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2001 March
1) WCRP/Japan Youth Association Held the
Board Meeting
On 8 March, board meeting of WCRP (World Conference on Religion and Peace)/
Japan youth association was held in Konko Church of Izuo, and about 80
young adult religious leaders gathered from various religions.
Most of board members stayed at Izuo Church from the previous day, and took part in the Konko service in the early morning of the day. Then they discussed about the present situation and challenges in the future with OB members including Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of the Church.
 Prof. Koichi Mori |
Following lunch, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, invited the lecturer with brief speech saying that interfaith dialogue was not easy, but religious people must keep challenging this issue. He exampled Izuo Church's long-year activities to show the difficulty and principle of inter-religious dialogue.
The lecturer was Dr. Koich Mori, Dean of the Divinity School of Doshisha University whose major is history of American churches.
He pointed out that the fundamentalism had gained power rapidly also in Christianity of the U.S., not only Islam such as Triban that demolished the Buddha statue in Varmian, Afghanistan.
According to Prof. Mori, religions in the world are strengthening the
opposing structure more, rather than promoting interfaith dialogue that
is expected by the WCRP members. He insisted that the most important thing
was to talk with fundamentalists in the same faith who deny the necessity
of dialogue as well as believers of other religion.
 young adult members listening the lecture eagerly |
He gave great impact and stimulated the WCRP young adult members who had believed that all the religious people desired interfaith dialogue in order to realize the peaceful society.
2) Vernal Grand Ancestors Service was held
On 20 March, Vernal Grand Ancestors Service was held at Konko Church of
Izuo leaded by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister. Before
the Grand Service, the prayer for newly enshrined ash of the congregations
was offered at the Inori-no-to (peace prayer's pagoda) by Rev. Mitsuo
Miyake, Chief Minister Designated, to those who had died since last autumn.
Then in front of the alter decorated with perishables in the Hiromae (sacred hall), Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake chanted prayer and offered the sacred twig and gave a salmon expressing appreciation for the ancestors. The ceremony had continued a couple of day calling all the names of those who had been enshrined in Izuo Church.
3) Chief Minister expressed condolence for
Nempo Shin-kyo
On 21 March, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko
Church of Izuo, visited Kongo-ji Temple of Nemposhin-kyo, a new Buddhist
organization, to meet Rt. Venerable Reishin Hasegawa, the C.E.O. of the
Temple. Rev. Miyake offered prayer to express condolence for the late
Ven. Reigen Ogura II, the successor for the Founder.
 Most Rev. Miyake gives his condolence to Rt. Ven. Reishin Hasegawa. |
4) Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake attended the IARF
IC Meeting in Oxford
On 22-25 March, International Council (IC) meeting of the International
Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) was held at Harris Manchester
College of Oxford University in UK. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Chief Minister
of Konko Church of Kasugaoka, attended on behalf of the Most Rev. Tatsuo
Miyake, IC member of the IARF and Senior Chief Minister of the Konko Church
of Izuo.
The IC meeting was opened with a silent prayer and the lecture titled "What the Silence means for the Buddhist" delivered by Bhiksuni@Cheuh@Men of Fu Kwang Shang (a new Buddhist organization) in Taiwan. In the beginning, they exchanged information since last meeting held a year ago, and discussed about 31st IARF World Congress planned to be held in Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 2002.
At the beginning of the 2nd day session, Dr. Ali Kahn from India made a lecture titled "What the Silence means for Islam." Mr. A. Clerk, the General Secretary of IARF, explained in his speech that it was meaningful to consider long-term strategy of IARF from 2001 to 2007 that was the most important agenda discussed in this meeting. Compared with World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) that had grown marvelously in a few years, IARF had been in slump. The theme of "interfaith dialogue" was so unique when IARF was established 100 years ago that it attracted world attention and appreciation. However, there are many organizations that have the same goal in present, so, IARF has been not able to show its originality anymore. Moreover, it lost its purpose while it extended the activities from the fundamental principle to the derived issues. Now members should focus on the special mission, "religious freedom (mainly to protect human rights of minority)."
 Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake gives his lecture to the council members. |
The 3rd day session started with a lecture titled "What the Silence means for Shintoist" delivered by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake. He commented that "silent pray" had no significance for Shintoist because ordinal Shrine Shinto was originally a religion for local community, on the other hand, it had great importance for believers of Konko-kyo which belongs a sect of new Shinto movement. He explained it from the historical viewpoint that Konko-kyo had been discriminated by the political or other religious authorities its establishing period in the 19th century, so, Founder Konko Daijin invented original style, "Shinchu-kinen (praying in mind)" and "Toritsugi (mediation by private consulting)." Attendants from various countries were interested in Rev. Miyake's lecture that said the most important part of Konko missionary was based on the invasion of religious freedom.
The last day was opened with the lecture titled "What the Silence means for Unitarian Universalist" made by Dr. John. Buehrens who is the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). On this day, various issues including budget of the 31st World Conference of IARF were discussed.
Considering the world situation that is against interfaith dialogue,
you can find easily the significance of IARF as an organization that protects
religious freedom of minority.
5)Mrs. Sugako Miyake was appointed as the
6th President of Osaka Religious Women Association.
 the memorial ceremony |
On 31 March, the memorial service was held for the late Ven. Myoko Kawashima, the 5th President of Osaka Religious Women Association. The ceremony was co-sponsored by Osaka Buddhist Women Association and Osaka Religious Women Association and more than 100 people took part in. Her picture and ash were decorated with many flowers and hearty prayer was offered.
 Mrs. Miyake offered a flower for the late President |
Following the memorial service, Mrs. Sugako Miyake, wife of Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, was appointed as the 6th President of Osaka Religious Women Association that had more than 50-year history. She expressed her decision to make every effort beyond her caliber in order to realize the principles of the association.
 Mrs. Miyake expressed her decision |
Osaka Religious Women Association was established in February 1949, under the cooperation of wives of Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity leaders. It's carried out social campaigns such as promotion recovery from the damage of the World War U. The late Mrs. Tsune Miyake, wife of the former Senior Chief Minister, also served as the 4th President from 1979 through 1994.
6jThe Signboard Was Remade
Konko Church of Izuo remade the illuminated signboard hung at JR Taisho
Station, the nearest station from Izuo Church. The huge hall in the center
of the picture is "Ogameru-miya (Prayer Hall)" surrounded by
the precincts "Senko-en" registered on "Osaka Best Park
100." It gained popularity from students and workers commuting from
Taisho ward and baseball funs visiting nearby ballpark as well as believers
of Izuo Church.
7jPrayer for Children's Success at School Life
On 1 April, the special service was held at Konko Church of Izuo, for
children in order to cerebrate graduation and entrance the schools, and
to wish they make many fruits at school. From kindergarten children to
university students attended the service and received a present from Rev.
Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated. Ms. Yoshiko Hiromoto who entered
university this spring made a speech on behalf of them. At the end of
the service, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, gave
a prayer wishing their health and goof results. In Japan the school year
start on April 1.
 children listened Senior Chief Minister carefully |