Japanese lawmakers debate bill on religious donations

Dec 07, 2022 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japanese lawmakers have started debating a bill that would regulate donations to religious entities. They include the group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The legislation would ban religious groups from soliciting donations in an unscrupulous manner. Opposition lawmakers want to revise the bill to ban donations that are made under the influence of so-called mind control.

Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Yunoki Michiyoshi said, "The former Unification Church has conducted those acts. By clearly banning them, the group's victims would be able to obtain financial relief."

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, "In many cases, victims would be able to revoke those donations under this new legislation and a bill to revise the Consumer Contract Act."

Japan's Prime Minister also referred to cases where people donated or made promises in a confused state of mind. He said they could exercise their rights to cancel after leaving religious groups if they can prove they made donations under duress. ...continue reading

Japan Introduces Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving

Japan began applying a new numerical alcohol threshold for dangerous driving offenses on July 21, introducing a clearer standard for cases involving impaired driving that could lead to fatal accidents.

Japan Sets Investment Strategy

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government approved its first annual basic economic and fiscal policy on Tuesday, pledging "responsible and proactive fiscal policy" and envisioning about 370 trillion yen in public- and private-sector investment in strategic industries through fiscal 2040.

Mount Fuji Filmed From a Helicopter

Breathtaking 4K footage filmed from a helicopter offers a sweeping aerial view of Mount Fuji and its majestic surrounding landscape.

Japan Scrambles for Oil

A covert network of shuttle tankers is carrying crude through the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran disrupts shipping and raises concerns over how Japan will secure the oil it needs.

Russia Calls Japan-Ukraine Drone Cooperation a Clear Hostile Act

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has criticized moves by Japanese and Ukrainian companies to cooperate on drone technology, warning that such ties would be regarded by Moscow as a "clear hostile act."

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan Politics Daily: Bond Jitters Shadow Takaichi’s Growth Roadmap

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first economic policy roadmap took center stage on July 21, setting out a long-term investment strategy aimed at reviving growth, but the plan was immediately overshadowed by concerns in the bond market over fiscal discipline and the Bank of Japan’s independence.

Asset Report Exposes Japan's Wealthiest Legislators

Asset reports for all 465 members of Japan's House of Representatives elected in February 2026 have been released, showing average declared assets of 32.78 million yen, up 6.09 million yen from the previous disclosure.

Japan Scrambles for Oil

Russia Calls Japan-Ukraine Drone Cooperation a Clear Hostile Act

Takaichi Enters Extended Diet Week With BOJ And Imperial Issues Unresolved

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi entered the week of July 20 with her government facing a shortened but politically important stretch before the extended Diet session ends, as debate continued over Bank of Japan independence, domestic investment policy, the revised Imperial House Law and the ruling coalition’s unfinished legislative agenda.

Japan Revises Imperial Law to Keep Married Women in Royal Family

Japan's revised Imperial House Law was enacted after clearing the House of Councillors with majority support, allowing female members to retain royal status after marriage and male-line descendants of former imperial family branches to enter the Imperial Household through adoption.

Takaichi Defends BOJ Independence

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi closed the Diet session on July 17 under pressure from both parliament and financial markets, as lawmakers enacted a revised Imperial House Law while the government moved to clarify that monetary policy tools remain under the sole authority of the Bank of Japan.

Imperial House Law Revision Clears Upper House Hurdle

A bill to revise the Imperial House Law was approved by an Upper House special committee on July 16, paving the way for its expected enactment on July 17.

< 2 3 4 5 >