Happy Science Group's View on the Weekly Shincho Article (October 18 Issue)

In the October 18 issue of "Weekly Shincho," an article (hereinafter referred to as "this article") about our group and our staff member, Hiroshi, has been published. However, it distorts the facts unjustly and is filled with baseless speculation. Therefore, we protest as follows and clarify our group's view.

This matter is an issue between a monk and the organization

This issue is a matter between a monk and the organization. Our group had previously requested Editor-in-Chief Taichi Miyamoto of Weekly Shincho not to publish "articles that distort facts by turning them into family issues." Nevertheless, the Weekly Shincho article, which framed it as a "family matter," can be said to be tantamount to blasphemy against noble faith.

The maliciousness of the Weekly Shincho editorial team in bringing the issue to a vulgar level

In this article, it is stated as Hiroshi's words that if the President and an actress have different tastes, "at this point, you'd be labeled a demon." Such doctrine does not exist in our organization. It is clear from our group's view that this issue is not about "incompatible values." Nevertheless, the method of the Weekly Shincho editorial team, which always tries to bring the issue to a vulgar level, is extremely malicious.

An article structure that lacks fairness significantly

Additionally, regarding the views published by our group, this article states "they are omitted" and does not cover them at all. The article is largely composed of Hiroshi's video, comments from the former President's wife, and criminal defendant Zenro Fujikura. Our group's comments are only seven lines. It is extremely difficult to ensure fairness in this way, and it must be said that the article itself aims to disparage our group.

Frequent use of baseless speculative comments

In this article, regarding Hiroshi's issue, it is written as the words of the former President's wife that "unfair personnel decisions are the cause" and "I think he was demoted because his guardian spirit was speaking ill." However, this is contrary to the facts. "Unfair personnel decisions" are nothing more than baseless speculation. The reason for Hiroshi's leave of absence is clearly stated in our group's view. Nevertheless, the Weekly Shincho editorial team omitted our group's view in the article and neglected to conduct confirmation interviews with our group to verify the facts.

Believers are increasing, and the organization is developing on a global scale

Furthermore, this article states that many believers left the organization due to a divorce, but this is also contrary to the facts. The number of believers has consistently increased domestically. Additionally, overseas, President Okawa conducted lectures on five continents worldwide, including North America, after this became public. These world lectures were enthusiastically received in various places and were broadcast live on TV and radio. The audience ranged from 30 to 50 million in Africa alone. Moreover, a lecture held in Buddha Gaya, India, in 2011 attracted over 40,000 attendees, becoming the largest lecture event in the area. Furthermore, a lecture held in Sri Lanka the same year was broadcast by three local TV stations on the same day. In 2016, a lecture was held in New York, attended by executives from major local media, and it was a great success.

Lecture in Germany also a great success, missionaries active worldwide

On October 7, a lecture was held in Berlin, Germany. Thanks to the enthusiastic missionary activities of local believers, many non-believers also participated. A religious scholar who is a university professor also attended and commented, "The President's teachings are global and cover the entire world," acknowledging the scale that is completely different from other religions. Participants were deeply moved, saying, "It was a sermon full of inspiration, power, and miracles," and pledged to spread the teachings of Happy Science in Germany. In this way, our group has grown to operate in over 100 countries worldwide and continues to develop in every country and region.

The abnormality of employing Zenro Fujikura, a criminal defendant

This article includes comments from Zenro Fujikura, who illegally trespassed into our organization's facilities and is currently a criminal defendant, and who is a perpetrator against our organization. Not only is he a criminal defendant, but on September 11, Fujikura and his associates stormed in front of our organization's headquarters and committed an unprecedented act of serious blasphemy against faith by kicking the sacred object obtained without our organization's consent. Additionally, on September 18, he demanded 3 million yen from our organization's headquarters. Fujikura is a notorious "religion vandal" and is not in a position to provide fair commentary.
In the first place, Weekly Shincho bears significant responsibility for employing such a "religion vandal" as a writer and allowing him to become arrogant. Reintroducing him without learning from past mistakes is abnormal for a media organization. Is Shinchosha aware that its monthly magazine "Shincho 45" was forced to cease publication and that its very existence is being questioned socially? They should humbly reflect on their "internal affairs" and improve their self-purification ability, or they should know there is no future.

Our group hereby strongly protests against the Weekly Shincho editorial team for publishing this article filled with speculation and significantly lacking fairness.

Happy Science Group Public Relations Division