JAPAN: Members of the Unification Church in Japan mourn the death of leader Sun Myung Moon

Record ID: 466695

  • Title: JAPAN: Members of the Unification Church in Japan mourn the death of leader Sun Myung Moon
  • Date: 3rd September 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 3, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ASSOCIATION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF WORLD CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN UNIFICATION CHURCH FLAG SIGN IN ENGLISH AND JAPANESE READING: "THE HOLY SPIRIT ASSOCIATION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF WORLD CHRISTIANITY (ASIA)" ALTAR WITH PEOPLE PAYING THEIR CONDOLENCES PORTRAIT OF LATE UNIFICATION CHURCH FOUNDER SUN MYUNG MOON WOMAN MAKING FAREWELL SPEECH VARIOUS OF INCENSE BURNING MORE OF WOMAN MAKING FAREWELL SPEECH PEOPLE PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 65-YEAR-OLD KIMIKO KANEKO SAYING: "I am very sad that he has passed away." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING DOWN WITH EYES CLOSED (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT 56-YEAR-OLD MAMORU KAMONO SAYING: "We were prepared for this but since this is the first time experiencing such a thing for all our church members, frankly, we are at a loss." PEOPLE SITTING AT ALTAR
  • Embargoed: 18th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA23AQ31EEH4BXPSHVSILDZ27RR
  • Story Text: Members of the Unification Church in Japan paid their respects to their late leader Sun Myung Moon on Monday (September 3), who has died at age 92.
    Church officials said Moon, 92, who had suffered complications from pneumonia, was taken to hospital in Seoul in mid-August and was moved to a hospital in a rural retreat last week when his family believed there was little chance of recovery.
    Moon's movement, known as the Unification Church, has 206 churches and 600,000 followers in Japan, according to the church.

    "I am very sad that he has passed away," said 65-year-old follower Kimiko Kaneko.

    "We were prepared for this but since this is the first time experiencing such a thing for all our church members, frankly, we are at a loss," said the director of public relations, Mamoru Kamono.
    Born in what is now North Korea in 1920, Moon founded the church soon after the Korean War that ended in 1953.
    He rapidly expanded the ministry internationally and built a business that served as the backbone of the empire.
    The Unification Church runs the Segye Times newspaper in South Korea and more than a dozen other firms along with overseas businesses, including the conservative Washington Times.
    Moon is survived by his wife - the pair are called "true parents" by followers - and 10 of their 13 children.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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