Today's Close-Up

One Year after Abe's Fatal Shooting: Have Former Unification Church and Politicians Changed? (2023x17)

Air date: Jul 15, 2023

A year has passed since former prime minister Abe Shinzo was fatally shot in western Japan by a man who reportedly had a grudge against a religious group previously known as the Unification Church. We interviewed an executive from the group's Japan headquarters who is in charge of promoting reform to see what changes it's making, especially over the issue of excessive financial donations. We also covered politicians who have had connections with the group to see if Liberal Democratic Party's policy to sever ties with it is being adequately implemented. Guest: Sakurai Yoshihide (Professor, Hokkaido University)