February 21, 2024

A no-confidence motion against Education and Culture Minister Moriyama Masahito, who is under fire for his close ties with the former Unification Church (currently Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), was rejected in the House of Representatives plenary session on February 20 by the majority vote of the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and “Nippon Ishin” parties.

Along with the submitting party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party for the People, and the “Reiwa” party voted for the motion.

In discussions prior to the vote, JCP representative Miyamoto Takeshi referred to a revelation that at the time of the 2021 general election, Moriyama received an endorsement from the Unification Church and signed a document equivalent to a policy agreement with this organization.

Miyamoto said that the head of the ministry in charge of religious affairs needs to maintain an impartial attitude toward religious organizations and thus Moriyama’s qualification is called into question. Miyamoto pointed out that the need now is for the ministry to dissolve the Unification Church in accordance with the law on religious organizations and force the Unification Church to offer an apology to its victims and compensate them for damages. The JCP lawmaker said that Moriyama is unfit to achieve anything in this regard, and urged Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to remove Moriyama from the Cabinet without delay.

Miyamoto pointed out that the cozy ties between Moriyama and the Unification Church stem from the LDP’s long-standing close relationship with this organization. He demanded that PM Kishida, as the LDP president, cut all LDP ties with the cult.

Past related article:
> Shiokawa demands that PM Kishida oust minister in charge of religions for ties with religious cult [February 15, 2024]