Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1995, page 56
From this point, PB was then taken by a member of the same society to an apartment room
in the “parto Fuyo Ekimae Heights building located behind the Hakata train terminal. Here,
Gondo and a UC member by the name of Kinoshita whom PB had not previously met were
waiting in a room the size of six tatami mats (or roughly 2.7m x 3.3m). In this room, Gondo
asked PB, “How much money was put into your husband‟s life insurance fund?” Not thinking
that she would once again be requested to make an additional cash disbursement, PB
answered saying that the amount was about 4,000,000 yen.
Upon PB‟s reply, Gondo then demanded that PB loan the 4,000,000 yen by saying, “Your
husband died of cancer, an impure illness. So, as long as you possess that money,
misfortune will come to you. In order to avoid this, it is necessary that you cleanse the
money. Secure your money to heaven, and heaven will cleanse your money.” In conjunction
with Gondo‟s demand, Kinoshita also urged the loan by saying, “I too have lent my money
and every month I receive partial reimbursements. We will even issue you a promissory
note.” At this point PB felt that if she were to refuse the above demand, she would be told
that “misfortune would visit her,” etc. In light of this, PB estimated that she would
eventually be unable to refuse the demand. In addition, PB reasoned that, because this time
the life insurance money was not to be donated but safeguarded and cleansed temporarily,
and that because she would be issued a promissory note, the loan might be tolerable. As a
result, PB unwillingly consented to lending the 4,000,000 yen.
After PB‟s consent, Gondo then instructed PB not to withdraw the life insurance money, but
rather to mortgage the 4,000,000 yen as the capital for the loan. In context, Gondo also
told PB that the her deposit “would be secured in heaven for three years.”
In accordance with Gondo‟s instructions, on 28 March 1989, PB mortgaged 4,000,000 yen
from the life insurance agency. On the evening of the same day, PB physically handed over
this sum to Gondo at the aforesaid Fuyo Ekimae Heights apartment. In exchange for the
money PB received a promissory note made out in the name of Kiyoko Kamo, a UC
member. On this occasion, Gondo again spoke of how PB‟s money would be secured by
heaven. PB interpreted this to mean that the UC would be the recipient of her deposit.
(b) Pursuant to the above incident, PB did receive monthly reimbursements for the money
she had lent. UCZ and other members of the Sunflower Society became much more
intimate with PB. As she was directed, PB attended worship services once a month at the
UC‟s Fukuoka Parish. PB also continued going to the Sunflower Society about two times a
week. Around this time, new members of the Sunflower Society were being requested to
solicit donations. However PB did not participate in these recruitment activities as she had
misgivings about making other persons pay exorbitant donation fees as she herself had
done.
Then, on 25 July 1989 Aritsu, both an “educational training” (Sunflower Society) staff
member and the supervisor of PB, approached PB to explain that for the providence of
China, or in concrete terms, in order to build a car parking lot in China, the UC needed cash.
Accordingly, Aritsu requested a cash loan from PB by saying, “I want you to lend over
millions of yen for heaven.” At this, yet another demand for money, PB was dumbfounded.
PB refused the loan, saying that she could not raise the money.
However, Aritsu continued to persuade PB, saying, “I have mortgaged my house to lend
money.” This, along with her fear of refusal --in that she (PB) would be told her monthly
reimbursements on the aforesaid loan of 4,000,000 yen would be terminated in addition to
the possible threat of misfortune visiting her in the future --caused PB to finally concede a
loan of 1,500,000 yen. Thus, on 27 July 1989, PB borrowed 1,500,000 yen from a trust
union and physically handed over the sum to Aritsu at the Sunflower Society. At this time
PB thought the recipient of her loaned money to be the UC.
From this point, PB was then taken by a member of the same society to an apartment room
in the “parto Fuyo Ekimae Heights building located behind the Hakata train terminal. Here,
Gondo and a UC member by the name of Kinoshita whom PB had not previously met were
waiting in a room the size of six tatami mats (or roughly 2.7m x 3.3m). In this room, Gondo
asked PB, “How much money was put into your husband‟s life insurance fund?” Not thinking
that she would once again be requested to make an additional cash disbursement, PB
answered saying that the amount was about 4,000,000 yen.
Upon PB‟s reply, Gondo then demanded that PB loan the 4,000,000 yen by saying, “Your
husband died of cancer, an impure illness. So, as long as you possess that money,
misfortune will come to you. In order to avoid this, it is necessary that you cleanse the
money. Secure your money to heaven, and heaven will cleanse your money.” In conjunction
with Gondo‟s demand, Kinoshita also urged the loan by saying, “I too have lent my money
and every month I receive partial reimbursements. We will even issue you a promissory
note.” At this point PB felt that if she were to refuse the above demand, she would be told
that “misfortune would visit her,” etc. In light of this, PB estimated that she would
eventually be unable to refuse the demand. In addition, PB reasoned that, because this time
the life insurance money was not to be donated but safeguarded and cleansed temporarily,
and that because she would be issued a promissory note, the loan might be tolerable. As a
result, PB unwillingly consented to lending the 4,000,000 yen.
After PB‟s consent, Gondo then instructed PB not to withdraw the life insurance money, but
rather to mortgage the 4,000,000 yen as the capital for the loan. In context, Gondo also
told PB that the her deposit “would be secured in heaven for three years.”
In accordance with Gondo‟s instructions, on 28 March 1989, PB mortgaged 4,000,000 yen
from the life insurance agency. On the evening of the same day, PB physically handed over
this sum to Gondo at the aforesaid Fuyo Ekimae Heights apartment. In exchange for the
money PB received a promissory note made out in the name of Kiyoko Kamo, a UC
member. On this occasion, Gondo again spoke of how PB‟s money would be secured by
heaven. PB interpreted this to mean that the UC would be the recipient of her deposit.
(b) Pursuant to the above incident, PB did receive monthly reimbursements for the money
she had lent. UCZ and other members of the Sunflower Society became much more
intimate with PB. As she was directed, PB attended worship services once a month at the
UC‟s Fukuoka Parish. PB also continued going to the Sunflower Society about two times a
week. Around this time, new members of the Sunflower Society were being requested to
solicit donations. However PB did not participate in these recruitment activities as she had
misgivings about making other persons pay exorbitant donation fees as she herself had
done.
Then, on 25 July 1989 Aritsu, both an “educational training” (Sunflower Society) staff
member and the supervisor of PB, approached PB to explain that for the providence of
China, or in concrete terms, in order to build a car parking lot in China, the UC needed cash.
Accordingly, Aritsu requested a cash loan from PB by saying, “I want you to lend over
millions of yen for heaven.” At this, yet another demand for money, PB was dumbfounded.
PB refused the loan, saying that she could not raise the money.
However, Aritsu continued to persuade PB, saying, “I have mortgaged my house to lend
money.” This, along with her fear of refusal --in that she (PB) would be told her monthly
reimbursements on the aforesaid loan of 4,000,000 yen would be terminated in addition to
the possible threat of misfortune visiting her in the future --caused PB to finally concede a
loan of 1,500,000 yen. Thus, on 27 July 1989, PB borrowed 1,500,000 yen from a trust
union and physically handed over the sum to Aritsu at the Sunflower Society. At this time
PB thought the recipient of her loaned money to be the UC.
