Unification Church: How Japan politicians counted on members’ vote

TOKYO — The July 8 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has make clear the connection between the controversial Unification Church and Japanese politicians.

The church’s vote-gathering energy and its members’ willingness to volunteer on the marketing campaign path was alluring to politicians. For the church, formally often known as the Household Federation for World Peace and Unification, displaying its affiliation to well-known politicians helped bolster its credibility.