“Even if there was a member of the Unification Church among the companions, the point about ‘relationship with the Unification Church’ is not correct.”
It has been found that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is attempting to confirm with the former speaker whether an official from the former Unification Church (currently the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) was present during the meeting with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives four years ago. Prime Minister Kishida stated that even if it was confirmed that a Unification Church official was present, there was no change in his existing position that he did not know who it was at the time.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported this on the 7th regarding Prime Minister Kishida’s rumor about the Unification Church.
In relation to this, Asahi reported that former Speaker Gingrich acknowledged that the heads of the Japanese organization, a friendship group for the Unification Church, attended a meeting with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich held four years ago when Prime Minister Kishida was the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party’s political affairs research committee. The newspaper reported this day.
Regarding this, Prime Minister Kishida met with reporters at his official residence this morning and said, “We are trying to contact Mr. Gingrich to confirm. However, even if there were Unification Church officials among the companions, the perception that we do not know who they were does not change,” he said.
He refuted, “It is not correct to point out that he had a relationship with the Unification Church based on the fact that he had an official among his companions.”
Prime Minister Kishida also said, “Chairman Gingrich is explaining that ‘the meeting was arranged by a friendly group of the denomination.’” When asked by reporters about the facts, he said, “We are checking the records of the visit and the people involved, but as pointed out, The point has not been confirmed. “In any case, I requested a meeting with Mr. Gingrich, so I met him from the perspective of a former foreign minister,” he said.
Regarding Prime Minister Kishida’s position, Akira Nagatsuma, head of the political affairs investigation committee of Japan’s main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, said at a press conference, “Even if you met him without knowing that he was an official of the former Unification Church at the time, you will be able to find out by checking at this point. He criticized, “Isn’t it evil to lie about even that?”
He continued, “Prime Minister Kishida’s explanation cannot gain the public’s trust. “Wouldn’t it be better to explain honestly?” he criticized.
Previously, on the 4th, the Asahi Shimbun reported that on October 14, 2019, when Prime Minister Kishida was serving as the chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Masayoshi Kajikuri, Japan head of the Unification Church friendly group Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Chairman Masayoshi Kajikuri, and former House Speaker Gingrich met at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party. It was reported that On the 5th, Asahi reported that Michael Jenkins, former president of the Unification Church in the United States and current president of UPF International, was also present.
The newspaper also obtained and presented photos from the time. A photo believed to have been taken on the day of the interview showed four people standing side by side and taking a commemorative photo together. From the left, Chairman Kajikuri, former Chairman Gingrich, Prime Minister Kishida, and Chairman Jenkins are all looking at the camera with smiling expressions.
Prime Minister Kishida said, “It is customary to take pictures including those seated with you. “Even if there are photos, my perception does not change,” he emphasized.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.