Unification Church followers breaking ties with group

Hideyuki Teshigawara, the director general for promoting the reform of the Unification Church, speaks at a press conference in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Sept. 22. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

A number of followers are breaking ties with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, amid the lingering issue of massive donations made to the group.

Oct. 8 marked three months since the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Statements made by the suspect in his murder, Tetsuya Yamagami, have focused significant attention on the issue of large donations to the Unification Church.