Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Izuo Church, offered Konko Prayer in front of the grave for the late Rev. Toshio Miyake who is the founder of Izuo Church, then the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, gave a salmon.

Some　Believers of Izuo Church at the front of Grand Worshipping Hall

They attended the Grand Service for Tenchi Kane-no-Kami (Principle Parent of the Universe) and received audience from the Patriarch Konko-sama the V. Before they left Konko-town, they went to the Founder Konko Daijin's sacred grave to pay their respects.

The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake and his congregations chant Konko Prayer in front of the Founder's sacred grave

2) 112th JLC was held at Izuo Church
On 18 April, the 112th Japan Liaison Committee (JLC) of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) was held at Konko Church of Izuo. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, the Rt. Rev. Yukitaka Yamamoto, Chief Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine, and the Rt. Rev. Takeshi Nishida, President of Ittoen attended with other members.

JLC is organized by Rissho Kosei-kai, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, Itto-en, Shitenno-ji Temple, Japan Free Religion Network, Japan Chapter of IARF and Konko Church of Izuo. The secretariat is charged by all the members in rotation, Izuo Church is on duty this year, so Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Izuo Church, manages clerical works.

On the meeting, representatives from Rissho Kosei-kai, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, and Izuo Church, who had taken part in the IARF international board meeting, reported about the meeting held in Oxford in the last week of March. Receiving the report, members epitomized their opinions on the going on innovation of the organization and the 31st IARF World Congress that will be held in Budapest, Hungary next year. Information service using publications or the website was also discussed.

Then Mr. Shigeo Ikuta, Director of Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan) Osaka office, gave a lecture about Ainu, native Japanese. The next JLC meeting will be held at Shitenno-ji for the first time of the JLC history. Shitenno-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple established at 593 in Osaka by Prince Shotoku.

3) Shinshuren and CORMOS held a Symposium
Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan) and Conference on Religion and Modern Society (CORMOS) cosponsored the symposium titled "Japanese Religion in the 21st Century" on 23 April at Osaka International Conference Center. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake and some members took part in from Izuo Church.

The hall was crowded with attendant

The purpose was to review the situation that religions has been watched strictly since the cult incident occurred by Aum Shinri-kyo, in order to find where religious society should go. More than 1000 people attended the symposium.

In the first part of the symposium, Mr. Motohiko Izawa, novelist, Dr. Takeshi Yoro, anatomist, and Prof. Kenji Ishii, religious scholar, described their opinion on the present religious organizations.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake (left), Patriarch Ryuseki Rikihisa the II of Zenrinkyo (center), Patriarch Takahito Miki the III of Perfect Liberty (right)

The reception was held on the previous day at the RHIGA Royal Hotel. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake deepened friendship with Patriarch Mitsuhito Fukata II of Enno-kyo, who is the President of Shinshuren, Patriarch Ryuseki Rikihisa the II of Zenrinkyo, Patriarch Takahito Miki the III of Perfect Liberty at the party.

4) Spring Grand Service
On 25 April, the Spring Grand Service was held at Hiromae (sacred hall) of Konko Church of Izuo and more than 2000 believers came from all over Japan.

Hiromae filled with congregations

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake delivered a salmon

The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, chanted Konko Prayer, offered the sacred twig for the alter, and gave a salmon for the congregations.

5) Chief Minister made a call to express condolence for Oomoto

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake attended the memorial service of Oomoto's spiritual leader

On 30 April, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, visited the headquarter of Oomoto (a sect of Shinto) in Kameoka, the country side of Kyoto-prefecture. In order to express his condolence for the late Rev. Kiyoko Deguchi who was the 4th Kyoshu (spiritual leader) of Oomoto and passed away on the previous day.

As soon as he heard the sudden and sad news, he left for Kameoka and was welcome as the first guest from other religious organizations. He offered the sacred twig as a representative of guests with Mr. Hideo Tanaka, Mayor of Kameoka-city, Dr. Masaaki Ueda, Chairperson of the International Human Rights Institute.