Hagiuda Admits Visiting Ex - Unification Church Facility
Hagiuda Koichi, a senior member of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, says he visited a facility related to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church. He says he has not sought anything from the organization.
Following a report by news site Daily Shincho, Ikuina Akiko, who won a seat in the Upper House election in July, said she and Hagiuda visited the facility in June.
Hagiuda is the chairperson of the LDP's Policy Research Council and was economy, trade and industry minister at that time.
On Wednesday, Hagiuda's office provided written answers to questions from NHK.
The office said that after a campaign rally with Ikuina, someone in the crowd told Ikuina to speak to the person's acquaintances gathered nearby.
It said Hagiuda heard that a business card a staffer received bore the name "Women's Federation for World Peace," which is related to the religious group. It said that Haguida accompanied Ikuina because she was unaccustomed to campaigning.
The office said Hagiuda and Ikuina gave brief speeches, but he did not ask the organization for anything.
Daily Shincho also reported that Hagiuda visited the group's facilities once or twice a month and delivered speeches after he lost his seat in the Lower House in 2009. His office denied that.
Regarding another report, which claimed Hagiuda spoke as a guest at an event held by the group in 2014, the office said he was asked by his supporters to do so and attended it without confirming details. The office added that he did not know about the content of the event or the organizer before he arrived at the venue.
The latest development comes as ties between politicians and the religious group have become an issue in Japan.
In July, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was fatally shot while giving a campaign speech. Police say the suspect told them that he was motivated by a grudge against the group, believing Abe had ties to it. He reportedly said his mother donated huge sums of money to the group, bringing his family close to financial ruin.