The appeal to the Japanese people of loving one's enemies and Unification Principle
What is the background that has led to the Unification Church's large following in Japan? Tokuno Eiji (59), president of the Unification Church in Japan says it is due to the good match between the strong desire of the Japanese people for peace and the providential mission of the Unification Church to work for world peace.
Council for World Peace president Oyamada Hideo (72) added, "Rev. Sun Myung Moon's love for his enemies is what made the Unification Church in Japan grow so quickly," and he shared a story about Rev. Moon. "When Rev. Moon was an exchange student at Waseda University in Japan, he was caught participating in underground Korean independence activities, and subsequently tortured, and he memorized the names and faces of the police officers who tortured him. But he never had any hatred or resentment towards the Japanese people. On the contrary, after Korean's liberation from Japan, Rev. Moon visited the Japanese officials who had been living in Korea and helped them and their families to return safely to Japan, and all the Japanese who heard that story were very moved by his heart."
Then he emphasized a different reason that the Unification Church was persecuted. After the end of the Second World War, many people joined the church, but the new members received a lot of persecution. However, the more severe the persecution was, the more determined the members were to work more closely with Rev. Moon. The emphasis on the individual's portion of responsibility in the articles of faith of the Unification Principle taught by Rev. Moon is a very good fit for the Japanese people and their sense of responsibility. While living amidst the confusion in contemporary Japan, young people saw a solution for the problems of society in Rev. Moon's teaching, and at the same time they saw a road to peace. But other trials were ahead. Perhaps it was because of concern over the growth in church membership, but starting in the 1980s from the time of Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, the sentiment in Japanese government and society, which for a while had been supportive of the church's work, once again turned against the Unification Church. The situation was bad, but at the same time, there was hope." Religion has a history of prospering when under persecution.
After the main event was finished, Yong-Cheon Song, Chairman of the Family Federation in Japan gave a detailed explanation of the victory of the Unification Church in Japan. "Christianity teaches individual salvation, but the Unification Church teaches that salvation comes to families. What is the point of going to heaven alone? If the members of my family whom I love are in hell, will I have a peaceful mind in heaven? The Unification Church is focused not on church buildings, but on people. This is the power that has changed peoples' hearts and has built up the Unification Church in Japan."
He pointed out that while the Unification Church in Japan and the Unification Church in Korea are united by following the same Principle, at the same time they each have their own special characteristics, leading them to a state of good competition. He went on to explain the difference between unity and uniformity, "Unity does not require any change in personality or individual characteristics; whereas with uniformity there is no room for individual personality or characteristics," and that what Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han are calling for from Japan and Korea is not uniformity, but unity.
The connection between Japan and the Unification Church has now passed more than half a century. Rev. Moon sent missionaries from Korea to Japan in 1958, four years after the establishment of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in 1954. At the time there were no diplomatic relationship between Korea and Japan. Moon explained his choice of Japan as the Unification Church's first foreign mission country to his followers. "Moon emphasized that his first purpose in sending missionaries to Japan was to save Japan, and his second purpose was to save Korea. At the time, one by one, countries were falling under communist control. If Japan were to come under communist control, Korea's situation would become extremely precarious. Therefore, he felt it was important to arm Japan with an ideology that could defeat Communism. Of course, there was also the aspect of the future of the Unification Church. Rev. Moon considered Korea the Adam country and Japan the Eve country, and felt it important to introduce the Unification Principle to Japan before any other country. He anticipated that Japan would play a large role in the future of the church, both economically and in relation to the expansion of world with mission work.”
The Unification Church owes much of its growth, which has come after great effort, to Rev. Moon's love for Japan. Rev. Moon's prediction proved correct. Just one year after missionaries were first sent to Japan, on October 2, 1959, the first worship service of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in Japan was held in Tokyo, following which a nationwide network was quickly established. As a result, today the Unification Church has about 600,000 members in Japan, along with 266 churches and training centers.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han's half century of love for Japan
Japanese church president Tokuno explained, "Rev. Moon foresaw Japan's important role in northeast Asia. Japan was the first country that Moon visited on his first world speaking tour taken from January 28 to October 10, 1965. Even though there were not many members in the Japanese church at the time, the church had already been legally registered, and church activities were moving forward energetically. Rev. Moon made several subsequent visits to Japan to support the growth of the church there, and Dr. Hak Ja Han has also made several visits to Japan, particularly in connection with activities of the Women's Federation for World Peace. On September 14, 1995, 50,000 representatives from 53 countries gathered in Tokyo Dome for a rally to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the founding of the Women's Federation for World Peace, with former US President George W. Bush as a special guest."
