■ 2003 May
Charity Bazaar
On 25 May, the 23rd 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

There were a lot of stands set in the precincts covered fresh green, such as "Brotherhood Sales" that dealt with new goods donated by believers and companies. "Chanko-nabe," the traditional sumo wrestler's stew served by Women's Believers Association who learned the recipe by Sadogatake-beya (professional sumo team), traditional Japanese amusements such as mochitsuki (making rice cake) or takoyaki (making octopus dumpling) and adventure playground displayed by boy scout troop. More than 3,000 people including neighbors learned about the relief activities took by Izuo Church around the world.

branch churches' booth were very popular

The branch churches in Kansai region also brought perishables and set the booth which attracted participants' attention so greatly that all the articles were sold out immediately.

they enjoyed the Brotherhood Sales in the beautiful precincts

It was fine day, and the precincts was filled with merry laugher all day long. The sales amounted to \1,847,540 (approx. $15,000.) It will be wholly donated for the overseas relief activities through Jinrui Kyoei-kai (Association for Prosperity of Humankind).

Social Activists from India
On May 20, Mr. and Mrs. Banerjee, social activists, paid a courtesy visit from Calcutta, India to Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, who had continued relief activities around South Asia as President of Asian Youth Center (AYC) of World Federalist Movement (WFM).

Mr. Banerjee serves as Secretary General of "Asian Friends" at well as Executive of Bengal Electric Agency, so he visited Osaka to observe thermal power plant of Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. that reduced the influence to the environment such as gas emission to the minimum.

Mr. and Mrs. Banerjee talking with Rev. Miyake

Mr. Banerjee praised Rev. Miyake for his leadership to have had the 7th AYC Genaral Congress held in Calcutta in the last February successful, and made a request him to keep contribution for the social activities in the area continuously. He also discussed with Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, technically about the environment pollution in the area.

After the discussion, they offered a prayer to the altar that the late Rev. Toshio Miyake enshrined who had greatly contributed to the social activities in the South Asia.

Pointed out the Ideal UN
On May 14, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, attended a seminar hosted by Myochi-kai (a lay Buddhist organization). The theme was "the Future of the UN: What is the Destination of the International Society ?"

They invited Dr. Han Seung-soo, the former Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, who served as Chair of the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2001, as a keynote speaker. At the question-and-answer session, Rev. Miyake attracted every attention when he pointed out that the most important issues for the UN was how to reconstruct the trust which had been destroyed by exposing its weakness that the UN as the organization aiming to keep world peace had not been able to avoid Iraq War against the US monopolism.

20th Niwano Piece Prize
On May 8, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, attended 20th Anniversary of Niwano Peace Prize on behalf of the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister.

Niwano Peace Prize was established by the late Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, Founder of Rissho Kosei-kai (a lay Buddhist organization), with the purpose of awarding religious person or community who contributed to the world peace. They appointed 10 intellectuals as selectors including the Rt. Rev. Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, in order to commemorate the 20th year.

Bishop Stalset delivering an address from Church of Norway

Rev. Kinjiro Niwano as General Director of the organization explained the purpose, and then Rt. Rev. Gunnar Stelset, Bishop of Oslo, who had served as a member of selection committee of Nobel Prize until the last year, delivered an address. Finally the Most Rev. Nichiko Niwano, President of the organization, awarded a testimonial, a commemorative medal, and 30 million yen (approx. US$ 260,000) as prize money to Dr. Priscilla Elworthy the representative of Oxford Research Group (ORG) in the UK.

Rev. Miyake was delighted to reunion at the following reception with Bishop Stelset with whom he keeps contact since the first African Religious Leaders Assembly on Children and HIV/AIDS held in the last June in Kenya. He also enjoyed conversation with other distinguished guests such as the Most Rev. Izu Kudo, President of Jinja Honcho (The Federation of Shinto Shrines), the Most Rev. Masahiko Iburi, Director General of Tenri-kyo, and etc.

Shintokuden was Held
On May 4 through 5, Konko Church of Izuo had the 1st Shintokuden, a special training for the year. The trainees took various courses during they stayed with the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, in order to review their belief.

Shintokuden started with opening ceremony at Hiromae, the sacred hall; all the trainees listened to the most reverend's lecture, got an orientation, trained in a small group, cleaned up the precincts and sacred hall, listened to the lecture delivered by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, and trained again. They had a substantial day in this series of training that takes even time for meal or bath as part of training.

They continued training from the early morning on the next day, too. All the trainees received a certification of completion by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, at the end of the 24-hours training.

Mambu Hoyo
On May 3, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, attended Manbu Hoyo, a Buddhism ceremony that had been held by Dai Nembutsu-ji, head temple of Yuzu Nembutsu-shu, since 650 years ago.