Regarding the Defamation Lawsuit Against Bungeishunju and Former Believer, Our Religious Organization Wins the Verdict

In July last year, 2012, our religious organization filed a lawsuit seeking damages against Bungeishunju Ltd., which publishes Weekly Bunshun, and a former believer (Mr. Osamu Tanemura) for significantly defaming us with headlines and articles that were completely unfounded. Today, Thursday, August 29, the Tokyo District Court delivered a ruling in favor of our religious organization, ordering Bungeishunju (former believer) to pay 2 million yen in damages.

This lawsuit was filed in response to the publication of fabricated content in the July issue of Weekly Bunshun last year (July 19, 2012 issue), and the court revealed the sloppy investigative stance of Weekly Bunshun, which did not conduct thorough background research.

In the ruling, it was determined that there was no adequate evidence to support the situation in which Mr. Tanemura, the defendant, claimed to have heard the story, that it was unnatural, and that the credibility of the testimony was difficult to recognize.

As a result, it became clear that the article based on Mr. Tanemura's statements in the July issue of Weekly Bunshun last year (July 19, 2012 issue) was completely fabricated and lacked credibility, just as our religious organization claimed.

As a group, we hope that Weekly Bunshun will humbly accept this ruling recognizing the sloppy investigative content and come to understand the importance of reverence for Buddha and gods, as well as the importance of faith.

Happy Science Group Public Relations Division