■ May 2002

Attended Mambu Grand Service
On 3 May, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, attended Mambu Grand Service hosted by Dainembutsu-ji Temple, the head temple of Yuzu Nembutsu-shu Buddhism. The Service is traditional one that has been continued 650 years. Mambu means 10,000 times in Japanese. He took part in the parade with the representative from Tendai Buddhism, Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, and had a familiar talk with Azumazeki-oyakata (ex-Takamiyama), a famous Sumo coach from Hawaii.

UN Special Session on Children
From 7 to 15 May, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, visited New York to attend United Nations Special Session on Children and related meetings.

Rev. Miyake offered a Konko Prayer for victims of terrorism at St. John Church

This session was held in response to the report, "We the Child" drafted by Mr. Kofi. A. Annan, Secretary General of UN, to follow up the first session in 1990 where the late Rev. Toshio Miyake offered Konko Prayer with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace laureate. More than 180 countries dispatched delegation (60 of them send the head of the state) and more than 3,000 Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) attended.

On 8 May, Opening Ceremony of the Special Session was held with the attendance of world leaders. Rev. Miyake also attended the ceremony as a representative of the World Conference of Religion and Peace (WCRP) even though only 50 seats were allocated to 3,000 NGOs.

Rev. Miyake visited to Ground Zero

On 9 May, he offered Konko Prayer on behalf of Japanese Religious World for the victims of Sep. 11 terrorist attacks at the world religions' memorial service held at St. John Church that stands beside Ground Zero and survived from the collapse miraculously. In the afternoon, he attended the　consulting session cosponsored by WCRP and UNICEF. At the session, Izuo Church was greatly admired by an UNICEF representative with its years of contribution in South Asia such as running the orphanages and schools. He also observed "Children Meeting" sponsored by Myochi-kai's "Arigatou Foundation" that Rev. Miyake's second daughter took part in.

Rev. Miyake delivered his opinion at the session

On 10 May, Rev. Miyake observed "Children Meeting" again at UN Church Center. The Most Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, President of Myochi-kai (a new lay Buddhist organization), delivered a speech as one of representatives from religious world at General Conference of UN and fascinated attendees' attention.

Rev. Miyake with Mr. F Ali, UNICEF Director, and Dr. Vendley, WCRP Secretary General

From 11 May, he took part in Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Meeting at Maryknoll Order's World Headquarters located nearby New York City. Actually Izuo Church has deep relationship with Maryknoll Order. It was special trustful relationship with Father Patrick Bryan built by supporting him who was trapped by Japanese Military Police only because he was American during and post war period (late 1940's) that spurts the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, Founder of Izuo Church, to take important role in the international peace activities. The very father was a missionary from Maryknoll and was a key figure who advised occupation army the endurance of Emperor system, policy on religion and so on. Later, he visited Korea in 1950 as Pope's envoy during the Korean War, and was captured by Communist, he never came back.

} Rev. Miyake at GNRC Meeting

Appeared TV News Program
On 14 May, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, appeared on NNN News Plus One, the nationally broadcasted news program. He has been paid attention by media because of his remarks on the scandal of Foreign Ministry exposed in the last year. He also went on another broadcast's news show in March.

Interview with Rev. Miyake

Attended the Inaugural Banquet of the 5th Spiritual Leader of Oomoto
On 16 May, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, attended the inaugural banquet of the 5th Patriarch of Oomoto held at Hotel Okura Kyoto.
The 5th Spiritual Leader, the Most Rev. Kurenai Deguchi, was appointed as the 4th Spiritual Leader's passing away in the last April. There were religious leaders including the Most Ven. Eishin Watanabe from Tendai Buddhism, the Most Rev. Kunio Nitta from Shinto Shusei School, and the Most Rev. Mitsuhiro Fukata from Enno-kyo as well as traditional accomplishment masters.

JLC Held a Workshop
On 18 May, a workshop was held for prospective participants to prepare the 31st World Congress of the International Association of Religious Freedom (IARF) that would be held in coming summer in Budapest, Hungary.

attendees listening to the lecture

The Rev. Takeshi Nishida, Leader of Itto-en and a member of Japan Liaison Conference (JLC) of IARF, delivered an opening address. Then the workshop invited Prof. Mitsuhiro Shimmen, an authority of Eastern Europe, as a lecturer because it would be the first World Congress held in the area moreover most of Japanese are unfamiliar to the area. He gave a lecture titled "Religions and Races in Eastern Europe."

Following the lecture, they had a panel discussion moderated by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Izuo Church. Prof. Stuart Picken, from Nagoya University of Commerce and Business Administration, Rev. Takahiro Miwa, Chief Priest of Hiyoshi Shrine serving as Secretary General of IARF Japan Chapter, and Dr. Shimmen took part in as panelists. Following the reviewing broadly about 2000-years history of East Europe, they discussed enthusiastically the influence of Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Islam on Slav society.

lively panel discussion

The study meeting was closed by the address delivered by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, an International Council member of IARF. There were more than 20 members attended from Rissho Kosei-kai, Itto-en, Tsubaki Grand Shrine etc,.

Attorney Ceremony for Staffs of the 3rd Anniversary
On 24 May, on the occasion of the monthly thanks giving service, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, appointed staffs of the 3rd anniversary of the late Rev. Toshio Miyake.

representatives of believers received a letter of attorney

130 staff members were selected among those who consecrate themselves eagerly on this day, the 100 days before the 3rd anniversary. On behalf of the staffs, Mr. Tokumitsu Higuchi, Mr. Satoshi Tagami, Mr. Harumi Kawashima, and Mr. Akira Hirose received a letter of attorney from the most reverend.

WCRP Had a Meeting for the Summer Camp
On 25 May, World Conference of Religion and Peace (WCRP)/ Japan Youth Association had a meeting at Konko Church of Izuo in order to prepare the summer camp that would be held at Izuo Church from 23 to 25 August.

Charity Bazaar
On 26 May, the 22nd Charity Bazaar sponsored by the believers association with the slogan of "For the Smile of all the Children" at precincts of Konko Church of Izuo.

Rev. and Mrs. Miyake opened the bazaar with ribbon-cutting

More than 3,000 people enjoyed "Yuai sales" (meaning friendly shopping) that dealt with new goods, "Chanko-nabe," the traditional sumo wrestler's stew served by Female Believers Association who learned the recipe by Sadogatake-beya (sumo team), traditional Japanese amusements such as mochitsuki (making rice cake) or takoyaki (making octopus dumpling) and adventure playground displayed by boy scout troop. They also learned about the relief activities took by Izuo Church around the world.

many participants enjoyed the bazaar

The branch churches on the outskirts of Osaka also brought perishables and set the booth which attracted participants' attention greatly.

they enjoyed the beautiful precincts "Senkoen"

The sales of bazaar, which had been held in March every year, amounted to \1,880,764 (approx. $15,000.) It is wholly donated for the overseas relief activities through Jinrui Kyoei Kai.