National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (Japan)

ICSA bestows the Herbert L. Rosedale Award "in recognition of leadership in the effort to preserve and protect individual freedom." This year, we are honored to give the Herbert L. Rosedale Award to Japan’s National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales. This is a network of approximately 300 Japanese attorneys from across the country established in May, 1987. Originally, the network’s focus was on helping victims of spiritual sales perpetrated by the Unification Church, but members of the network also help other victims of cultic groups. Collectively, the attorneys in this network have sought justice for thousands of victims and won hundreds of millions of dollars in and out of court for victims of cultic groups. The network also offers advice and assistance to central and municipal government agencies, private corporations, schools, concerned citizens, and others. Moreover, many have advocated for victims at great risk to themselves.

Members of this network who have attended recent ICSA conferences include:

Higashi, Reiko

Hirata, Hiroshi

Kito, Masaki*

Nakamura, Shuuji*

Takimoto, Taro*

Yamaguchi, Hiroshi

Yamaguchi, Takashi*

*Present at 2008 annual conference at the University of Pennsylvania to receive the award from ICSA on behalf of the Network.