A direct interview with the representative, Mr. Shoichi Hori!　The “disturbing start” of the “new organization, FFWPU,” launched by the former Unification Church.

early from the order to disband.

Mr. Hori!”

Shoichi Hori, who served as president of the former Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), made a gesture as if to block the camera as soon as his eyes met those of the FRIDAY reporter who approached him (see photo above). He continued to ask questions to Mr. Hori, who was walking quickly away, and after a short distance, he stopped and opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind – he was the one who visited Mr. Hori.

The reason we visited Mr. Hori was to ascertain the truth about the establishment of the new organization. One month has passed since the Tokyo High Court upheld the dissolution order issued on March 4. While the liquidation proceedings were in full swing, a report emerged.

The former Unification Church will establish a new organization on March 8–“FFWPU” undergoing liquidation proceedings.

Kyodo News reported this on April 7. The report stated that the former Unification Church is aiming to establish a new organization called “FFWPU” to continue the religious activities of its followers. The name is the same as the abbreviation of the English name of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and donations will be accepted.

The organization that is believed to be the parent body of the new group is a general incorporated foundation called the “Foundation for Filial Education and Culture,” which has an office in the “Seijo Building” in Shinjuku, Tokyo. According to the registry, the foundation was established in 2006 for the purpose of scholarship and youth development projects, but on March 7, three days after the High Court decision, it added “support projects for the unification and revitalization of the religious world” and “religious activities involving rituals and education” to its business objectives. On the following day, March 8, Hori assumed the position of representative director.

A former member of the Unification Church said.

Mr. Hori is an elite figure who represents the ‘Nisei line’ of the church. We call children born after a joint wedding “Blessed Second Generation,” and Mr. Hori is the first Blessed Second Generation in Japan, and his father is the oldest executive. Furthermore, his wife is the daughter of Hideo Oyamada, 84, the former president of the cult. Mr. Hori is a being of the highest pedigree and legitimacy.

The former Unification Church lost its official backing of religious juridical personality with the dissolution order. The fact that Mr. Hori, a thoroughbred, has been chosen as the head of the new organization is a clear indication of the church’s intention to maintain its centripetal force among its agitated followers.

This is the official version.”

In fact, Mr. Hori has appeared numerous times in “sermon videos” on YouTube, which are operated by a group affiliated with the cult for its followers. Perhaps to avoid access by non-believers, the channel is frequently updated, changing the handle each time. In a recent video, “Tenshin-en Special All Night Sermon,” which this writer checked, a second-generation female believer asked, “What kind of heart should we have to defend our faith from now on? one of the executives exclaimed, “Please give strength to the suffering Nisei and Sansei in Japan!

Currently, the assets of the church are under the control of a liquidator, but the new organization is a separate legal entity, and the funds obtained through its activities will likely be treated separately from the existing assets of the former Unification Church. The church has sent a large amount of donations to its headquarters in South Korea, which is said to have amounted to nearly 60 billion yen in the five years from FY 2006 to FY 2010 alone.

If the new organization starts collecting donations, the funds will move outside the framework of the liquidation process. Since the website of the church, which was the donation window, has been suspended, it is said that donations will be received through the new organization’s website. However, the building that houses the headquarters of the parent organization, the Kojo Kyoiku Bunka Foundation, is scheduled to be sold because it was owned by the cult, and there are rumors that a new base will be prepared. If realized, it would be a substantial restart of the cult.

What is the purpose of establishing a new organization? Is it to serve as a donation center? After the opening scene, Mr. Hori responded to our interview in an unassuming manner.

–What will be different about the new organization?

The new organization will stop doing the things that have been criticized (e.g., psychic sales) and will continue to conduct …… faith activities in accordance with compliance and the law.

–If you are going to solicit donations, it would be the same thing.

It’s about continuing …… religious activities.”

–Restarting under the name ‘FFWPU’?

‘Um, that’s, you know, misinformation, probably. It’s under consideration, so it’s not a situation where we can do anything, but it was reported as if we ″had the scoop″ on information we had heard, so that’s a bit ……. （I think we did talk about whether or not we should get a domain name (for the HP).”

–Is a new vessel really necessary?

I think it is necessary to create a new vessel to say, ‘This is the official one,’ because we don’t have a legal entity now. There are many things like weddings, funerals, and ceremonies. We need to create a framework to continue such a life of faith.”

Mr. Hori stressed the need for a new framework. It is clear that the organization has changed its name and is trying to reconnect faith and organization.

From the May 1-8, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY