(TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE TEXT)


NOTICE OF APOLOGY

To the Soka Gakkai:

Photo of Hozumi Yano and Naoko Asaki Apology and  Mainichi shimbun article

Councilman Hozumi Yano and daughter Naoko Asaki's apology published in the May 31, 2002 issue of Higashi Murayama Shimin Shimbun

From the September 27, 1995 (No. 68) issue to the February 21, 1996 (No. 72) issue of the Higashi Murayama Shimin Shimbun, the newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Hozumi Yano and Assistant Editor Naoko Asaki published a series of articles alleging that your organization [Soka Gakkai] was involved in a "murder" of the late Higashi Murayama City Councilwoman Akiyo Asaki and fabricated her shoplifting case.

However, both allegations--that your organization was involved in a "murder" of the late Akiyo Asaki and in "fabricating" her shoplifting case--were baseless and the articles were contrary to facts. For the aforementioned articles having caused significant harm to Soka Gakkai's reputation, Hozumi Yano and Naoko Asaki express their sincere apologies.

December 26, 2001

Hozumi Yano
Naoko Asaki


[Note: As it appeared in the May 31, 2002 (No.126) issue of the Higashi Murayama Shimin Shimbun]

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