When Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an announcement Tuesday that the government would propose new legislation aimed at helping people who were financially exploited by religious groups, observers were caught by surprise.
“I have privately met with victims of the former Unification Church, and directly heard about their horrifying experiences,” Kishida told reporters. “As a politician, I felt my heart almost burst with grief.
“Based on progress we have made within the government on legislative planning and discussions among ruling and opposition parties, we will try our best to submit the bills during the current session of parliament.”