International Coalition for Religious
Freedom
Field Report
The Kidnap Ministry: Japans Hidden Crime Against Religious
Liberty
Appendix C
Photographs
(photos for the following captions will be posted soon)
Professional faith-breakers confine victims in specially prepared apartments like these pictured above. This
apartment is located in Karaotsu City, Saga Prefecture. The second, third, fourth and fifth floor apartments on
the right side have metal bars on the windows. At least two of them were used as prisons for UC-J members.
Reverend Mamoru Takazawas Rehabilitation Center for members of New Religious Movements. Left: The chapel where
his congregation worships (Kirisuto-kyo Kobe Shin). Right: The apartments where his mind-control victims are
deprogrammed. The entire compound is surrounded by a seven-foot high cement wall. In the past, less cooperative
patients jumped from windows as high as six floors to escape treatment. Takazawa installed iron bars (see arrow)
to discourage such drastic action.
Hisayo Hashimoto with her husband, Hideyuki, and eldest child, after escaping from Minister Takazawafs prison.
Hisayo was kidnaped and seperated from her husband for 85 days (from 10/18/94 until 1/9/95). During her confinement,
Minister Mamoru Takazawa visited her and tried to break her faith. He also tried to persuade Hisayofs family
to kidnap and confine Hideyuki.
Mariko Ono (b. 1969) with her husband. On November 18, 1995, a group of 18 people abducted Ono, transported her
over 50 miles to Karatsu City, and locked her in a house of detainment. On March 25, 1997, two passerbys saw "SOS"
on her window, pried off the metal bars, broke the glass, and helped her escape. Ono was confined for a total of
one year and four months.
Kidnap Victim Rie Imari and her husband, Tomoya one year after she escaped from UCCJ Minister Yoshio Shimizufs
prison. Imari was walking through a parking lot when several people grabbed her and carried her into a van. Tomoya
tried to help his wife but the kidnappers held his hands and shoulders and pressed him against the ground. She
was missing for five months (1/10/97-6/9/97). She and her husband are now plaintiffs in a civil law suit against
Yoshio Shimizu.
Hiroko Tomizawa with her husband five months after she escaped confinement. Hiroko was kidnapped and separated
from her husband for over one year (from 6/7/97 until 9/15/98). While in confinement a Christian Minister tried
to persuade her to break her marriage.
Myonsop No, UC Minister, was injured while attempting to protect his church member from a kidnapping. One of the
twenty assailants that invaded his church shocked him with an electric stun gun four times. Here he shows the
burns on his chest.
Akemi Suzuki (b. 1972) with her fiancé. On October 22, 1997, Suzuki was kidnapped, transported to Koto-ku,
Tokyo, and locked in a sixth-floor apartment. Although she escaped 18 days later, Japanese Police arrested her
without charges and brought her against her will to a second prison.
Rumi Matsuda at her house of detention in Kumamoto City. The sign in her hand reads "HELP ME!" Photograph
by Keiji Uchida, UC-J member. (See chronology)
CHRONOLOGY
1997
12.15 Rumi disappears after leaving Kumomoto Church
1998
1.22 Rumi writes first letter asking for help
2.4 Rumi writes second letter asking for help
2.7 Keiji Uchida, member UC-J, receives first letter from Rumi
2.13 Rumi writes third letter asking for help
2.14 Keiji receives second and third letter from Rumi
2.17 Keiji visits house of detention and takes picture (above)
Keiji witnesses Hideki Nagao, Minister Jesus Christ Church of Japan, leaving the house of detention.
2.22 Five Japanese Police came to the house of detention and ordered Keiji "Leave this place and never
come back."
2.26 Keji hired Kimio Shirotani, Attorney at Law.
2.27 Shirotani applied for a Writ of Habeas Corpus (WHC) from the Kumamoto District Court (KDC).
3.6 KDC has first trial but does not summon Rumi.
4.14 KDC has second trial.
Rumi appeares in the KDC and declares her apostasy.
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