Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1995, page 46
Judgment by the Fukuoka (Japan) District Court on the Unification
Church*
Editor’s Introduction
In 1987 a network of lawyers was formed in Japan for the purpose of eliminating
“spiritual sales,” especially those conducted by the Unification Church.
Approximately 300 lawyers have participated in this network. These lawyers claim
that perpetrators of spiritual sales have swindled individuals or subjected them to
undue influence in order to obtain large gifts from them. The lawyers network
claims that “in the past seven years (from February 1989 through February 1994),
just from the cases that were brought to the attention of us lawyers, there have
been about 16,000 cases, and the losses have been over 60 billion yen” (from “The
Activities of the Unification Church, “March 1994 statement by the Network of
Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales). The following judgment by the Fukuoka District
Court illustrates the controversy over spiritual sales. The judgment is currently
under appeal. When CSJ learns about the outcome of the appeal, an update will be
published.
Court: Fukuoka District
Case Number: 1990 #1082
Date of Judgment: 27 May 1994
Plaintiffs: alias A, housewife, approximately 40 yrs.
alias B, housewife, approximately 50 yrs.
Defendant: World Christian Unification Spiritual Association
(alias: Unification Church)
The Fukuoka District Court has ruled that the Unification Church is legally liable for the
unlawful acts for the procurement of monetary donations perpetrated against the plaintiffs,
and has awarded damages to plaintiffs A and B as follows. The District Court ordered the
Unification Church to pay plaintiff A the sum of 35,000,000 yen plus five percent (5%) of
said sum in penalty fees to accumulate annually from 26 June 1988 until date of actual
payment and further to pay plaintiff B the sum of 2,600,000 yen plus five percent (5%) of
said sum in penalty fees accumulated annually from 27 July 1989 until date of actual
payment.
The Court recognized that the Unification Church as a religious corporate body did
perpetrate unlawful acts against plaintiffs A and B. In addition to corporate liability, the
Court also holds the employees of the Unification Church liable for the actions of the church
corporate body. The Court ruling has set a new, epoch-making legal precedent for future
District Court decisions. At the time of this writing, the Unification Church has appealed the
District Court decision to the Fukuoka High Court.
Comment
Throughout Japan, there are countless numbers of victims who have suffered damages
related to the activities of the Unification Church members to collect monies from victims
throughout the world. At present there are more than 1,000 persons in Japan who have
sought legal counsel to obtain just compensation including litigation fees, for damages
caused by the Unification Church members. The total claim for damages is in excess of
7,000,000,000 yen (7 billion yen).
Judgment by the Fukuoka (Japan) District Court on the Unification
Church*
Editor’s Introduction
In 1987 a network of lawyers was formed in Japan for the purpose of eliminating
“spiritual sales,” especially those conducted by the Unification Church.
Approximately 300 lawyers have participated in this network. These lawyers claim
that perpetrators of spiritual sales have swindled individuals or subjected them to
undue influence in order to obtain large gifts from them. The lawyers network
claims that “in the past seven years (from February 1989 through February 1994),
just from the cases that were brought to the attention of us lawyers, there have
been about 16,000 cases, and the losses have been over 60 billion yen” (from “The
Activities of the Unification Church, “March 1994 statement by the Network of
Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales). The following judgment by the Fukuoka District
Court illustrates the controversy over spiritual sales. The judgment is currently
under appeal. When CSJ learns about the outcome of the appeal, an update will be
published.
Court: Fukuoka District
Case Number: 1990 #1082
Date of Judgment: 27 May 1994
Plaintiffs: alias A, housewife, approximately 40 yrs.
alias B, housewife, approximately 50 yrs.
Defendant: World Christian Unification Spiritual Association
(alias: Unification Church)
The Fukuoka District Court has ruled that the Unification Church is legally liable for the
unlawful acts for the procurement of monetary donations perpetrated against the plaintiffs,
and has awarded damages to plaintiffs A and B as follows. The District Court ordered the
Unification Church to pay plaintiff A the sum of 35,000,000 yen plus five percent (5%) of
said sum in penalty fees to accumulate annually from 26 June 1988 until date of actual
payment and further to pay plaintiff B the sum of 2,600,000 yen plus five percent (5%) of
said sum in penalty fees accumulated annually from 27 July 1989 until date of actual
payment.
The Court recognized that the Unification Church as a religious corporate body did
perpetrate unlawful acts against plaintiffs A and B. In addition to corporate liability, the
Court also holds the employees of the Unification Church liable for the actions of the church
corporate body. The Court ruling has set a new, epoch-making legal precedent for future
District Court decisions. At the time of this writing, the Unification Church has appealed the
District Court decision to the Fukuoka High Court.
Comment
Throughout Japan, there are countless numbers of victims who have suffered damages
related to the activities of the Unification Church members to collect monies from victims
throughout the world. At present there are more than 1,000 persons in Japan who have
sought legal counsel to obtain just compensation including litigation fees, for damages
caused by the Unification Church members. The total claim for damages is in excess of
7,000,000,000 yen (7 billion yen).