He continued, "In describing the worldwide missionary work of the Unification Church, the roles played by Japan and Korea are like those of parents. Korea is the father nation and Japan is the mother nation. Without discussing history in detail, it is clear that there is much work that Korea and Japan must pursue hand in hand. Looking at the current situation, it seems that relations between Korean and Japan have taken a turn for the worse, due to disagreements regarding past history and struggle over territory. In this context, Dr. Hak Ja Han's message that Korean and Japan must work together holds even greater symbolic significance."
Dr. Han's has a deep and solid love for Japan. During the past fifty years, she has visited Japan ten times with Rev. Moon, and 20 more times by herself. Including her speeches on this trip, she has delivered 140 speeches in Japan. Dr. Han has devoted much time and energy to building unity between Korea and Japan for the sake of world peace, leading many kinds of events, including various kinds of lectures, world rallies, marriage blessings and hoondok meetings. She demonstrated the same love for Japan in her message on this trip, saying "Japan should take a path where they can be respected by the countries in Asia. They should not remain focused on small issues, and should work to make unity with Korea."
The reason Dr. Han was so warmly welcomed by all sectors of Japanese society on this trip is that because the Japanese people understand her passion and love for Japan. Dr. Chang Sik Yang, International Vice President of the Family Federation said, "With her soft but firm voice, Dr. Han made it clear that Japan must go beyond understanding their own country and take a lead in making peace in northeast Asia."
Tokuno Aiji, Japan Unification Church President and Yong Cheon Song, Chairman of the Family Federation in Japan promised that Japan would stand at the front in following Dr. Han's lead in pursuing inter-religious and international roads toward world peace. Takuno and Song hold copies of Pyeonghwa Gyeong and Cheon Seong Gyeong, containing the words of Rev. Sun Myung Moon's messages.
9000 Korean - Japanese international marriage couples break down barriers
The impressive growth of the Unification Church in Japan is due to a combination of ideology and national character. You can see the meeting of ideology and character in the emphasis of the Unification Principle on family values and world peace, ideas that can engage the mind and faith of the Japanese people. One way that the Japanese members have expressed their affirmation is through their participation in international marriage blessings. Blessed families formed after international marriage blessings consider both Korean and Japan as their home countries, so there is no further need for an attitude of conflict between them.
Public Relations head Ho Yeol Ahn explained, "After the treaty of Ulsa in 1905, the Japanese occupied Korea from 1910 until August 15, 1945, meaning that Korea was controlled by Japan for a total of 40 years. Due to this fact of history the two countries have had an uncomfortable relationship. However, in 1965, diplomatic relations were restored with a treaty normalizing Korean-Japanese relations. Even though diplomatic relations were restored at that time, personal relations between Korean and Japanese people remained strained, due in part to the legal restrictions placed on Korean residents in Japan. Rev. Moon saw that the fastest way to build cordial relations between the Korean and Japanese people would be through international marriages. This is because if virtuous men and women from countries that have traditionally been enemies will marry with each other, through their love they will have children who can go beyond the enemy relationship of the two countries."
The first marriage blessing in Japan was held in 1968. On February 22 of that year, the first group among the 43 couples participated in a blessing ceremony, including former early Japanese church members Kuboki Osami and Ohoyama Kimiko. Later, on May 1, 1969, a blessing ceremony for 22 couples more couples that were part of the 43 couples was held in Tokyo. From the 1970s, the number of people participating in marriage blessings increased. On October 21, 1970, there was a marriage blessing with 235 couples in Japan, which included four international couples, as part of the 777 blessing group. Continuing on from the blessing of 1800 couples in Seoul on February 8, 1975, the number of Japanese participants increased dramatically.
