Japan Culture Minister Plans To Boost Staff For Probe Into Ex - Unification Church
Japan's education and culture minister says she is working to increase her staff to prepare for an investigation into the religious organization previously known as the Unification Church.
Nagaoka Keiko has been instructed by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to launch the probe, based on the "right to ask questions" under the Religious Corporations Act.
The former Unification Church is under scrutiny for allegedly running shady marketing schemes and soliciting large donations from followers.
The Cultural Affairs Agency has launched an experts' panel to prepare for an investigation. The agency's Religious Affairs Division is in charge of the process.
Nagaoka told reporters on Friday that the division has eight permanent staffers, but several have joined from the education ministry. She added that she's trying to increase the number, as it still is not enough.
The Cultural Affairs Agency is due to relocate from Tokyo to Kyoto next year. Asked if the move could affect the investigation, Nagaoka suggested that part of the Religious Affairs Division will likely remain in Tokyo to continue its work on the religious group.
The division's workforce is likely to be increased to more than 20 by inviting employees with law licenses from other government offices.
Depending on the outcome of the agency's investigation, the government could seek a court order to disband the former Unification Church as a religious corporation, which would deny the group its tax benefits.