PR Wire Overseas Distribution Version English Press Release — Final Copy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OHCHR Filing on Sony Jinja Case Amano Torifune Shrine Completed

[Kasama, Ibaraki, Japan] – May 21, 2026

Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha hereby announces that it has submitted information concerning the Sony Jinja Case to the OHCHR Special Procedures, and also reports that Amano Torifune Shrine was successfully completed and consecrated on May 7, 2026 as the culmination of a separate religious continuity and reconstruction project.

The Sony Jinja Case refers to a series of issues concerning the former Sony Jinja, including matters related to a religious covenant, continuity of rites, the removal and dismantling of the shrine building, and the return of sacred objects. According to the shrine, these issues raise concerns relating to freedom of religion or belief and the continuity of religious practice.

Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha has organized the relevant facts, chronology, and correspondence concerning the matter and submitted information to the OHCHR Special Procedures for consideration. At the same time, the shrine emphasizes that Amano Torifune Shrine is a separate matter and should not be confused with the Sony Jinja Case itself. Rather, Amano Torifune Shrine represents the outcome of a separate effort undertaken to preserve religious continuity after the disruption of the original religious framework.

As part of its efforts to clarify the matter, Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha also sent a written inquiry to Sony Group Corporation, requesting a written response by 5:00 p.m. on May 18, 2026. According to the shrine, no written response had been received by that deadline.

Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha further reports that Amano Torifune Shrine was successfully completed on May 7, 2026, and that a consecration ceremony was duly held on that day. The shrine regards this completion not as the resolution of the Sony Jinja Case itself, but as an important milestone demonstrating that the religious continuity project was brought to a successful conclusion.

For the avoidance of doubt, the shrine states that its submission to the OHCHR Special Procedures is an information submission under the Special Procedures communications system and does not mean that the United Nations or OHCHR has made a legal determination or finding of illegality in this case. OHCHR explains that communications are letters sent by Special Procedures experts to governments and other entities, and that the procedure is not quasi-judicial and does not give the experts power to enforce their views or recommendations.

Through this announcement, Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha seeks to clarify the facts surrounding the Sony Jinja Case, explain the status of its submission to the OHCHR Special Procedures, and report that the separate continuity and reconstruction project reached a tangible result with the completion of Amano Torifune Shrine.

Notes

“Sony Jinja Case” refers to the case concerning the former Sony Jinja and related issues including a religious covenant, continuity of rites, dismantling of the shrine structure, and the return of sacred objects.

Amano Torifune Shrine is a separate matter and is presented in this release as the outcome of a distinct religious continuity and reconstruction project.

The submission to the OHCHR Special Procedures is not presented as a legal ruling, a judicial finding, or a determination of illegality by the United Nations or OHCHR.

Reference on the Special Procedures communications system: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council/what-are-communications

Suggested Image Captions for Attachments

Image 1 — Exterior view of the former Sony Jinja. This image is not of Amano Torifune Shrine.

Image 2 — Amano Torifune Shrine, completed and consecrated on May 7, 2026.

Image 3 — Scene from the consecration ceremony of Amano Torifune Shrine on May 7, 2026.

Image 4 — Commemorative group photograph after the consecration ceremony of Amano Torifune Shrine.

Media Contact

Tadashige Takahashi

Hitachi-no-Kuni Izumo Taisha

Email: info@izumotaisha.or.jp

Phone: +81-296-74-3000

Address: 2006 Fukuhara, Kasama, Ibaraki 309-1634, Japan

Please direct all basic inquiries by email whenever possible.

Editing Notes Before Distribution

If desired, replace “May 21, 2026” with the actual overseas distribution date and time.

Keep the wording on OHCHR unchanged unless legal review requires narrower language.

Basic inquiries should be directed by email to info@izumotaisha.or.jp whenever possible.