After the international blessing of 6500 couples in 1988, the number of Korean-Japanese and Japanese- Korean couples has been on the increase. Among the 6500 couples, 2600 of the couples were Korean- Japanese and Japanese - Korean. The 30,000 couple blessing in 1992 and the 360,000 couple blessing in 1995, there were thousands of Korean-Japanese and Japanese - Korean couples. The number of Korean- Japanese and Japanese-Korean couples has increased steadily in each blessing held since that time, and these days marriage blessings for 2nd and 3rd generation members are increasing too. From among those international blessings, there are about 2,500 Korean wives living in Japan and 7000 Japanese wives living in Korea, which contributes to the friendship between Korean and Japan.
Subtitle: "The driving force behind the Unification Church today is the passionate devotion of the Japanese members. The role of the Japanese members will continue to be important in the future."
A Unification Church official explained the role of the Japanese - Korean blessed families. "The Japanese wives provide a bridge between the two countries, and they are some of the most dedicated members working in the Korean church. Some of them have been blessed with Korean men from farm villages. Aren't the farming and fishing villages the kind of places that Korean women try to avoid going to get married? In that kind of place, the wives have to work hard not only for their husbands and children, but also to take care of their in-laws and other relatives, and many people have been deeply moved by their efforts and dedication. The stories of some of these Japanese brides have passed through Korean society, and some of them have even been reported on by the media. One area where the Japanese wives have been attracting particular attention is the large number of 'dutiful daughter-in-law awards’ that have been claimed by Japanese brides. And they have made a considerable contribution to improving the relationship between the Japan and Korea."
Family Federation Chairman Yong-Cheon Song explained further about the Korean - Japanese marriage blessings. "Rev. Moon believed that if all the people of the world became blood relatives through international marriage blessings, the discord and antagonism between nations would automatically be solved. There are already 9000 blessed families with Japanese and Korean members. The 2nd and 3rd generations of these families not only speak both Korean and Japanese, but feel that both countries are their mother countries. As the number of international blessed marriages increases, the difficulties between Japan and Korea will gradually decrease.
Besides this, 160,000 Japanese and Korean women have participated in international Bridge of Peace Ceremonies. Since ten thousand Japanese and Korean women participated in the first Bridge of Peace Ceremony held in the 2nd Olympic Stadium in Seoul on March 11, 1994, about 179,000 pairs of Japanese and Korean women have participated in the ceremonies.
There are also examples of fateful connections between Japan and Korea involving the Unification Church. One of them is the victory over Communism movement. Rev. Moon organized the International Federation for Victory over Communism on May 1, 1972, in order to support victory over Communism activities in Japan. Even before founding the International Federation for Victory over Communism, Rev. Moon armed lecturers with the ideology to give lectures on defeating Communism. These lecturers focused on giving victory over Communism lectures at Chosun University and other places that were the foothold of the Alliance of Koreans in Japan. Along with the lectures, they invited the Korean to visit their mother country.
Subtitle: "Providentially, it is important for the democratic nations of Japan and Korea to unite in order to establish peace in northeast Asia. When the Korea - Japan tunnel is completed, it will provide new energy to the relationship between Korea and Japan."
Until the 1970s, because the relationship between North and South Korea was in a state of confrontation, there were repeated confrontations with the Korean Residents Union in Japan and the Alliance of Koreans in Japan. This was one direct factor contributing to the disintegration in relations between the Koreans living in Japan. Rev. Moon saw a need to united the various groups of Koreans living in Japan, and he organized a trip, inviting them to visit their family burial sites during Chuseok in September 1975. This was the first time they had had the opportunity to visit Korea since the liberation of Korea from Japan, and they had moving emotional visits with their families in Korea. As this kind of visit was repeated several times, it had a profound and deep effect on Japanese society as well as North-South relations. Rev. Moon's efforts to improve relations between the Korean Residents Union and the Alliance of Koreans came after he sent Yong-Seok Choi, the former president of the International Federation for Victory over Communism to give victory over communism education to the Alliance of Koreans and realized the actual state of relations between the groups of Koreans in Japan. Yong-Seok Choi, who was president of the Organization of Koreans living in Japan, was awarded the May 16 Peoples' Award by the Alliance of Koreans in Japan on May 16, 1975, in recognition of his work in organizing the trips enabling Korean residents in Japan to visit their homeland.
