The Worst Fabrication by Weekly Shincho ~Protesting the Article 'The Sins of Happy Science Academy' in Weekly Shincho~

In the November 15th (Thursday) issue of 'Weekly Shincho', an article defaming Happy Science Academy was published under the headline 'The Sin of Happy Science Academy Teaching 'Sakamoto Ryoma's Past Life was Liu Bei''. As the Director of Public Relations for the Happy Science Group, I hereby publish the following protest.

To begin with, as we have informed you before, Weekly Shincho published as many as four defamatory articles last year, leading the religious corporation Happy Science to file a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court seeking 200 million yen in damages for defamation. As one of the parties involved in the lawsuit, they cannot possibly provide fair reporting. Furthermore, Weekly Shincho's Editor-in-Chief Itsushi Sakai has refused interviews from the editorial department of the monthly magazine 'The Liberty' published by Happy Science Publishing, stating that Weekly Shincho recognizes 'your religious group as a cult', and continues to publish such articles with extreme prejudice. Editor-in-Chief Sakai should return to the basics of being an impartial journalist.

A Decisive Fabrication Headline: 'Nonsense Classes that Imprint Lies on Children'

Firstly, the article in question is a signed article by Mr. Yoshio Fujikura, who claims to be a journalist. There are many issues I personally felt, but I will raise a few points below to protest.

First of all, the catchphrase 'The Ministry of Education and the Prefecture Give Up! Nonsense Classes that Imprint Lies on Children!' is itself a 'nonsense catchphrase'. At the very least, Happy Science Academy uses textbooks and conducts classes in accordance with the curriculum guidelines. The phrase 'imprinting lies' is clearly defamatory. The article does not explain what is 'a lie' at all. Stories about past lives are religious truths, and if they claim this is 'a lie', they must prove it. If they cannot, then those who call the academy 'nonsense' are the ones speaking nonsense. At the very least, the fact that Happy Science Academy achieves top 20% results in national mock exams at prep schools is proof that they are providing education that is not nonsense.

A Malicious Substitution in Professor Momochi's Comment on 'Violation of the Basic Education Law'

Next, the headline states 'Violation of the Basic Education Law'. This is pointed out by Professor Akira Momochi of Nihon University's Faculty of Law. However, upon reading the main text carefully, it is in response to a question about 'historical education such as past lives'. When this question was received, the Public Relations Division responded to the Weekly Shincho editorial department and Mr. Fujikura,'While conducting education using textbooks and in accordance with the curriculum guidelines, we sometimes introduce the parts you pointed out (such as information about past lives) as a reference...'The response to Professor Momochi's question about 'historical education such as past lives' and our response that 'we sometimes introduce the parts you pointed out as a reference' are inconsistent. If they intentionally combined different questions and answers to conveniently create a headline, this is extremely dishonest to Happy Science Academy, Professor Momochi, and the readers of Weekly Shincho, and it constitutes fabrication. It gives the impression that the education conducted by Happy Science Academy is 'in violation of the Basic Education Law', as if it is very problematic, and I point out that it is defamatory.

Furthermore, upon confirmation with our group's external legal advisor, the view was that 'even if the topic of reincarnation was discussed in history classes, as long as it is not forced into exams, there is no problem'. I believe this is only natural.

The Maximum Fabrication Against Happy Science Academy: 'The Reality of Solitary Confinement'

Now, the article is headlined as if there is 'solitary confinement' at Happy Science Academy. Additionally, a person claiming to be a student's guardian is quoted as saying 'It's like a prison's solitary confinement punishment', and 'a certain female student also witnessed multiple instances of solitary confinement within the academy', and 'a solitary confinement experience' is written. It is as if there is 'solitary confinement', but in fact, there is no 'solitary confinement' at the academy, nor is there any 'solitary confinement punishment' like in a prison. Does this person claiming to be a student's guardian really exist? If they do exist, they are clearly someone who wants to give the academy the impression of being like a prison.

Moreover, the act of repeating the same words in this way to make it seem as if it is true is a very dirty tactic and should be condemned.

Additionally, the expression 'occult classes and political education that disregard objective facts' also ignores our response unilaterally. This is also a defamatory expression, and the expression 'and solitary confinement punishment rampant in the 'academy of fear'' is completely defamatory and insulting, as it implies that Happy Science Academy is an 'academy of fear' where solitary confinement punishment is rampant.

Based on the points mentioned above, our group will demand an apology and correction from the Weekly Shincho editorial department and Mr. Fujikura both verbally and by certified mail. We will also report on the future protest process, and if there is no apology or correction from Weekly Shincho and Mr. Fujikura, we will confirm the voices of the students and parents of Happy Science Academy and consider subsequent legal actions.

Weekly Shincho and Mr. Fujikura, Apologize to the Hurt Students

Finally, we sent the article by fax to the students and asked for their impressions, and they said things like 'Nonsense classes' or 'solitary confinement' or 'prison's solitary confinement punishment' are impossible', 'ridiculous', 'we are working hard on our studies and club activities, so stop saying things like this', and 'don't lump us together with Aum', and the students were hurt and felt resentment. Mr. Fujikura should know that the article he wrote hurt many students. Weekly Shincho and Mr. Fujikura should apologize to the hurt students.

Already, regarding Weekly Shincho, 'Research on the Demon Nesting in Weekly Shincho' and 'Weekly Shincho Editor-in-Chief: The Devil's Radioactive Contamination' have been published. We will have many people read them, make the reality of malicious journalism known to the world, and proceed with the eradication of evil and the promotion of justice.

Director of Public Relations, Happy Science Group, Nobuyuki Watanabe