Japan’s newly appointed Justice Minister, Hideki Makihara, has recently come under scrutiny for his past ties to the Unification Church. Makihara admitted to attending dozens of events related to the religious group but has since severed all connections.
The 53-year-old minister confessed that he and his secretary had participated in 37 Unification Church events, which were not disclosed in a survey conducted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in September 2022. Makihara cited difficulty in identifying these past encounters as reasons for the oversight.
Despite missing the initial reporting deadline, Makihara eventually disclosed his involvement with the religious group to the party in February 2023. The minister’s decision to cut ties with the Unification Church reflects his commitment to transparency and accountability in his new role.