In a significant legal victory, 132 former members of the Unification Church in Japan have been awarded a groundbreaking settlement of 21 billion yen. The judgement was served as a resolution for the psychological distress and manipulation the former members experienced during their affiliation with the disputed religious group. Details surrounding the precise circumstances and reasons for the award are yet to be revealed.

Religious cults have long been a controversial subject in Japan, with many groups drawing severe criticism for manipulation and control over their members. Society often views victims of cult exploitation sympathetically. In legal circles, there is growing support for compensation claims related to psychological distress caused by such organizations.

Similar to Japan, in the US and EU, there is consistent criticism and legal action against coercive religious groups. However, the size of the settlement in Japan is notably large, indicative of the country's increasing crackdown on cult-related activities and its drive to protect victims' rights.