Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1995, page 54
PB decided to purchase a set of three signature seals at a sum of 120,000 yen in
compliance with the above recommendation of UCZ. Accordingly, PB filled out an order form
to the above effect, gave UCZ an on-the-spot cash down payment of 5,000 yen, and on the
following day paid UCZ the balance.
Upon the payment of the above-stated balance, UCZ invited PB to see a fortune teller by
saying, “I know a „teacher‟12 who will read your fortune for you. Why don‟t you have her
give you a consultation?” Although PB had never had her fortune told prior to these events,
PB had previously considered having her fortune told. Thus, motivated by her initial
curiosity combined with her growing interest in knowing more about what her husband by
common-law marriage did while he was on earth as well as about her own physical health
as she was prone to illness, PB chose to go along with UCZ‟s above-stated invitation.
Accordingly, PB arranged with UCZ to meet the above-mentioned “teacher” on the date of
24 December of the same year.
Sequentially, on the above same day, with the intent of having her fortune told, PB was
escorted by UCZ to the Sunflower (Himawari) Society located on the third floor of the
Matsuoka building in Hakata Ward in Fukuoka City. There, PB was introduced by Shigetomi
to a woman by the name of Ishu who was also a UC member. Accordingly, Ishu told PB her
fortune. Upon doing so, Ishu then invited PB to come to the Sunflower Society for the
purpose of study by saying, “This is the best period of heavenly providence. So, from the
beginning of the new year why don‟t we study together?” Presuming that the Sunflower
Society was a place where she could study the ways of living and life through meeting a
diverse group of persons with various complicated and/or tragedy embracing backgrounds
like herself, and where she (PB) could talk to other persons about her problems as well as
discuss various ideas and issues with others, PB decided to accept Ishu‟s offer and paid a
lecture course tuition fee of 120,000 yen.
As she had been invited, from 5 January 1989 and onward for about three times every
week, PB began attending study groups titled “Educational Training,” which were devised by
official members of the Sunflower Society. In accordance, PB began her studies by watching
videos on “spiritual cultivation” (or self-improvement) training. Gradually she was shown
material related to religion which consisted of the teachings and the ways of the Holy Bible
and Sun Myung Moon, the UC‟s founding father. Progressively, PB was shown a video
explaining the aforesaid “unification principles.” Based on the above educational materials
and processes, PB came to realize that the same society was a place where the
teachings/precepts of the UC were being taught, and that the supervising body of these
activities was the UC.
PB‟s understandings were clarified when, during a lecture she was taking at the Sunflower
Society, PB was taught that the Messiah of the world had been reborn, and that that
Messiah was Sun Myung Moon. While other members of the Sunflower Society celebrated
the fact that the Messiah‟s existence had been revealed to them, PB‟s response to the same
revelation was that of incomprehension as to why the existence of the Messiah had been
revealed at that very Sunflower Society.
Article 2: The 2,100,000-yen donation and related acts of solicitation
On 27 January 1989 around 6:30 p.m. PB received a message from UCZ telling her to come
to the Sunflower Society. Accordingly, PB proceeded to the Society. Upon arrival, PB was
escorted by Shigetomi to a private corner room. Here, PB was introduced to Gondo, a UC
member called “Soothsayer” or “Master of Fortune Telling.” Gondo then sought to sketch a
family lineage chart for PB, saying, “I am going to tell you about yourself (your fortune,
etc.). I want you to tell me about your family line and your ancestors.” PB responded by
telling her life history to Gondo. Accordingly, Gondo drew up PB‟s family lineage chart as
PB decided to purchase a set of three signature seals at a sum of 120,000 yen in
compliance with the above recommendation of UCZ. Accordingly, PB filled out an order form
to the above effect, gave UCZ an on-the-spot cash down payment of 5,000 yen, and on the
following day paid UCZ the balance.
Upon the payment of the above-stated balance, UCZ invited PB to see a fortune teller by
saying, “I know a „teacher‟12 who will read your fortune for you. Why don‟t you have her
give you a consultation?” Although PB had never had her fortune told prior to these events,
PB had previously considered having her fortune told. Thus, motivated by her initial
curiosity combined with her growing interest in knowing more about what her husband by
common-law marriage did while he was on earth as well as about her own physical health
as she was prone to illness, PB chose to go along with UCZ‟s above-stated invitation.
Accordingly, PB arranged with UCZ to meet the above-mentioned “teacher” on the date of
24 December of the same year.
Sequentially, on the above same day, with the intent of having her fortune told, PB was
escorted by UCZ to the Sunflower (Himawari) Society located on the third floor of the
Matsuoka building in Hakata Ward in Fukuoka City. There, PB was introduced by Shigetomi
to a woman by the name of Ishu who was also a UC member. Accordingly, Ishu told PB her
fortune. Upon doing so, Ishu then invited PB to come to the Sunflower Society for the
purpose of study by saying, “This is the best period of heavenly providence. So, from the
beginning of the new year why don‟t we study together?” Presuming that the Sunflower
Society was a place where she could study the ways of living and life through meeting a
diverse group of persons with various complicated and/or tragedy embracing backgrounds
like herself, and where she (PB) could talk to other persons about her problems as well as
discuss various ideas and issues with others, PB decided to accept Ishu‟s offer and paid a
lecture course tuition fee of 120,000 yen.
As she had been invited, from 5 January 1989 and onward for about three times every
week, PB began attending study groups titled “Educational Training,” which were devised by
official members of the Sunflower Society. In accordance, PB began her studies by watching
videos on “spiritual cultivation” (or self-improvement) training. Gradually she was shown
material related to religion which consisted of the teachings and the ways of the Holy Bible
and Sun Myung Moon, the UC‟s founding father. Progressively, PB was shown a video
explaining the aforesaid “unification principles.” Based on the above educational materials
and processes, PB came to realize that the same society was a place where the
teachings/precepts of the UC were being taught, and that the supervising body of these
activities was the UC.
PB‟s understandings were clarified when, during a lecture she was taking at the Sunflower
Society, PB was taught that the Messiah of the world had been reborn, and that that
Messiah was Sun Myung Moon. While other members of the Sunflower Society celebrated
the fact that the Messiah‟s existence had been revealed to them, PB‟s response to the same
revelation was that of incomprehension as to why the existence of the Messiah had been
revealed at that very Sunflower Society.
Article 2: The 2,100,000-yen donation and related acts of solicitation
On 27 January 1989 around 6:30 p.m. PB received a message from UCZ telling her to come
to the Sunflower Society. Accordingly, PB proceeded to the Society. Upon arrival, PB was
escorted by Shigetomi to a private corner room. Here, PB was introduced to Gondo, a UC
member called “Soothsayer” or “Master of Fortune Telling.” Gondo then sought to sketch a
family lineage chart for PB, saying, “I am going to tell you about yourself (your fortune,
etc.). I want you to tell me about your family line and your ancestors.” PB responded by
telling her life history to Gondo. Accordingly, Gondo drew up PB‟s family lineage chart as
