Kishida Supporter Addresses Reported Former Unification Church Link
A supporter of Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he unknowingly headed a group with links to the former Unification Church.
The church, now called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has been accused of shady practices.
Recently, it has been a focus of attention as the suspected killer of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo reportedly said he targeted him because he believed Abe was close to the church. The suspect says the church bankrupted his mother.
A Japanese media outlet reported on Tuesday that Sojo University President Nakayama Mineo, who heads Kishida's support group in Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, was also heading a group linked to the church. The group is working to promote the construction of an undersea tunnel between Japan and South Korea.
Nakayama held a news conference on Wednesday. He said he was shocked to learn through the news that the group has ties to the church.
He added that he believes the church has many problems. He said he submitted letters to the group on Tuesday resigning as its head and announcing his withdrawl from it.
Nakayama said the group consists of about 50 people, including corporate owners. He assumed the post 11 years ago at the request of a former member of the Kumamoto City assembly. He attended the group's general meeting annually until last month.
Kishida's support group in Kumamoto Prefecture was reportedly launched to help him obtain the post of prime minister.
Nakayama indicated that Kishida's support group has no ties with the church. He said it never asked the group suspected of ties with the church for cooperation during the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election.
Under Japan's political system, the head of the ruling party becomes the prime minister.
Nakayama also said he has never met a follower of the former Unification Church.