Japan’s PM orders Unification church investigation as scandal engulfs party

Move marks a reversal for Fumio Kishida who was reluctant to scrutinise Moonies' connections with his own lawmakers

Japan's prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has ordered an investigation into the Unification church as he attempts to revive his political fortunes amid a scandal linking his party to the religious group.

Kishida had initially been reluctant to increase scrutiny of the church - whose members are colloquially known as Moonies - but on Monday his education minister, Keiko Nagaoka, said the probe would begin immediately". Depending on the outcome, the church could lose its tax-exempt status, media reports said.