Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi arrives for an honor guard ceremony, prior to Japan-Australia bilateral defense meeting at the Japanese Ministry of Defense on June 15, 2022, in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Tuesday he had received help in past elections from members of the Unification Church, becoming the latest ruling party lawmaker to disclose connections with the group at the center of controversy over the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The 41-year-old has also said he believed Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, had invited the group to Japan from South Korea, according to investigative sources. "Since they are only volunteers, I cannot indiscreetly answer what will happen in the next election," Kishi said. Meanwhile, Toshimitsu Motegi, LDP secretary general, said that the ruling party has already thoroughly confirmed that no organizational relationship exists between it and the Unification Church.

Source: Washington Post July 27, 2022 03:09 UTC