Kogensha
Japanese publisher of books and magazines tied to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), also producing video and internet media.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Kogensha (株式会社光言社) is a Japanese publishing company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, that handles books and magazines associated with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the former Unification Church. Its origins lie in the Japanese edition of the church's foundational text, the Divine Principle (『原理講論』), which was published on 2 October 1967; the company itself was established as an organization on 5 April 1968 and reorganized as a stock company (kabushiki gaisha) on 1 March 1983. The company describes its mission as disseminating information through all forms of media, and its catalogue centers on doctrinal works, devotional texts, church history, and educational materials for believers. Kogensha's business spans publishing, video planning and production, and sales. It operates an online shop, electronic book services, and multimedia offerings. Historically it ran the church-linked satellite and later internet program U-ONE TV, and it has published periodicals including the monthly Seiyaku no Kane (later Seito and then Family), the quarterly Blessing (later Blessed Family), the monthly Shintenchi (later Graph Shintenchi), the tabloid Chūwa Shimbun, and the monthly Today's World Japan (later Sekai Katei). In the 1970s it also ran Aimi Shoten, a bookstore selling church-related books and magazines. The company is closely intertwined with the church's Japanese organization. Its headquarters are in the Totsune Building in Udagawacho, Shibuya, and the adjacent Miyasaka Building houses the Aimi Shoten bookstore on the first floor and the church's Shibuya Family Church on other floors. The church's headquarters building is nearby in Shoto. Kogensha's leadership has included figures connected to the church, and it remains a private, non-listed company with stated capital of 50 million yen and around 31 employees. In the 2020s Kogensha continued to produce media responding to public scrutiny of the church, including a YouTube channel launched in August 2022 titled 'Our Perspective on Reports about the Former Unification Church.' It also maintains a multi-page chronology of the church's history on its website. The company thus functions as the principal publishing and media arm of the Unification Church movement in Japan.
History
Kogensha's history begins with the publication of the Japanese edition of the Divine Principle (『原理講論』), the systematized exposition of the Unification Principle elucidated by Sun Myung Moon. The Japanese edition appeared on 2 October 1967, and this is treated as the company's founding point. On 5 April 1968, Kogensha was established as an organization. In June 1968 it launched the monthly magazine Seiyaku no Kane (『成約の鐘』). Through the 1970s the company expanded its publishing and retail activities. In October 1973 it launched the quarterly Blessing (『祝福』). In February 1974 it opened Aimi Shoten (『愛美書店』), a bookstore selling church-related books and magazines, and launched the monthly Shintenchi (『新天地』). In July 1974 the monthly Seito (『聖徒』) was created by renaming Seiyaku no Kane, and in April 1976 it was renamed again as Family (『ファミリー』). In January 1978 Kogensha launched the tabloid newspaper Chūwa Shimbun (『中和新聞』). In February 1980 a video shooting studio was established. On 1 March 1983 Kogensha was incorporated as a stock company (株式会社), with the video division spun off as a separate company. In June 1985 the head office moved to the Totsune Building. In October 1989 the separate video company began a communications satellite program called Universal One Television (U-ONE TV). In February 1993 Kogensha established a new video division and took over the operation of U-ONE TV. In May 1993 it began the 'Clan Church FAX-NEWS' service. In June 1996 the quarterly Blessed Family (『祝福家庭』) was created by renaming Blessing. In January 2000 the monthly Graph Shintenchi (『グラフ新天地』) was created by renaming Shintenchi and converting it to a graphic magazine. In May 2000 the Kogensha Online Shop opened. In August 2007 Kogensha Multimedia Service (KMS) began, integrating U-ONE TV and the Clan Church FAX-NEWS. In August 2009 KMS Chūwa Shimbun was created by abolishing the tabloid and integrating it into KMS. In October 2009 the monthly Today's World Japan was launched, merging and renaming Family and Graph Shintenchi. In January 2010 the ordering and shipping system of the Kogensha Online Shop was automated. In October 2011 KMS services were expanded and the website renewed, integrating the KMS website and the Kogensha Online Shop; the Chūwa Shimbun blog version also began, and in December 2011 it was renamed Chūwa Shimbun Online. In December 2014 the Kogensha e-book service began, with an e-book reader app released. In October 2015 the monthly Sekai Katei (『世界家庭』) was created by renaming Today's World Japan. In January 2016 the website was substantially renewed and a video viewing app released; U-ONE TV was renamed from KMS Video, and Chūwa Shimbun from KMS Chūwa Shimbun. In February 2017 the LINE@ Kogensha Information service began. In February 2018 the comprehensive information app 'Blessed Life' launched. In the 1990s Kogensha became involved in a notable controversy: on 10 December 1991 the Christian Book General Catalogue Publication Association published the Christian Book General Catalogue No. 3, 1992 edition, which listed 43 Kogensha titles. On 25 January 1992 the United Church of Christ in Japan's Unification Principle Problem Liaison Committee and the Kyushu District's 'Principle Movement' Countermeasures Committee submitted a request to the association demanding a protest and statement of responsibility. Because the print run was 20,000 copies, the cost of recall was considerable and the matter became a major issue. Tohan, which handled editorial work, explained that it had dealings with Kogensha and, given freedom of expression and publication, could not refuse to list the titles. In August 2022 Kogensha opened a YouTube channel titled 'Our Perspective on Reports about the Former Unification Church.' The company's official website also publishes a seven-page chronology of the Unification Church from 1920 to the present, titled 'The History of True Parents and the Unification Movement.'
Japanese edition of the Divine Principle published; treated as the company's founding point.
Kogensha established as an organization.
Monthly magazine Seiyaku no Kane launched.
Quarterly Blessing launched.
Aimi Shoten bookstore opened; monthly Shintenchi launched.
Monthly Seito created by renaming Seiyaku no Kane.
Monthly Family created by renaming Seito.
Tabloid newspaper Chūwa Shimbun launched.
Video shooting studio established.
Incorporated as Kogensha Co., Ltd.; video division spun off.
Products and positioning
Publisher and media arm of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan, focused on doctrinal, devotional, and church-related content.
『原理講論』日本語版
Japanese edition of the Unification Church's foundational text, published 2 October 1967; the starting point of Kogensha.
月刊「世界家庭」
Monthly magazine, renamed from Today's World Japan in October 2015.
中和新聞
Church news medium launched as a tabloid in January 1978; later integrated into KMS and renamed.
U-ONE TV
Satellite then internet program operated by Kogensha from 1993; later renamed.
光言社オンラインショップ
Online store opened in May 2000.
光言社電子書籍サービス
E-book service begun in December 2014 with a reader app.
TENJINCA 黎明の章 カードゲーム
A card game sold through the Kogensha portal.
Controversies
Christian Book General Catalogue listing controversy (1991–1992)
Sources4 sources
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