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4. Feb. 2004 -- Supreme Court
Rejects Nichiren Shoshu’s Appeal Over “Geisha
Girls’ Pictures” |
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On Feb. 24, the Japanese
Supreme Court, Chief Judge Toshihiro Kanatani presiding,
rejected an appeal made by Nichiren Shoshu in a lawsuit
pertaining to Nikken Abe’s “Geisha pictures”
and the Soka Gakkai. The Court endorsed the ruling made
by the Tokyo High Court, signaling the priesthood’s
defeat.
After its defeat in the “Seattle Incident,”
the priesthood lost in “two major trials”
which they themselves filed. More than anything, the correctness
of the Soka Gakkai who accused the nature of Nikken Abe,
a degenerate high priest, was proven again in the court.
Nikken’s “Geisha pictures” were carried
in Soka Shimpo dated Nov. 4 and 18, 1992. These two pictures,
which were partially amended, were originally taken in
Nov. 22, 1986 at an expensive restaurant “Kawasaki,”
located in Akasaka, Tokyo where Nikken, together with
other priests, had an elaborate dinner with many geishas.
These pictures were published to condemn Nikken for his
frequent indulgences using followers’ offerings,
going completely against the doctrines established by
Nikko Shonin, the founder of the religion. Nikko clearly
stated for the high priest of Nichiren Shoshu to be one
whom “desires and is satisfied with little”
and admonished “spending time in idleness and chatter.”
In response, Nichiren Shoshu claimed in its organ publications
that Nikken did not own a pair of hakama (Japanese trousers)
with the design seen in the pictures and that the pictures
were composition in which the head was replaced with that
of another person. However, when the date, time and place
of the feast were clarified, there was no doubt that it
was actually Nikken in the pictures. In May 1993, rather
than Nikken himself, two corporation of “Nichiren
Shoshu” and “Taiseki-ji” filed a suit
as plaintiffs claiming that the reporting was libel and
demanded one billion yen (approx. $9 million), an excessive
amount in damages.
In the first hearing held on Dec. 6, 1999, the Tokyo District
Court agreed with the priesthood’s assertions, ordering
the Soka Gakkai to pay damages. The Soka Gakkai appealed
the Court’s decision, questioning whether the ruling
contravened judicial precedent.
In response, on Dec. 5, 2000, the Tokyo High Court agreed
that the contents of the article were “directed
at Nikken’s personal behavior and character”
and “questioned his qualification as a high priest.”
The Court also recognized that “condemning Nikken
Abe does not necessarily mean accusing appellees Nichiren
Shoshu and Taiseki-ji themselves,” claiming that
“in the history of Nichiren Shoshu, there were cases
in which the high priest was forced to resign due to violation
of doctrines and involvement in scandals which raised
questions within the priesthood about their qualification
as high priest. It was also a matter of course for high
priests to step down from their positions. Also, it can
be recognized that no one believed talking about or questioning
qualifications of the high priest was an attack against
Nichiren Shoshu, since these actions were taken to preserve
the correct law and Nichiren Shoshu.” Thus, the
court overruled the ruling made by the Tokyo District
Court, rejecting all claims made by the priesthood.
In short, the Tokyo High Court recognized that the purpose
of Soka Shimpo article was to bring about a discussion
on Nikken’s qualification as high priest, and the
Supreme Court confirmed this.
In court, the Soka Gakkai proved Nikken’s actual
degeneracy submitting concrete proofs, as well as verifying
the behavior of other officiating priests. On the contrary,
the priesthood was unable to rebut at all.
The High Court also ruled against Nikken’s cunningness
of making Nichiren Shoshu and Taiseki-ji as plaintiffs
to file a suit for his personal issue, afraid of appearing
in court.
In 2003, the Supreme Court, on two separate occasions,
ruled against Nikken. In July, a libel suit was brought
by chief priest Takudo Ikeda of the Association of Reformist
priest; and September, a libel suit was brought by the
Soka Gakkai regarding records of the “Seattle Incident.”
With this latest victory, the Soka Gakkai has won in every
trial with Nichiren Shoshu. Fourteen years after the hatching
of “Operation C,” the judicial arena has provided
an impartial and reputable forum for the Soka Gakkai to
receive justice.
This latest decision by the Supreme Court has also highlighted
the true nature of Nikken: an evil and corrupt priest
of an unprecedented sort. It has become clear that there
is no other way out for Nikken. He must resign.
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(From Seikyo Shimbun,
Feb. 26, 2004)
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