Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced his ruling party will cut ties with the Unification Church following a widening scandal brought on by former leader Shinzo Abe's assassination.
Widespread cozy ties between members of Mr Kishida's governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), many of them belonging to Mr Abe's faction, and the South Korean church have surfaced since Mr Abe was shot to death while giving a campaign speech in July.
The suspect arrested at the scene allegedly told police he killed Mr Abe because of his apparent link to the church.
In a letter seen by The Associated Press and social media posts believed to be his, the suspected gunman said he believed his mother's large donations to the church had ruined his life.
Some Japanese have expressed understanding, even sympathy, as details of the man's life emerged, creating deep implications for the political party that has governed Japan virtually uninterrupted since World War II.
The Unification Church, which was founded in South Korea in 1954 and came to Japan a decade later, has built close ties with a host of conservative politicians on their shared interests of opposing communism.
Since the 1980s, the church has faced accusations of problematic recruiting and religious sales in Japan, which added to criticisms to Mr Kishida's party for keeping ties despite knowing of legal disputes and other problems.
Appearing at his first in-person news conference as he emerged from COVID-19 quarantine, Mr Kishida said politicians had a duty to be mindful about their relationship with "problematic" organisations.
"There are still many people who are concerned and suspicious of strong ties … due to a number of media reports on the matter," Mr Kishida said.
"For this, I offer my sincere apologies as the president of the LDP."
Cabinet support dips despite reshuffle
Mr Kishida shuffled his cabinet earlier in August to purge seven ministers linked to the groups.
Among them was Mr Abe's younger brother Nobuo Kishi, who acknowledged that church followers volunteered on his election campaigns.
Dozens of LDP members have since acknowledged their ties to the church and related organisations.
But it has done little to bolster his support.
An Asahi newspaper poll at the weekend showed support for the cabinet at 47 per cent, down 10 points from July.
LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi has been instructed to survey the party fully and compile compliance measures, with Mr Kishida saying the LDP would make it "party policy" to end links with the controversial Unification Church.
Mr Kishida said the review may take time because it will span decades.
Mr Kishida also apologised over the loss of public trust in politics because of the scandal and his lack of explanation for hosting a state funeral for Mr Abe, one of most divisive leaders in Japan's postwar history.
The decision to hold a state funeral on September 27 has split public opinion.
The only other state funeral held in postwar Japan was for former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who signed the San Francisco Treaty that restored ties with the Allies and brought about the end of the US occupation.
Japan's government has allocated at least a 250 million yen ($2.6 million) budget to invite about 6,000 guests for the funeral, which will beheld at the Budokan arena in Tokyo.
ABC/Wires
