The government has launched an investigation into the Unification Church in response to public outrage over its links to the ruling party.

Japan opened an investigation into the Unification Church on Tuesday, which might jeopardize its legal standing, following the killing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July, which revealed the church's strong links to the ruling party and sparked public outrage.

The inquiry may be devastating for the Unification Church, which was formed in South Korea in 1954 and relies heavily on its Japanese adherents for income. Its tax ....