Deputy Chief Secretary Sato confirmed his wife's attendance as his proxy at a support meeting for the former Unification Church during a recent Senate budget committee session.
In a recent session of Japan's Senate budget committee, Deputy Chief Secretary Sato acknowledged that his wife attended a support meeting for the former Unification Church (now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) on July 8, 2022, the same day former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot. Sato clarified that her presence was indeed as his proxy; however, he also stated that he was not aware of the circumstances leading to the gathering and emphasized that it was not organized at his request or that of his office.
Moreover, Sato's acknowledgment raises questions about the relationships and influence of political figures with the former Unification Church following Abe's assassination, which was reportedly linked to the organization. During the committee meeting, Sato faced inquiries from Renho, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, regarding this connection, highlighting ongoing scrutiny regarding the interaction between politics and the newly renamed Unification Church.
In response to additional inquiries about church documents claimed to be affiliated with the government, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the documents referred to as "TM (True Mother) Special Report" are from South Korea and indicated that there are no plans for the government to analyze them as part of its official duties. This incident continues to stir debate over how political leaders in Japan navigate their associations with controversial organizations, especially in the aftermath of a high-profile assassination.
