■ 2002 August

Religious Summit Meeting on Mt. Hiei
On 3 August, the symposium was held at Prince Hotel in Kyoto to commemorate the 15th Religious Summit Meeting on Mt. Hiei that started by gathering world religious leaders in 1987. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, and Rev. Osamu Miyake, Chief Minister of Konko Church of Kobe-Nada, also attended there.

religious leaders gathered at Enryaku-ji Temple at Mt Hiei

The theme of this year was "Prayer for the Peace and Dialogue with Islam." It was the first large scale meeting in order to understand Islam since the Sep. 11 terrorism and following invasion to Afghanistan by the USA, so the highly attention was paid for this symposium that more than 1,300 audience sat in on the hall. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake deepened friendship with religious leaders from the world with whom had cooperated through the activities of WCRP or so at the reception held in the evening.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, talking with patriarchs of sects

On the next day, the annual Prayer for the World Peace was held on Mt. Hiei, with the attendance of a lot of representatives from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Shinto and New Religions as well as the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake from the Church.

they offered a prayer for the world peace

Following the Most Ven. Eshin Watanabe, Patriarch of Tendai-shu, representatives from Shintoism, Buddhism, and New Religions offered a prayer for the world peace. The representative of Islam staying Japan also offered a prayer on the stage.

The 13th Jamboree Japan
On 3 to 7 August, the 13th Jamboree Japan (and the 23rd Jamboree Asia Pacific) was held at Maishima Sports Island, manmade land in Osaka North Harbor, commemorating the 80th year of Japan Boy Scout Association with approx. 20,000 scout and leaders. The members of 8th Osaka Troop attended from Konko Church of Izuo.

the venue filled with scouts

Jamboree Japan is the largest event of the Boy Scout held every 4 years. It was the first "urban Jamboree" held on the manmade land under the theme of "catch the wind of new age, jump out into the forest of human and culture."

scouts from Izuo Church talked by the HIH Crown Prince Naruhito

Izuo Kenji-dan, one of the most traditional Boy Scout Troops, established 75 years ago, took the important role for the Jamboree held in their hometown. Especially they were impressed that the His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito visited their campsite on 5th Aug.

Special Memorial Service
On 8 August, a special service was held at the Konko Church of Izuo to console the departed in contingencies such as fire, water accident, traffic accident, etc., followed by the service for dead baby by miscarriage or abortion leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated.

A lot of believers attend those annually memorial services for those who are killed in casualties or killed before coming to this world.

Attend Benten-shu Buddhism Ceremony
On 8 August, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of the Church, attended Mantoe Houyo, the Thousands Lanterns Ceremony, held at the headquarters of Benten-shu, a new Buddhist sect on behalf of the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church.

The Most Ven. Jisho Omori, Patriarch of Benten-shu, serving as President of International Religious Fellowship in Osaka (IRFO) since the last year, had invited the reverend. He had an audience with the annual event of Benten-shu, such as exercise by gymnastic team, dance by female believers, and tremendous firework enjoyed by 130 thousand citizens.

It was so uplifting because two of Benten-shu high schools advanced to the high school baseball tourney, national summer event, as the divisional champion team from each prefecture.

Youth Summer Camp

commemorative photo

On 10 to 11 August, Konko Church of Izuo held a summer camp that is carried out annually as a program to educate children and the youth. A lot of students, such as primary school kids to university students, attended the camp to take the unique human education including mediation as Konko training or debate about social matters, as well as to enjoy games.

primary school students receiving Senior Chief Minister at the early morning service

On 11, the Grand Ceremony was held to cerebrate the 75th year of Kenjidan, the children association of Izuo Church. Children were unconscious of passage of the time to enjoy the games and stand prepared by Believers Association, Women Association, Youth Association etc,.

boys and girls listening to the most reverend

World Peace Pray Ceremony
On 15 August, Konko Church of Izuo held the World Peace Pray Ceremony at the sacred hall conducted by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, followed by the memorial service for the war dead and those who died in this one year in front of the altar. The representatives of youth members and all the congregations at the ceremony offered folded cranes to the altar to express their decision to promote the interfaith dialogue that the late Rev. Toshio Miyake had been pouring his energy for years.

congregations offering folded cranes

The bereaved family of the World War II and those who died in this one year offered a sacred twig to the altar to appease their spirit at the memorial service. Izuo Church opens the altar for the visitor that they can offer a sacred twig to their late family member anytime during Obon, ancestors memorial days period 13 to 16 August.

bereaved family bow their heads listening to the prayer

Following the service, all the congregations offered a minute silent prayer at 12 noon that is the exact time when the late Emperor Hirohito announced the cease fire of the Pacific War in 1945. And the congregation joined the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake's sermon.

Funeral Service for the late Rev. Yamamoto
On 21 August, the official Funeral Service for the late Rev. Yukitaka Yamamoto, who was Head Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine and had passed away on 1 August, was held in Mie Prefecture. Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, attended for the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, invited as a representative of International Association of Religious Freedom (IARF)/ Japan Liaison Committee (JLC).

