Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Japan News/Yomiuri
The Japan News/Yomiuri
Politics
The Yomiuri Shimbun

Minister admits to photo with Unification Church leader

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa at a press conference in July (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa admitted Friday at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting that he posed in a group photo with Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, officially called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, in Aichi Prefecture in 2019.

Yamagiwa reportedly learned of the photo after it was pointed out by an outside observer. While admitting to the picture, he said, "I don't remember it, and I don't have any documents in my office [related to the photo]. I regret that I could not [confirm] this in advance."

According to Yamagiwa, he visited Nagoya to meet with a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and "I think I was invited after the meeting and had my picture taken then," he said.

"I have not attended the group's meetings," he added.

Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.