Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that he will not re-investigate late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s ties to the Unification Church. 

His remarks came after Asahi Shimbun published a photo on September 17 of Abe meeting with the head of the Church before the 2013 House of Councillors election.

When asked whether he planned to reinvestigate Abe’s ties to the Church, Kishida said that he has repeatedly explained during Diet sessions and there is nothing to add as of now.

Kishida has also said during the Diet sessions that it is difficult to fully comprehend Abe’s ties to the group now that Abe has passed away.

Abe was assassinated by Yamagami Tetsuya in July 2022, who later said he held a grudge against Abe for having ties with the Unification Church that made his family go bankrupt. 

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Moriya Hiroshi said that the government has issued a dissolution order to the Church’s branch in Japan and will continue to take appropriate measures.