■ March2002

Wish Children's Healthy Growth and Good Results at School
On 31 March, a special service was held for children in order to celebrate their graduation and enrollment and wish their further accomplishment. Many students from kindergarteners to college students took part in the service leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Konko Church of Izuo.

the representatives received a commemorative present

Following the service, Mr. Akinori Kishigami who passed the entrance exam to Kobe University in this spring delivered a speech and representatives of new students received a commemorative present from the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister. At the end of the ceremony, the most reverend offered a prayer wishing children's healthy growth and good results at school.

all the attendees received a present

Vernal Ancestors Grand Service
On 21 March (the vernal equinox day), Konko Church of Izuo held the Vernal Ancestors Grand Service. Prior to the grand service, a memorial service was offered by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, for the late believers who died in last half year.

Rev. M. Miyake offered a prayer

Then the Vernal Ancestors Grand Service was held at the sacred hall leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake. Following arrangement of perishables as offerings, a prayer and a sacred twig were offered by the service master. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, offered a huge sacred twig on behalf of the attendees to express appreciation for the ancestors, before he delivered a sermon.

Senior Chief Minister offered a sacred twig

On the previous day, 20 March, Oyobidashi-matsuiri was held all day long and all the names of believes' ancestors who are enshrined in the altar of Izuo Church since 1927 were read out.

believers listening to Senior Chief Minister

General Councils Visited KCI
General Councils to Osaka from 9 counties, Belgian, Canada, China, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, and UK visited Konko Church of Izuo each on 4, 6 and 12 March, exchanged opinions on the international issues and deepened friendship each other.

The annual exchange program is held in this season of the year between Izuo Church and General Councils to Osaka. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, attended from Izuo Church in order to discuss about the global situation since Sep.11 and Japanese politics.

Senior Chief Minister talked with General Councils

The attendees observed sumo training of Sadogatake-beya, the sumo team camping at Izuo Church for the Osaka tournament, and enjoyed Chanko-nabe, sumo wrestlers' special stew.

The Most Popular News Program Reported from KCI
On 7 March, one of the most popular news program in Japan broadcasted by NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyoukai = National Broadcasting Corp.) reported Sadogatake-beya, the sumo team camping at Konko Church of Izuo.

many medias visited the morning training everyday

It reported Koto-mitsuki who won 34 games in the past 3 tournaments, that is one more than the standard requires for being nominated to Ozeki, the second champion. It was also reported the freshmen in the team because Osaka tournament is held Japanese employment season. The news included interview by Mainoumi, who was a famous sumo wrestler and is now a commentator, and the scenery of the precincts.

Special Service for Sadogatake-beya
On 8 March, a special service was served leaded by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, at the sacred hall of Konko Church of Izuo wishing success of Sadagatake-beya in Osaka tournament.

many medias visited the morning training everyday

Sumo wrestlers of Sadogatake-beya which has stayed and trained at Izuo Church for 21 years offered prayer wishing the good results in the tournament.

Sadogatake-Oyakata, the head coach, and Koto-mitsuki, a wrestler, offered the sacred twig to the altar on behalf of the team. Oyakata expressed his gratitude to Rev. Miyake's encouragement. At the end of the service, libation was served for all.

Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake attends IARF's Council Meeting in Oxford
On 13 to 19 March, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, took part in the International Council Meeting of the International Association of Religious Freedom (IARF) held at Harris Manchester College of Oxford University, on behalf of the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church and Council of IARF.

International Council Meeting

IARF is one of the NGOs authorized by the United Nations Eco-Soc. Council that has promoted interfaith dialogue for more than 100 years. It focuses on the removal of restraint on minority that has increased in the post cold war period, from the viewpoint that such situation is a hotbed of terrorism and religious and ethnical conflicts.

In the meeting, they discussed about the 31st World Conference scheduled in the end of July to the first of August in Budapest, Hungary as well as the budged, finance, activity plan, and personnel.

commemorative photograph

At the coming World Congress, the 2-days workshop "Information Technology and Religious Freedom" conducted Rev. Y. Miyake, the only workshop held by Japanese, will be paid great attention.

　

Fire Drill with Sumo Wrestlers
On 1 March, according to "National Fire Prevention Week," an annual fire drill was held at Konko Church of Izuo cosponsored by a firehouse and cooperated by Sadogatake-beya, a sumo team having a camp at Konko Church of Izuo for Osaka Tournament. Approx. 250 attendees including not only sumo wrestlers but nearby kindergarten kids took part in the drill and local TV stations visited to report it in the news. We are looking forward to your visiting.

trying artificial respiration

At 11 o'clock, the drill was started on the assumption that a fire broke out in the sacred hall and some visitors were down by breathing smoke. A set was burn in front of the hall and attendees trained to ring the alarm, report the firehouse, and guide visitors to the evacuation exit. Then they took artificial respiration training from the rescue team. Sumo wrestlers including semi-champion Koto-Mitsuki tried desperately because it influences greatly to the victim's life if an accurate treatment is performed or not in a few minutes waiting an ambulance.

buckets relay by sumo wrestlers and kids

A fire-fighting team of Izuo Church also trained to putt out a fire using an extinguisher and sumo wrestlers made a buckets relay under the cooperation with kindergarten kids. Then Air-Rescue team of Taisho Firehouse performed a drill to break a door with a chainsaw in order to "rescue victims shut in a locked room. In the end of the drill, ladder trucks and fire engines hosed all together and attendees felt how strong the water pressure is by gripping the hose.

sumo wrestlers clasped hose easily

This fire drill has become famous as an early spring event in Osaka. Many neighbors visited to watch and local TVs and newspapers reported it.