In September 2002, the Japan Unification Church headquarters formed a Korean Reunification Department, and has been conducting reunification activities since that time, focusing on the Koreans living in Japan.
In July 2004, the Federation for Peace and Unification was formed, following the philosophies of Harmony among Korean residents in Japan', 'Reunification of the Korean Peninsula', and 'World Peace', and they have worked actively until now, focusing on living for the sake of others and true love with the goal of uniting the Korean people both in and outside of Japan, and for the reunification of Korea.
Working for harmony between the Korean Residents Union and the Alliance of Koreans, and reunification
One event that attracted a lot of attention was the All hearts One People Rally for Peace and Unification, held in November 2004. The rally symbolized the unity of the Korean people, with 600 members of the Korean Residents Union, 600 members of the Alliance of Koreans, and 1000 South Koreans from the Youngnam and Hanam districts, a total of 2200 people. The participants made a joint five point declaration to settle up the overactive regional pride of the past ages, to work for peace and unity through true love and sacrifice, and to pioneer the unity of their people through peace and unification activities. The Korean residents of Japan overcame ideological differences and united their minds to open a Prayer for Peaceful Reunification at Panmunjom , on the DMZ between North and South Korea in Gyeonggi province. Once again in July 2005, 1100 people each from the Korean Residents Union in Japan and the Alliance of Koreans in Japan participated in an event for harmony, and in December 2005 a group of 10,000 people participated in a Peace and Harmony March for Reunification at Imjingak, and other peace building activities.
Chairman Song said, "During the period when the Unification Church in Japan was holding victory over Communism activities, communist influence was expanding in Japan. The Unification Church's victory over Communism activities blocked the expansion of Communism in Japan."
He continued, "The Japanese people are very grateful to the Unification Church for this."
The victory over Communism activities provided a chance for the Unification Church to get support from the government. In 2001, Minister of Science and Culture Koizumi and former minister Aoyama Takashi were supportive. Former minister Aoyama participated in a rally in Nagoya, and told the press the Unification Church was contributing to the relationship between Japan and Korea. "Many members of the government have been deeply impressed by the Unification Church's victory over Communism work. The government itself has also been impressed. Due to the bridge-building efforts of the Unification Church, relations between the governments of Korea and Japan have become more amicable. It was even possible to make an association of Korean and Japanese congressmen. The Unification Church played a role in making this possible."
The Korea - Japan tunnel project is a symbol of the Unification Church's ongoing efforts to create harmony between the two countries. The tunnel project was announced by Rev. Moon in 1981 as the first stage of a international highway project. The announcement of the international highway project was made in November 1981 at the Sejong Cultural Center in Seoul during the 10th International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences. In order to carry out the project, in May 1983 the Unification Church established the Japan Korea Tunnel Research Institute and conducted investigations of the land and sea areas in Saga prefecture nearby Iki Island and Daima Island. In October 1986, work began on a pilot tunnel in Saga prefecture Jinjei-cho, Nagoya. In the same year a Korea-Japan Tunnel Research Institute was established in Korea, and 1988 they also completed initial investigations. In 1984, a World Peace Tunnel Foundation was also established, along with a Korea Japan Tunnel Forum and other international promotion was held for the project.
As public support for the tunnel project, leaders from both Korea and Japan agreed that the tunnel project was needed. Korean President Noh Tae Woo in May 1990, President Noh Moo Hyun in February 2003 and President Kim Dae Jung in November 2006 all mentioned the tunnel project, saying that that a Korea - Japan tunnel would contribute to making a closer relationship between the two countries. Japanese Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro proposed the construction of a Korea- Japan tunnel as the ASEM meeting in Seoul in October 2000.
Experts have pointed out that in addition to improving relations between Korean and Japan, a Korea- Japan tunnel would enable rail transportation system that could connect the entire Eurasian area, opening the possibility for an Asian trade hub to develop in Korea. This would greatly reduce distribution costs for consumer goods and building a Eurasian rail network would give increased trade opportunities to Japan, who are ranked third in the world economy after the US and China. An international rail network running through North Korea would also contribute to reunification efforts.
Dr. Hak Ja Han agrees that the Korea - Japan tunnel is needed.
