Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1995, page 47
Contents
Introduced below is a translation of the Fukuoka District Court Judgment inclusive of
statements and facts which transpired during Court proceedings, and on which this
Judgment has been based.
Part I: Inquiry into acts of solicitation for monetary donations against the
plaintiffs by the members of the accused Unification Church
Section A: Acts of solicitation for the procurement of monetary donations
committed against plaintiff A. (Omitted here are the specified exhibits, testimonies and
other evidence by which the court based its decisions on this case regarding plaintiff A.)
Article 1: Circumstances leading up to the 30,000,000-yen monetary donation
(a) On 2 August 1987, the spouse of plaintiff A died of heart disease causing plaintiff A
losses of economic and psychological supports. After her husband‟s death, plaintiff A
(hereafter PA) dissolved her deceased spouse‟s self-employed business and began settling
remaining accounts. During this period, PA and her only daughter child were experiencing
emotional distress over the premature death of PA‟s husband. It was during this period,
around February 1988, that a member of the defendant Unification Church (hereafter UC)
by the name of X (hereafter UCX), who was living in the near vicinity of PA‟s domicile,
visited PA‟s domicile to express her (UCX‟s) condolences. At this time, UCX concealed her
relationship and/or connections with the UC.
On this same occasion, PA who was feeling melancholic and lonesome, spoke openly about
her deceased spouse to UCX. Ergo, UCX invited PA to attend an exhibition of paintings
sponsored by a said colleague of hers (UCX‟s). PA considered that going to see and
appreciate the paintings might lift her spirits, and accepted UCX‟s cordial invitation. Accord-
ingly, PA went with UCX to the exhibition which was held inside a building located behind
the Hakata train terminal. However, while on the surface this exhibition was aimed for the
appreciation and viewing of art paintings, it was actually designed for the ulterior purpose of
selling the exhibited paintings provided by Miyabi Co., Ltd.
UCX and the sales coordinator of the above exhibition accompanied PA in walking around
the exhibition. In context, UCX persuaded PA to purchase paintings by frequently saying
such things as, “If there is a painting you like, you may buy it,” and “[That painting] would
look perfect in your child‟s room,” and “I have bought [a painting] myself, so why don‟t you
buy [one] too.” Because UCX had visited PA to offer her condolences for PA‟s deceased
spouse, PA felt she could not refuse UCX‟s recommendation. Accordingly, PA decided to
purchase one painting costing 220,000 yen.
Upon PA‟s decision, UCX said to the above-mentioned sales coordinator, “Excuse me. Could
you help us please?” and proceeded to relay that PA had decided make a purchase. In
context with making the purchase, PA completed the various required procedures such as
signing a purchase agreement form and placing a cash deposit of 10,000 yen. On
subsequent dates, PA paid the balance sum of 210,000 yen in three supplementary
payments via money wire transfer to the Miyabi Co., Ltd.
(b) In the period which followed PA‟s purchase of the painting, UCX began to visit PA‟s
domicile on a frequent basis. During one or more of these visits, UCX invited PA to the Oasis
Society1 for the purpose of watching videos. Also, on several same occasions, UCX took to
PA‟s home various videos concerning such topics as “The Story of Tetsuro Tanba‟s2 Spiritual
World,” and so forth.
Around the beginning of April 1988, a person by the name of Hayashida was introduced to
PA by UCX. On this occasion, Hayashida told PA, “A very famous teacher called Nagayoshi,
Contents
Introduced below is a translation of the Fukuoka District Court Judgment inclusive of
statements and facts which transpired during Court proceedings, and on which this
Judgment has been based.
Part I: Inquiry into acts of solicitation for monetary donations against the
plaintiffs by the members of the accused Unification Church
Section A: Acts of solicitation for the procurement of monetary donations
committed against plaintiff A. (Omitted here are the specified exhibits, testimonies and
other evidence by which the court based its decisions on this case regarding plaintiff A.)
Article 1: Circumstances leading up to the 30,000,000-yen monetary donation
(a) On 2 August 1987, the spouse of plaintiff A died of heart disease causing plaintiff A
losses of economic and psychological supports. After her husband‟s death, plaintiff A
(hereafter PA) dissolved her deceased spouse‟s self-employed business and began settling
remaining accounts. During this period, PA and her only daughter child were experiencing
emotional distress over the premature death of PA‟s husband. It was during this period,
around February 1988, that a member of the defendant Unification Church (hereafter UC)
by the name of X (hereafter UCX), who was living in the near vicinity of PA‟s domicile,
visited PA‟s domicile to express her (UCX‟s) condolences. At this time, UCX concealed her
relationship and/or connections with the UC.
On this same occasion, PA who was feeling melancholic and lonesome, spoke openly about
her deceased spouse to UCX. Ergo, UCX invited PA to attend an exhibition of paintings
sponsored by a said colleague of hers (UCX‟s). PA considered that going to see and
appreciate the paintings might lift her spirits, and accepted UCX‟s cordial invitation. Accord-
ingly, PA went with UCX to the exhibition which was held inside a building located behind
the Hakata train terminal. However, while on the surface this exhibition was aimed for the
appreciation and viewing of art paintings, it was actually designed for the ulterior purpose of
selling the exhibited paintings provided by Miyabi Co., Ltd.
UCX and the sales coordinator of the above exhibition accompanied PA in walking around
the exhibition. In context, UCX persuaded PA to purchase paintings by frequently saying
such things as, “If there is a painting you like, you may buy it,” and “[That painting] would
look perfect in your child‟s room,” and “I have bought [a painting] myself, so why don‟t you
buy [one] too.” Because UCX had visited PA to offer her condolences for PA‟s deceased
spouse, PA felt she could not refuse UCX‟s recommendation. Accordingly, PA decided to
purchase one painting costing 220,000 yen.
Upon PA‟s decision, UCX said to the above-mentioned sales coordinator, “Excuse me. Could
you help us please?” and proceeded to relay that PA had decided make a purchase. In
context with making the purchase, PA completed the various required procedures such as
signing a purchase agreement form and placing a cash deposit of 10,000 yen. On
subsequent dates, PA paid the balance sum of 210,000 yen in three supplementary
payments via money wire transfer to the Miyabi Co., Ltd.
(b) In the period which followed PA‟s purchase of the painting, UCX began to visit PA‟s
domicile on a frequent basis. During one or more of these visits, UCX invited PA to the Oasis
Society1 for the purpose of watching videos. Also, on several same occasions, UCX took to
PA‟s home various videos concerning such topics as “The Story of Tetsuro Tanba‟s2 Spiritual
World,” and so forth.
Around the beginning of April 1988, a person by the name of Hayashida was introduced to
PA by UCX. On this occasion, Hayashida told PA, “A very famous teacher called Nagayoshi,
