Chief Minister met Leader of Tenri-kyo
On 2 November, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake visited the headquarters of Tenri-kyo to meet the Most Rev. Masahiko Iburi who is Chief Administrative Officer of Tenri-kyo and exchange opinions.
 the Most Rev. Iburi; right end, and the Most Rev. Miyake; second from left |
At first , they prayed at the sacred hall (Shin-den) and in front of the founder's alter (Kyoso-den) in the headquarter building that is the biggest religious building in Japan. Then they had an over lunch meeting. They talked what the relationship was between belief and construction of building called "Oyasato Yakata" that would be completed after 100 years construction, how should be the issues related to the hospital run by Tenri-kyo and transplant from brain-dead body, and how they should operate their religious organization and enlighten people.
Rev. Miyake and Rev. Iburi, who was from a noble family of Tenri-kyo, cooperated as staffs in secretariat of the 1st World Assembly of WCRP held in Kyoto 30 years ago. At that time, Rev. Miyake served as Director of management section. Since then they had kept good friendship.
Review Meeting of the Millennium Peace Summit
On 7 November, a meeting was held in Kyoto in order to review the Millennium Peace Summit held in last August at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake attended on behalf of the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake. Mr. Bawa Jain, General Secretary of the Summit and 3 members from abroad were invited the meeting. Mr. Jain expressed his appreciation to Japanese religious groups for their splendid contribution. The discussion was very active and significant leaded by the Very Rev. Munemichi Kurozumi, Deputy Chief Priest of Kurozumi-kyo, one of the sectarian Shinto.
 Rev. Miyake; left end, Rev. Kurozumi; next, and Mr. Jain; right end) |
Mr. Jain proposed that the Millennium Summit should be a "permanent organization" not an irregular event, that would hold meeting every decade at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in order to clarify the global issues and give opinions to the UN from the view point of religious people. Against his suggestion, Mr. Kimitoshi Kono, Under Secretary General of WCRP/Japan discussed how to distinguish existing inter-religious organizations and the Millennium Summit as a permanent organization. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake also made some important proposals.
Thanks Giving Service was held
On 23 November, Thanks Giving Service was held leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Konko Church of Izuo. This service aims to thank the harvest for Tenchikane-no-Kami by offering vegetable or fruit to Kami. Great amount of harvest of this fall was offer by believers who have fields mostly in Hyogo Prefecture or Wakayama Prefecture.
Miyake Welcomed the Former President of Costa Rica
On 27 November, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, and his wife, Mrs. Sugako Miyake, hold a dinner inviting H.E. Rodrigo Carazo, the former President of Costa Rica, and his wife, Mrs. Estrella Carazo, who were visiting Japan in order to attend WCRP(World Conference on Religion and Peace) 30th memorial ceremony.
 H.E. Carazo and the Most Rev. Miyake |
The Most Rev. Miyake and H.E. Carazo have had friendly relationship since 8 years ago. At that time, the most reverend visited Costa Rica in order to attend the ceremony of laying the cornerstone for the building named after the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, then Senior Chief Minister, at the United Nations Peace University. The former President Carazo, welcomed the most reverend and his wife warmly.
In spite, Costa Rica locates in the Central America where is politically unstable region, she has peaceful constitution, moreover, has no army. H.E. Carazo invited the UN Peace University to promote this spirit, and the late Rev. Toshio Miyake provided seed money with sympathy.
 Dinner with the Japanese Cuisine |
Rev. Miyake invited H.E. Carazo to Japanese traditional restaurant in Kyoto to express his appreciation for 8 years ago. They discussed how to realize the world peace, how H.E. Albert Fujimori, resigning President of Peru, would be, and the political situations in Japan and the USA, as well as history and culture of Japan and Costa Rica for almost 4 hours. They also enjoyed splendid dinner and beautiful autumn scenery in Kyoto.
WCRP 30th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony
 memorial ceremony at the main hall |
On 27 and 28 November, WCRP (World Conference on Religion and Peace) 30th anniversary memorial ceremonies such as symposium, reception, lecture, and so on were held at the Kyoto International Conference Hall where WCRP had been born. About 2500 religious leaders and scholars gathered from home and abroad. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, an honorary president of WCRP/Int'l, his family, and 200 believers took part in from Konko Church of Izuo.
 symposium held at the sub hall |
On 27 November, the meaningful discussion about how religious people promote the solution of conflicts was conducted with Ven. Gijun Sugitani, Secretary General of WCRP/Japan, in the chair. Before the discussion, suggestive keynote speeches were offered by splendid speakers including Dr A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder of Salvodaya Movement, H.E. R. Carazo, the former President of Costa Rica, and Mr. Y. Akashi, the former Under Scretary General of the United Nations.
 Rev. T. Miyake made a toast at the reception |
In the evening, a memorial reception was held moderated by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Izuo Church and a board member of WCRP/Japan, at Prince Hotel beside the conference hall inviting distinguished guests from religious society including the Most Ven. Koshin Otani, Monsh (Patriarch) of Jodoshin-shu Hongwanji School. The Most Ven. Eshin Watanabe, Zasu (Patriach) of Tendai-shu, and H.E. Carazo delivered a greeting address. Then the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake made a toast describing that he also made a toast for 1st World Assembly of WCRP 30 years ago.
 H.E. Carazo and Rev. M.Miyake serving as a M.C |
On 28 November, memorial ceremony was held at the conference hall with the attendance of many distinguished religious guests such as the Most Rev. Zen'e Nakayama, the former Shinbashira (Patriarch) of Tenri-kyo. At first, a video program was offered for half an hour to review the 30-year history of WCRP. Then Seichi Cardinal Shiroyanagi, Chair of Board of WCRP/Japan, made an opening address appreciating the great achievement of founders of WCRP, the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, Founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, and the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo.
 Rev. T.Miyake talking with Rev. N.Niwano and Rev. Z.Nakayama |
Dr. H. Schmidt, the former Chancellor of the F.R.Germany, gave a lecture how to coexist overcoming differences, for one and a half hours. After Dr. Schmidt left the Chancellor office, he served as Chairman of "OB Summit" actively. So he talked passionately about the expectable world in the future and the role that religious people should play, through his experience that he had leaded to reconstruct Germany from World War Ⅱ and to put an end to the cold war.
At the end of the ceremony, many youth members who would lead the 21st century came up to the stage. They swore to succeed to the efforts made by their predecessors and expressed their hope toward the future of human society. In closing, all the participants sung together "Chorus" of "Symphony No.9" composed by L.V.Beethoven.