”Konko Church of Izuo@ The religion Konko-kyo was founded by Konko Daijin in 1859 when he received the Divine@Call " Preach faith which you are saved by " from Tenchi-Kane-no-Kami, i.e. Principal Parent of the Universe. Konko-kyo has approx. 1,000 churches in Japan and around the world. Among them Konko Church of Izuo was established in Osaka in 1927 by the late Most Rev. Toshio Miyake in the hope of "May people be blessed!" The late Most Rev. Toshio Miyake was admired as a promoter of peace activities worldly. He was often invited as a representative of Japanese religious leaders by the Popes and the Secretary-Generals of the United Nations. Moreover he took important roles as an honorary president of World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and many other international organizations. He also held peace forums inviting many leaders from all over the world in addition to Mr. Carter, former President of the United States. Izuo@Church@has given assistance for refugees all over the world for many years. For example, it has saved boat-people from Vietnam after the Vietnamese War, run the nursery facilities and schools for orphans in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sir Lanka. In Africa, complying with the UNHCR's request, the Church donated water-supply system plant (pipeline) to a refugee's camp. Moreover, the Church has been making efforts to contribute Global Environmental programs. Senko-en, the Church's garden which has 20,000 square meters (approx. 5acres) precincts filled with precious green in crowded city Osaka, is selected one of "Best 100 Green Scenery" chosen by the Osaka prefectural government including the Nakanoshima Park. The Tower of Pray , the symbol of peace, is also selected by Osaka citizen, as a new landmark of Osaka being familiar with local people. In 1999, all the positions of the late Rev. Toshio Miyake were succeeded by his first son, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake. ”The Konko Church of Izuo Towards the Millennium As the world prepares to welcome the third millennium, the Konko Church of Izuo wishes to share with friends around the world. The news of most important sadness is the passing away of the Most Reverend Toshio Miyake on August 31, 1999. The Most Rev. Toshio Miyake was the founder of the Konko Church of Izuo and for 72 years (1927 - 1999) worked on behalf of the church as Senior Chief Minister. He is succeeded by his eldest son, the Right Reverend Tatsuo Miyake, who had long assisted the Most Rev. Toshio Miyake as Chief Minister of the church. In March 1998, the Rt. Rev. Tatsuo Miyake attended the Governing Board of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), which was held in Tokyo, as a President and urged the three religious leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina to hold religious discussions with each other. The same month, he also had a private meeting with former United States President Jimmy Carter in Tokyo. In June of the same year, the Most Rev. Toshio Miyake sent letters urging the abolishment of all nuclear weapons to India and Pakistan government which had been conducting a series of nuclear tests. In November, the Rt. Rev. Tatsuo Miyake attended the 23rd World Congress of the World Federalist Movement (WFM) held in New Delhi and Chennai as the President of the World Federalist Asian Center (WAC) while the Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Tatsuo's eldest son, attended the same in his capacity as the President of the World Federalist Asian Youth Center (AYC). In February 1999, the Rev. Mitsuo Miyake attended the AYC executive directors' meeting as President. In July, the Rt. Rev. Tatsuo Miyake attended the 30th World Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) held in Vancouver as an international council and urged further religious discussions. In November, he attended the 7th World Assembly of WCRP held in Amman as a President, contributing to the creation of a global religious cooperative body. Furthermore, he set up fund-raising activities to assist the victims of earthquakes which had taken place in many parts of the world, including Turkey in August, and Taiwan in September.