[Happy Science Won a Complete Victory in High Court] Regarding the High Court Ruling on the Gentosha-Published Book (Authored by Hiroshi)

Happy Science filed a defamation lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Gentosha Inc. (President Toru Kenjo) and Hiroshi Okawa, seeking damages, as our honor was damaged by the Gentosha-published book (authored by Hiroshi) and Hiroshi's statements on it on YouTube (filed on October 4, 2023).

On August 9, 2024, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of Happy Science, ordering Gentosha and Hiroshi to pay a total of 1.65 million yen in damages to our organization (1.1 million yen jointly by Gentosha and Hiroshi, and 550,000 yen by Hiroshi alone) and to delete his YouTube videos. Following this ruling, Gentosha and Hiroshi appealed, prompting Happy Science to file a cross-appeal seeking an increase in damages.

On January 15, 2025, in Happy Science’s cross-appeal in the appellate ruling, the Tokyo High Court dismissed the appeal both by Gentosha and Hiroshi. Therefore, the complete victory of Happy Science in the first-instance ruling at the Tokyo District Court was upheld.

In the district court ruling, multiple false statements by Hiroshi in his book and YouTube were recognized as lowering the social evaluation of Happy Science. Regarding the disputed points of truthfulness, it was acknowledged that Hiroshi’s statements were not true and that there was no reasonable basis to believe them to be true. This recognition was also upheld in the appellate ruling by the high court.

Furthermore, prior to the publication of the book, Happy Science had warned Gentosha that 1) many falsehoods in Hiroshi's statements had been repeatedly revealed through multiple lawsuits with Happy Science, and 2) appropriate background research and content verification were necessary when they publish the book. Nevertheless, Gentosha ignored this warning and published the book without conducting any background research on Happy Science, an act that went against publisher ethics. The result was a defeat for Gentosha and Hiroshi in the high court, following their defeat in the district court.

Happy Science strongly urges Gentosha and Hiroshi to accept the defeat in the appellate ruling sincerely, deeply reflect on themselves, and never desecrate faith, make false statements, or slander the sacred.

Public Relations Division, Happy Science Group