Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, on Thursday appealed a lower court decision rejecting his defamation suit against a magazine.
Yamasaki, who filed the appeal with the Tokyo High Court following Monday's ruling by the Tokyo District Court, is seeking compensation over a story concerning his alleged mistress.
The district court rejected Yamasaki's demand for 50 million yen in damages from Bungeishunju Ltd., which publishes the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, stating that there are reasons to believe the story in question is true or seems to be true.
The magazine reported April 8, 2002, that his alleged mistress was involved in the Unification Church, a controversial religious group. The report stated that his relationship was careless and questioned whether he was fit to be a lawmaker.
The cultlike group, known for its mass weddings, has often stirred controversy across the globe.
Its members are commonly referred to as "Moonies," after its founder, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.