Man reveals pain, shame of growing up as Unification Church 'blessed 2nd gen.' in Japan

Mainichi, Japan/September 25, 2024

By Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department

Tokyo -- Garbage piled up in his family's home. He had to miss long stretches of school to take part in "study sessions." These were just two aspects of being a "blessed second-generation" member of the Unification Church (now the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), according to a man in his 30s who publicly shared his experiences for the first time on Sept. 21 at an event in the Japanese capital.

The man, going by the pseudonym Yukihiko Nonami, was born to parents who met through one of the church's mass weddings, and were devout followers.

Due to his parents' deep faith, they prioritized church doctrines over their children's welfare. However, Nonami himself never practiced the faith. "I was always ashamed and resentful of my family and the church. Because of them, I hated the fact that I existed," he shared.

From a young age, he was made to bow down in front of photographs of the church's founder and his wife. He was also forced to attend Sunday worship and take part in long-term study sessions, known as "workshops," held in places including South Korea, Brazil and Japan. These sessions were so long that he had to miss school. He was also forbidden from developing romantic feelings for anyone.

"I had only the bare minimum food, clothing and shelter. The house was a mess, and sometimes the school had to call my parents because they didn't pay for my school meals," Nonami recalled.

By the time he was in upper elementary school, he began to see the Unification Church as a cult. At the same time, he struggled with the stigma of being associated with it.

Despite not being a believer himself, Nonami explained, "It doesn't change that I was born because of the church's teachings. I was ashamed of it and hated it, which led to self-loathing. I believe this is a problem unique to those born into believer families as 'blessed second-generation' children."

Due to his feelings of guilt and shame about his family, Nonami couldn't fit in with those around him. He dropped out of high school just a few months after enrolling. He admitted that at one point, he thought the quickest way to reject the church's teachings was to erase himself, leading him to engage in self-harm.

Nonami said he was finally able to speak publicly about his experience because, in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the issue of "second-generation religious followers" has been gaining attention, allowing him to open up about his upbringing and struggles.

The Sept. 21 event where Nonami spoke was organized by the National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales, which advocates for victims of the church. The network released a statement calling for a review of Japan's law against malicious donation solicitation, which was enacted in 2022 to prevent excessive donation-related harm.

The group also called for schools to establish support systems and consultation desks for second-generation religious followers, as well as for legal support when seeking compensation from the church.