Japan PM Fumio Kishida vows to regain trust in Unification Church controversy

“I squarely face the people’s voices regarding our relationship with the Unification Church,” Mr. Kishida said in his speech opening the 69-day Parliamentary session.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on October 3 that he will humbly listen to people’s “harsh voices” criticising his governing party’s cozy ties to the ultra-conservative Unification Church and help victims of its allegedly fraudulent businesses and huge donation collection.

Mr. Kishida has come under fire in a widening scandal that has exposed decades of close ties between former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July, his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church, which has been accused of raking in huge donations by brainwashing adherents.

Mr. Kishida has split public opinion by honouring Abe with a state funeral, which opponents assailed as a prewar tradition designed to stir nationalism, without an acceptable legal basis or Parliamentary discussion. Abe, on top of his divisive legacy, is now seen as a key figure behind the governing party’s church ties.

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Mr. Kishida desperately needs to regain public trust for his government's key policies, including a national security strategy that includes a preemptive strike capability, which critics say could violate the pacifist constitution. He also plans to further promote nuclear energy to meet decarbonisation and energy supply needs, despite persistent safety worries from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

“I squarely face the people’s voices regarding our relationship with the Unification Church,” Mr. Kishida said in his speech opening the 69-day Parliamentary session.

He promised to “do utmost” to help victims of the church's suspect businesses and donation collection by setting up a government help desk offering legal advise. He's also considering to revise the consumer contract law, but did not give details if or how he planned to pursue an investigation into how his party's church links had affected government policies.