The controversial cult and its stranglehold on Japanese economy
THE Reverend Sun Myung Moon founded the Unification Church in South Korea in 1954.
The movement, whose three million members are known as ‘Moonies’, is best known for holding mass wedding ceremonies.
Its beliefs are based on Moon’s book, The Divine Principle.
The movement has a controversial history of involvement in politics, business and education. Staunchly anti-Communist and pro-Korean unification, it has worked closely with Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party for decades. Apart from donations, local Moonie chapters help deliver the votes of their congregations to LDP politicians.
These ties are now the subject of a government inquiry.