Shinzo Abe

Petition found in box that stopped Abe murder hearing: Japanese media

A SUSPICIOUS package that prompted the cancellation of a hearing for the man accused of murdering former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe contained only a petition, and no explosives, local media sa...

The Tokyo headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, in Shibuya, Tokyo on Sept 27, 2022.

Japan PM orders probe into Unification Church

JAPAN’S Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered on Monday a government probe into the Unification Church, after the assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe renewed scrutiny of the sect.

Hideyuki Teshigawara, general manager of the Japan branch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), widely known as the Unification Church, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo, Sept 22, 2022. Shinzo Abe’s alleged killer resented the church over ruinous donations made by his mother, and reportedly targeted the politician over his links to the group.

How Abe’s murder increased scrutiny of the Unification Church

THE assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe has renewed scrutiny of the Unification Church in Japan, with accusations being made that the sect cultivates political connections and pressures ...

Police officers and firefighters investigate at the site where a man who was protesting a state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set himself on fire, near Prime Minster Fumio Kishida's official residence in Tokyo, Japan Sept 21, 2022.

Man sets himself on fire near Japan PM’s office

A MAN was taken to hospital unconscious after apparently setting himself on fire near the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday, local media said.

Thousands of people gathered in Tokyo to attend the state funeral for former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

With flowers and a gun salute, Japan bids farewell to Abe

With flowers, prayers and a 19-gun salute, Japan honoured slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday (Sep 27) at the first state funeral for a former premier in 55 years – a ceremony that has b...

Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi said a probe found some lawmakers had accepted support for election campaigns from the church and its spin-off groups.

Japan's ruling party says half its MPs had Unification Church ties

Around half of Japan’s ruling party lawmakers have had dealings with the Unification Church, an official said Thursday (Sep 8), after the assassination of ex-premier Shinzo Abe heightened scrutiny of ...

The Asian nation’s longest-serving prime minister, Abe was well known on the global stage, but a sometimes divisive figure at home.

State funeral for Japan’s Abe will cost about 1.7b yen

THE state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will cost about 1.7 billion yen (S$17 million), the top government spokesperson said Tuesday (Sep 6).

Revelations of long-running links between some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the controversial Unification church have caused headache for Japan PM Fumio Kishida.

Japan PM Kishida apologises for his party’s ties with Unification Church

AMID sliding approval ratings, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologised for his party’s links with the controversial Unification Church, vowing to win back public trust by severing such ties a...

Support for Kishida's Cabinet totalled 46 per cent, down from 59 per cent in the previous survey 3 weeks ago, while the disapproval rating rose to 28 per cent from 21 per cent over the same period, NHK said.

Support for Japan PM's Cabinet lowest since it was formed: NHK

PUBLIC support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida slid to the lowest level since he took office last October, with voters questioning his decision to hold a state funeral for former premier Shi...