Rev. Miyake expressed his condolence

Tsubaki Grand Shrine is one of the most traditional shrines in Japan that has more than 2000-year-history and the Yamamoto family has succeeded Head Priest for 96 generations. The late Rev. Yamamoto and the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the Founder of Izuo Church, had cooperated each other to promote the field of interfaith dialogue. The late Rev. Yamamoto is the first Shinto priest who served as President of IARF.

IARF Extraordinary Meeting
On 21 August, IARF had an extraordinary meeting in Mie Prefecture. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, as a new member of the IARF Council took part in from Konko Church of Izuo.

This meeting was called to review the 31st World Congress's business session held on 2 August in Budapest, Hungary on which delegates form each country criticized the board severely like ever before. And to exchange opinions among Mr. Eimert van Herwijnen as President, Ms. Natalie Gulbransen as the former President, and Ms. Olivia Holmes as a proxy of Unitarian Universalist Association, the mother organization of IARF, who attended the funeral service for the late Rev. Yukitaka Yamamoto, and JLC members.

they had a meeting over lunch

Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake moderated this meeting with heated debate. The attendees from Japan were Rev. Norio Sakai, the former Chairman of Rissho Kosei-kai who had served as Treasure for IARF last 6 years, Rev. Takeshi Nishida, one of the leading members of JLC. Prof. Michio Araki of Kokushikan University who took part in the advisor committee of "Voluntary Code of Conduction" session in the 31st World Conference and opposed strongly against it.




WCRP/ Japan Summer Camp
On 23 to 25 August, World Conference of Religion and Peace (WCRP)/ Japan Chapter Youth Committee held "Summer Camp 2002 in Osaka"　at Konko Church of Izuo. More than 70 young adult members from Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and New religion attended the camp and had productive days.

Rev. Miyake giving a greeting address

This camp aimed to crate the opportunity "to meet, enlighten, and practice"; it's the core action plan of the committee. They especially tackled with issue of homeless people who have trouble even to live a minimal life in backward area of Osaka City.

On 23, attendees gathered to the sacred hall of Izuo Church, to offer a prayer to the altar leaded by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, then they received a greeting address delivered by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister. Rev. Taketsugu Hayashi, the Chief Priest Designated of Yumiya Hachiman Shrine, gave an opening address as the President of Youth Committee, a representative announced a declaration followed by taking a commemorative photo.

commemorative photo at the front of Sacred Hall

Several programs including a lecture by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake were conducted. They also enjoyed garden barbecue and campfire as the young adult. It helped the attendees to open up to each other although most of them took part in the event for the first time.

attendees enjoyed a camp firel

On 24 morning, the members attended the early morning service. They chanted in front of Prayer's Pagoda,　received the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and took part in the early morning service. They visited the backward area in the daytime to prepare for the next day session.

On 25 the members carried out the ration project to deliver several hundreds lunch boxes to homeless people under cooperation with a support organization and the Konko Church Osaka Center. They also took part in the symposium conducted by an organization that has supported homeless people in this area for years and saw a concert by a young artist group.

symposium

Prior to the summer camp, the planning committee was held at Izuo Church and following the camp, the board meeting of WCRP/Japan Youth Committee was also held. Therefore Izuo Church was filled with vitality for 5 days with youthful voice of representatives from every religion.

Attended the Johannesburg Summit
On 23 to 30 August, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, who serves as Chair of WCRP/Japan Development and Environment Committee, attended the Johannesburg Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held on 26 Aug. to 4 Sep. in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The most important subject of this summit was to review Rio de Janeiro Summit held in 10 years ago and Kyoto Summit (COP3) for global warming problem held in 5 years ago. It can be said this summit influences to the future of the earth.

Rev. Miyake talking with Japanese Environment Minister

Rev. Mitsuo Miyake has made efforts for environmental issues for many years. He attended the environment summit since COP3 as Vice Chair of NGO session, and he deepen the partnership with Mr. Hiroshi Oki, Environment Minister of Japanese Government, who served as moderator at the opening ceremony of COP3 and Ambassador Estrada who conducted the general session.

This summit attracted every attention so strongly that approx. 40,000 attendees gathered from all over the world to Johannesburg. Japanese Government also dispatched more than 500 delegation including Prime Minister Jun'ichiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi as well as Environment Minister Hiroshi Oki as an envoy to appeal Japanese engagement.

Rev. Miyake offered prayer for the memorial monument

Rev. M. Miyake had an exclusive meeting with Mr. Oki although he was quite hectic to discuss about the viewpoint of NGOs and possibility of their contribution on this issue. He also visited "Sowet", segregation area under the apartheid, offered prayer for the memorial monument, and saw the Nelson R. Mandela Hall in order to learn history and social of South Africa.