Despite admonitions by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to its prefectural chapters not to field candidates in the April unified local elections with ties to the Unification Church, at least two slipped through the cracks.
Abe and his party's connection with the Unification Church and the organisation's habit of rendering followers destitute with monetary demands have a role to play.
Since the suspect in the slaying of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed a grudge against the Unification Church, the relationship between the organization and the ruling Liberal Democrat Party is increasingly coming to light.