Japanese Minister Faces New Allegation About Former Unification Church Ties
Japan's economic revitalization minister has apologized over a fresh revelation about his connection with the controversial former Unification Church.
Yamagiwa Daishiro told reporters on Friday that independent reports have revealed he met the current head of the religious group, Han Hak-ja, in Nagoya, central Japan, three years ago. The two appeared in a group photo taken at that time.
Yamagiwa said he went to Nagoya and attended the meeting to speak with former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The minister said he may have been invited to the photo session after the talks with Gingrich.
Yamagiwa said he does not remember meeting Han and does not have any records of this at his office, and he apologizes for his failure to confirm the fact earlier.
The economic revitalization minister is already under fire for failing to report a meeting with Han at a gathering hosted by the group in Tokyo four years ago.
The former Unification Church is under scrutiny for allegedly shady marketing practices and the solicitation of large donations from followers.
Recent surveys show that lawmakers, including those from the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, have had some sort of connection with the group.
It has recently become known that an affiliate of the former Unification Church had some lawmakers of the main ruling party sign a document that said they approve of its policy proposals. This happened during national elections.
Asked whether he had also signed such a document, Yamagiwa said he has no memory of having done so.