Japan couldn't decide which agency oversees Unification Church

Victims cried foul, but government took years to act

20220901 meeting

Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi, center, speaks at an interministerial liaison council session on Aug. 18, when an agreement was made to begin hearing from victims of religions' predatory sales in September. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Tetsuya Yamagami, the 41-year-old suspect in the killing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, told police that he was angry with the Unification Church because his mother had donated huge sums to the group, destroying the family's life.

The donations amounted to around 100 million yen ($720,720) it later emerged. Yamagami said he believed that Abe was affiliated with the church.

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