At the Tokyo area rally in Saitama, she did not mention the Korea - Japan tunnel directly, but she emphasized that Korea and Japan must become geopolitically united. She went on to explain, Korea and Japan are located in close proximity to each other, and they hold crucial roles, with China and North Korea allied as Communist countries, and Japan and Korea holding the position of Democratic countries in the current Northeast Asian political situation. From a providential viewpoint, it is important for the two democratic nations of Japan and Korea to be united in order to create peace in northeast Asia and the world. However, currently, a peaceful relationship between Korea and Japan is difficult. Exchange between the two countries is needed in order to contribute to a peaceful relationship between them. When the Korea - Japan tunnel is completed, it will be a turning point in relations between Korea and Japan."
Regarding the efforts behind the Korea Japan tunnel, a church official said, "In 2011, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs assessed that although a Korea - Japan tunnel would not contribute to economical efficiency, it would serve as a symbolic settlement to the past struggles between the two countries, and explained that it would become a 'magic tunnel', bringing the possibility for fast transportation at the center of the Asia-Pacific areas international governments and economy, opening a new Pacific Rim age, and would certainly contribute to peace in northeast Asia and the world.”
Former Vice-Minister Aoyama said "Korea and Japan can become one," and "for that purpose, the Korea- Japan Tunnel is a very meaningful undertaking, and from that point of view the role of the Unification Church is very important."
Does Vision 2020 provide a turning point in Korea - Japan relations?
The goal of the Unification Church is to bring world peace through inter-religious and international work. This is one of the tasks that Rev. Moon left behind him at his Seonghwa. After Rev. Moon's Seonghwa, Dr. Han has stated, "We must move forward without stopping," making it clear that this work will continue.
Dr. Han introduced her concrete mid and long-range plans in the ‘Vision 2020’ program. The goals of Vision 2020 are to reach six million members in Korea and ten million members worldwide by the year 2020, which is the 100th anniversary of Rev. Moon’s birth, the 60th anniversary of the Moon’s holy wedding. In order to reach these goals, 43 strategic countries have been chosen out of the 194 countries that have Unification Churches, and plans are to focus on expanding church membership in those 43 countries. The Asian countries include Nepal, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
Dr. Han said that the power that will accomplish this goal is the Japanese church members. Since the 1960s when Japanese missionaries were sent out, their dedicated work is recognized both inside and outside the church as a major contributing factor to the church’s success worldwide. Dr. Han said that the Japanese members must play a crucial in bringing victory in Vision 2020, and that she is depending on them. “It is the dedication and devotion of Japanese members that will make it possible to expand the membership of the Unification Church, and the Japanese members are very important to our future.”
This speaking tour to the important church regions in Japan announced to the Japanese members a new era in the church under the leadership of Dr. Han, and urged them to take positive action for victory. One Japanese church leader said, “We are standing on the frontline in worldwide missionary activities and as the Japanese members continue to work at the heart of the missionary force, and Dr. Han is supporting us to fulfill this responsibility. All the Japanese members will do our best to fulfill what Dr. Han has asked of us.”
Japanese Prime Minister Abe continues to follow policies of cool relations with Korea. Despite this, Dr. Moon continued with numerous civilian exchange programs to further Korea – Japan harmony, including large scale projects like the Korea – Japan tunnel, and the many kinds of projects he has carried out during the past half century preparing for the Pacific Rim era are receiving notice again today. We can expect further contributions to Korea- Japan relations from the Unification Church in upcoming years, now making a new start under Dr. Han.
Japanese people think that the focus of the Unification Principle on the family appeals to Japanese people, and is one reason that the Unification Church has a large following in Japan. Oyamada Hideo, Chairman of the Council for World Peace(left) and Aoyama Takashi, formerly of the Education and Science Ministry, were interviewed for this article.
(Photo 1) On October 16, Dr. Hak Ja Han delivers her message at the Tokyo area rally in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
(Photo 2) Dr. Han and Tokuno Eiji, President of the Unification Church in Japan, wave the church flag and greet the participants at the central region rally in Port Messe Nagoya on October 18.
(Photo 3) An endless line of Japanese participants who came for the central region rally in Nagoya October 18.
