Overview
- The non-public appellate process concluded after both sides filed final briefs, with the ministry urging affirmation of dissolution and the church asserting the legal standard is not met.
- The Tokyo District Court ruled in March that the group engaged in unlawful nationwide donation solicitations over many years that caused continuing harm.
- During the appeal, the court heard October testimony from two believers at the church’s request.
- The church emphasized post-2009 compliance steps and remediation, including group mediation to pay about ¥3.4 billion to 174 people and the creation of a compensation committee.
- The church argued a dissolution order would inflict serious human-rights violations on staff and believers, while an appellate affirmation would trigger court-supervised liquidation and an asset inquiry to support victim compensation.