A Japanese court has upheld an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church, local media report.
Last year, a district court in Tokyo ordered the church disbanded after Japan's education and culture ministry accused it of manipulating followers into making huge donations.
On Wednesday, the Tokyo High Court denied the church's appeal and rejected its argument that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities.
The church, popularly known as the "Moonies", came under scrutiny after the shock assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
The man who shot Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, said he had held a grudge against the prime minister because of his ties with the Unification Church, which had bankrupted his family.
