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10. Dec 2003 Supreme Court
Rules Against Nichiren Shoshu For its Unlawful Dumping
of Cremated Remains |
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On Dec. 19th, Nikken Abe’s
birthday, the Supreme Court of Japan dismissed the appeal
made by Nichiren Shoshu pertaining to their unlawful dumping
of cremated remains.
In March 2000, four plaintiffs filed suit against Nichiren
Shoshu for damages over unlawful dumping of the cremated
remains of family members along with the remains of numerous
others. In April 2003, the Tokyo High Court ordered Taiseki-ji
to pay damages to each bereaved family. In response, Nichiren
Shoshu appealed to the Supreme Court.
It was revealed throughout the proceedings that not only
did Nichiren Shoshu mix ashes with numerous others, it
stuffed these ashes into used rice bags. Between 150 to
200 of these bags were then put into a hole dug within
Taiseki-ji temple grounds.
In its ruling, the Tokyo High Court noted that without
notifying any of the affected families, Nichiren Shoshu
planted cedar trees on top of the buried ashes and a general
memorial service was conducted. (SEE Soka Spirit e-Newsletter,
“Tokyo High Court Rules…”) Up to this
point, no facility appropriate for a burial site has been
set up. The Supreme Court upheld the order for Nichiren
Shoshu to pay consolation fees to the bereaved families.
This was the third time the Supreme Court ruled against
Nichiren Shoshu in 2003. In July, the Supreme Court ruled
against Nikken Abe for slandering a reformist priest.
And in September, the court ruled against Nikken Abe and
Nichiren Shoshu for spreading false rumors pertaining
to the “Seattle Incident.”
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(From Seikyo Shimbun,
December 20, 2003)
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