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Supreme Court Rules Against Shukan Gendai weekly magazine and the Asaki Family in Higashi Murayama Libel Suits
Court orders defendants to publish a retraction and apology in the weekly and pay 2 million yen in damages to the Soka Gakkai
The Higashi Murayama libel suits have finally been settled with a full victory for the Soka Gakkai.
The Soka Gakkai filed a libel suit against publisher Kodansha and Masahiko Motoki, former editor of its weekly Shukan Gendai, as well as Mr. Daito Asaki and his daughter Naoko, who contributed groundless defamatory comments to the weekly magazine. In that lawsuit, on October 29, 2002, Japan’s Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Kodansha and the Asakis (Motoki did not appeal) who had lost completely in the Tokyo High Court appeal. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision and ordered the defendants to publish a retraction and apology in the Shukan Gendai and pay 2 million yen in damages to the Soka Gakkai.
On July 19, 1999, the Tokyo District Court found former Shukan Gendai editor Masahiko Motoki and Kodansha publishing company guilty of libel. However, the Court dismissed Soka Gakkai’s claims against Daito and Naoko Asaki. Both plaintiff and the Kodansha defendants appealed.
On May 15, 2001, the Tokyo High Court completely upheld Soka Gakkai’s appeal and ruled that Daito and Naoko Asaki were also liable for their statements.
The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the High Court’s decisions and the lawsuit was closed with the Soka Gakkai’s complete victory.
In fact, not only Shukan Gendai but also another weekly, Shukan Shincho, was sued by Soka Gakkai on similar grounds. In May 2001, the Tokyo District Court also found publisher Shinchosha and the editor of its weekly Shukan Shincho, Hiroshi Matsuda, guilty of libel and ordered them to pay 2 million yen (Shinchosha did not appeal).
Through these lawsuits and the decisions made by the Supreme Court, the libel and rumor mongering by some media and individuals who harbor antagonism toward the Soka Gakkai has become a matter of permanent public record.
(Summary of Seikyo Shimbun article, November 1, 2002)
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