In Japan, where more than half the population follows no faith, organized religion and politics don’t mix. At least that’s what the public thought — until July 8, when a factory worker murdered ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the country’s most prominent politician.
The killer’s motive? He wanted to highlight an alliance between Japan’s elite politicians and a fringe Christian sect. As The World’s Patrick Winn reports from Tokyo, Japan is still trying to untangle the hidden web uniting their ruling party and what many consider a cult.
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