NAGOYA - A Japanese cleric was awarded Monday for his longtime efforts in making about 350 followers of the cult group known as the Unification Church withdraw their membership, award organizers said.
Makoto Sugimoto, 53, a cleric of Nishio church in Aichi Prefecture of the United Church of Christ in Japan, a Protestant Christian union, was given a human rights award by the Nagoya Bar Association. (Kyodo News)