On December 4, the Tokyo High Court issued a decision to dissolve the former Unification Church, also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Family, following a petition from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The decision was deemed necessary due to the church's practices surrounding soliciting significant donations from its members, which have been a point of contention. The ruling emphasizes the church's reliance on donations, which make up over 97% of its income, and highlights the high amounts of money sourced from Japan being sent overseas, primarily to South Korea.

The history of the Unification Church, founded by Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954, was outlined in the ruling. Moon's subsequent activities and organizational structure expanded internationally, including various political, educational, and resort developments. After Moon's death, his wife, Hak Ja Han, took over leadership and continued the church's ambitious initiatives, which led to increased scrutiny and legal challenges, such as the current dissolution order.

This ruling may have significant ramifications for the church and its followers, including the potential financial and operational impacts of dissolution. The church has faced mounting pressure from scrutiny regarding its fundraising methods and the substantial overseas financial remittances that have drawn attention from both government authorities and societal watchdogs. The case sheds light on the controversial practices surrounding religious institutions in Japan and raises questions about the balance between religious freedom and accountability to national laws.