Defense Minister Kishi To Review Ties With Former Unification Church
Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo says he will review his ties with a religious group that has been drawing attention since the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
The suspect in the shooting reportedly believed Abe was close to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly the Unification Church. He blamed the group for the breakdown of his family.
Kishi, who is Abe's younger brother, has admitted to receiving help in past election campaigns from volunteers with links to the group.
He told reporters on Tuesday he has not received systematic support from the group, and added he will review his election camp's practices as various social problems linked to the group have surfaced.
The secretary-general of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party, Motegi Toshimitsu, stressed that the party has no systematic ties with the group.
Motegi told reporters on Tuesday the LDP has never invited the group to its meetings, and neither the group nor its affiliates are listed among organizations with links to the party.
He added that it's up to individual lawmakers to explain their political activities.
The chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission, Ninoyu Satoshi, was asked by reporters on Tuesday about his admission last week that he served as chair of an executive committee for an event organized by the group.
Ninoyu said he lent his name to the event because it was described as a celebration of peace.
He said he is not a member of the group and does not know what it teaches, and added that his ties with the group will likely fade away because he is no longer in the Diet.
Ninoyu stressed the event was the only time he was involved with the group, and denied receiving any support for his political activities and election campaigns.