Japan: Falun Dafa Association and All Practice Sites in Japan Receive Many Calls after Official Recognition of the Association

On the 27th of August, 2004, the Falun Dafa Association of Japan was formally recognised as a non-profit organisation (NPO), attracting attention from all circles. According to The Epoch Times, after the news was disclosed, many telephone calls were made to the contact persons of the Falun Dafa Association and to all the Falun Gong exercise practice sites that are listed on Japan's Falun Dafa website. Falun Dafa practitioners say that it has helped Japanese people understand more about Dafa.

The press conference venue	A member of the Falun Dafa Association exposes the staged Tiananmen self-immolation incident for reporters.	Reporters learn more about Falun Gong

On the afternoon of the 2nd of September, 2004, the Falun Dafa Association of Japan held a press conference in a community centre in Tokyo where they disclosed the details and background of the NPO application. The association also answered questions about the staged Tiananmen self-immolation incident, the shooting of a practitioner from Australia who went to South Africa to sue Zong Qinghong, the worldwide lawsuits against former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and so on. Many reporters were present to cover the event, including Fuji Television Network, Inc, Japan Telecasting Network, Nippon Television Network Corp, New Tang Dynasty TV Station, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Asahi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun Co., Kyodo News, The Yomiuri Shimbun and The Epoch Times.

The Director of the association said that they had filed the application twice in 1999 and 2001. Tokyo did not approve the application because it was "hard to prove it was not a religious organisation". In May of 2004, the Falun Dafa Association in Japan filed the application a third time. The Falun Dafa Association specifically declared that the mission of the association is to "popularise qigong¹, to improve the health of body and mind and to cultivate noble and moral values. The association will never get involved in any political assembly or religious activities." The Japanese government indicated that, "judging from the application profile, the association does not have any political context and preferences, nor does the association have any religious context and inclination; therefore, the application meets the necessary legal conditions." The recognition was official on the afternoon of August the 27th.

A member of the association said that in each of the three applications, the Chinese Embassy in Japan exerted pressure on Tokyo and asked them not to approve the Falun Dafa Association registration application. The governor of Tokyo expressed his surprise and disapproval of the embassy's interference on many occasions.

The director said that the recognition has significant meaning. It will help Japanese people to quickly learn more about Falun Gong and will have an impact on China. The association hoped that through the internet the news of the acknowledgement of Falun Gong in Japan would become known in China. Japan made the right decision.

It was also learnt that many people in China called their relatives in Japan and asked for information about Falun Gong in Japan.

The reporters asked a lot of questions and the press conference lasted for an hour and twenty minutes.

Note:

1. Qigong - traditional Chinese exercises for cultivating "qi" or "vital energy"