Rev. Mitsuo Miyake Attended the Memorial Service in Pearl Harbor
On 7 December, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, attended the memorial service sponsored by the US Navy, for those who had been killed when the Japan Imperial Navy bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941.
Rev. Miyake has taken part in this ceremony every time for 3 years. This year, he attended as a representative of WFM (World Federalist Movement) Japan Religionist Committee with Chair of the Committee, the Most Venerable Eiki Ikeda, the former Chief Abbott of Nakayamadera Sect of Shingon-shu).
The ceremony was opened with an address made by Director of the USS Arizona Memorial Hall, a battleship that was attacked and sunk with more than 1100 crews, and closed with a pray served by Ven. Ikeda.
 Rev. Miyake offering Konko prayer |
Another memorial service was held by representatives of Japanese religionists. Then Rev. Mitsuo Miyake offered Konko prayer expressing condolence and hoping world peace in the memorial service held at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Board of International Religious Fellowship of Osaka was held
On 21 December, International Religious Fellowship of Osaka (IRFO) held 4th board of directors meeting of the year of 2000 at Rihga Royal Hotel.
First of all, Chair of the board, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, made an opening address. Then secretariat reported about programs carried out in 2000.
Tow lectures were held in 2000. In February, Dr Tetsuo Yamaori, President of Kyoto University of Art and Design Graduate School, who is an authority of religious folklore, made a lecture at the IRFO conference. In June, Attoney Katsuhiro Ueda, the chief of the defense counsel of victims of cult business in Osaka gives a lecture at the IRFO conference. In October, Japan-Korea Religious Consultation held 30th commemorative meeting inviting more than 30 religious leader from South Korea. In November, many members took part in the 30th commemorative ceremony of WCRP (World Conference of Religion and Peace) held at Kyoto National Conference Hall.
Then a statement of accounts was reported and programs for 2001 were discussed. It was notable that Korea would also hold the 30th commemorative meeting of Korea-Japan Religious Consultation in June 2001 in Seoul.
 talking actively about 21 century at a year-end party |
After the board of directors meeting, they had a year-end banquet. Ven. Megumu Sato, Chair of the board of Otani Gakuen High School (the former Minister of Justice of the Japanese Government), made a toast and members deepened companionship each other.
Meeting of 400-day toward 75th commemorative ceremony
On 23 December, the meeting of 400-day toward 75th commemorative ceremony of Konko Church of Izuo was held from early morning. Izuo Church has continued "500-day practice toward 75th Ceremony" since 14 September 2000 in order to cerebrate that 75 years will have past on 27 January 2002, since the late Rev. Toshio Miyake started missionary work at Izuo.
Following the ordinary early morning service, the meeting was held. Some representatives of believers expressed their decision to pursuit the faith toward 75th commemorative ceremony.
It was very meaningful that on this day in 1950, Senza-sai (the ceremony that Goshintai, spirit of deity, is transferred from old shrine to new shrine at midnight) was served, because Izuo Church was so flourished that all the believers could hardly gather in the former shrine. All the attendance found that the late reverend who served as Senior Chief Minister for 72 years just to solve people had strong will to cerebrate the 75th commemorative day.
Chief Minister visited Myodo-kai
On 25 December, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of the Church, visited Myodo-kai (a lay Buddhist organization) which had just concluded the construction of headquarters' facility.
Rev. Keiji Sahara, President of Myodo-kai, had cooperated with Izuo Church for 30 years. He visited Korea with the late Rev. Toshio Miyake in order to resolve discords and promote understanding between Japanese and Korean religious people.
 Rev. Sahara (right) and Rev. Miyake |
Rev. Tatsuo Miyake who also served as President of Japan-Korea Religious Consultation, expressed his appreciation for Rev. Sahara's contribution and asked to continue cooperation to International Religious Fellowship of Osaka. These two reverends were same age and had same background as the first successor of a religious organization so they talk very friendly.
Chief Minister visited Shitenno-ji Temple
On 25 December, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of the Church, visit of courtesy for the Most Ven. Eitetsu Yoshida, the 108th Chief Abbott of Shitenno-ji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan which established at 6th Century by Prince Shotoku.
Shitenno-ji Temple and Izuo Church had had deep relationship for decades through the activities of International Religious Fellowship of Osaka and Osaka Association of Religious Women. The representatives from Izuo Church visited Shitenno-ji Temple several times in 2000; on the occasion of inaugural ceremony of 108th Chief Abbott Yoshida in May, when delegation of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) came to Japan in June, and when representatives of Korean religious organizations came to Japan to attend the 30th commemorative ceremony of Japan-Korea Religious Consultation in October. On the other hand, former Chief Abbotts, the Most Ven. Sonkyo Takito and the Most Ven. Zenro Morita, took part in the first Memorial Service of the late Rev. Toshio Miyake in August. Ven. Takito also attended 30th commemorative ceremony of Japan-Korea Religious Consultation as a keynote speaker in October.
 Ven. Yosida(right end), Rev. Tatsuo Miyake(center) and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake |
Izuo Church is on duty of the Japan Liaison Committee (JLC) of IARF (International Association for Religious Freedom) in 2001. So Rev. Miyake visited Shitenno-ji Temple with Rev. Yukitaka Yamamoto, Chief Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine that is counterpart in 2000, in order to ask sustainable support of Shitenno-ji Temple. They discuss about the management of their organization.
Chief Minister Attended the Symposium of CORMOS
On 26 and 27 December, CORMOS (Conference on Religion and Modern Society ) held the 47th research conference at Kyoto International Hotel. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, took part in the symposium from Konko Church of Izuo.
 distinguished members attended the symposium |
CORMOS was established by the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Chief Minister of Izuo Church, the late Prof. Keiji Nishitani of the University of Kyoto, and the late Prof. Toshimasa Doi of NCC's (Nippon Council of Churches) Center for the Study of Japanese Religions in 1971. It is such a unique organization that it offers opportunities for prominent scholars and religious leaders to exchange their opinions. Because it aims to tackle with problems occurred by the modern society and support academically the interfaith dialogue such as WCRP (World Conference of Religion and Peace) promotes in order to realize worldwide eternal peace. Izuo Church has supported the management of CORMOS serving as a permanent executive charging in finance field for 30 years.
 the Most Ven. Otani made a keynote speech |
On 26 December, the symposium was held. Dr. Hideyasu Nakagawa, President of CORMOS and Chancellor of Otsuma Gakuen University, and the Most Ven. Koshin Otani, Monshu (Patriarch) of Jodoshin-shu (Pure Land Buddhism) Hongwanji School, made a keynote speech.
Then under the theme of "Challenge for the Secular Society", meaningful suggestions were offered by Prof. Kenji Ishii of Kokugakuin University, Prof. Emeritus Jan Swyngedouw of Nanzan University, Prof. Eiki Hoshino of Taisho University, Prof. Masako Keta of the University of Kyoto, and Prof. Susumu Shimazono of the University of Tokyo. At the following banquet, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake proposed a toast representing Izuo Church.
 Rev. Tatsuo Miyake proposed a toast at the banquet |
On 27 December, the panel discussion was held with the theme of "Philosophy and Ethics of Life." Prof. Yasuharu Oshima of Kwansai University, Prof. Motohiro Yoritomi of International Institute for the Japanese Culture, Prof. Shin Matsumoto of Eichi University, Assistant Prof. Akira Kaneko of Tenri University, and Rev. Yasushi Saito, researcher of Oomoto served as panelists. At the end of the conference, the plenary session was held moderated by President Yoshiaki Iisaka of Seigakuin University Graduate School.