Posted on 07/15/2022 3:21:24 AM PDT by FarCenter
TOKYO -- The family of the man suspected of shooting former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to death was impoverished as a result of his mother's huge donation to a religious group, an uncle of the man told reporters Friday.
The mother of Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, joined the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, in 1991 and donated 20 million yen ($144,112) at the time of entrance, the uncle said. She continued to donate even after the family went bankrupt.
Using a handmade gun, Yamagami shot Abe during a campaign event in the city of Nara on July 8.
Investigations by Nara Prefectural Police have found that the mother's devotion to the FFWPU, formerly called the Unification Church, contributed to Yamagami's crime.
She joined the religious group in about 1998, according to the church. But the uncle denied this, saying she joined in 1991 after her husband's suicide.
The mother donated some 20 million yen to the FFWPU when she joined in 1991 and contributed an additional 30 million several days after the first donation, the uncle said. The donation was financed by her husband's life insurance money, he added.
Property registration and other documents show that she sold two land lots, inherited from her father, in 1999 and went into voluntary bankruptcy in 2002. Her donations to the religious group exceeded 100 million yen, according to the uncle.
Yamagami has an elder brother and younger sister. The uncle said the family was so impoverished that Yamagami could not go to college after graduating from high school. The uncle said he had financially supported Yamagami's enrollment at a vocational school.
(Excerpt) Read more at asia.nikkei.com ...
It still doesn’t make complete sense. Did Abe do any more than speak at a Unification event ?
crazy mama.
Unification Church, I had to check but I was right. The group was founded by Sun Myung Moon who claimed to be “a messiah”. He was deep into politics and business ventures though. The Unification movement was his biggest and most successful business venture.
His followers used to be called moonies.
Ma got hooked up with a bad bunch.
Figured it was the moonies.
Seems like the people who inherit wealth..no concept of working hard and saving.. are often the target of cult like organizations like the Unchurch.
And for some reason..not the case here.. they are gay?
Apparently, Abe and his family had “ties” to the Unification church but I’ve never seen this specified. Abe was a Buddhist, not a Moonie. It seems like a lot of people could have been targeted by the assassin over “ties” so this whole thing smells like a red herring to me.
Imagine that. People put their entire life savings into that. Believing every word one single man says. Owing allegiance to him and nobody else, think he or the organization is the savior of the world and all our problems. Opening a wallet with every single stinking grifting mailing hitting up for even more money. Some people are just complete saps with the cult worship and don’t mind having their wallets emptied I suppose.
The Kishi/Abe family had considerable ties to the Unification Church, going back to grandfather’s prime minister days.
Veneration of leadership figures is pretty common.
It’s more common in religion, but happens in a variety of areas, such as politics, e.g. FDR.
Demanding total loyalty to religious (and political leaders) at the risk of being ostracized and demonized, is more common than one thinks.
Used to trip over scads of moonies dashing through airports as they panhandled.
I agree. From what I have read in the Japanese press it’s just the neighbor no one knew fulfilling fascination with guns “very quiet,” “really quiet,” who “did keep to himself” and “never really acknowledged me as a person.” normal malignant narcissist killer profile. Very doubtful there was any driving academic interest or desire in attending a four year university.
Moonies or Hare Krishnas?
Yes they were terrible about begging for money. There was even a few at the tiny airport in Lynchburg, Virginia. I can only imagine how they were in the big international airports. Should have just locked them up and thrown away the key.
Both. The Hare Krishnas had the orange robes and flowers.
I remember the Krishnas being heavily involved in pan handling while the Moonies were more business oriented...real estate, sea food industry, communications, etc. At least that’s what I remember in the NE.
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