�� 2001September

Guest from Bangladesh
On 24 September, Mr. M.D. Habibuzzaman who is an executive of Bangladesh Branch of Asia Youth Center (AYC) of the World Federalist and consults embassies of the United States and Germany in Bangladesh visited Konko Church of Izuo. He visited Japan to attend the international conference held in Kyoto by the Ministry of Environment. Before leaving Japan, he paid a courtesy call to the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, who serves as President of World Federalist Asian Center, and Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister's Designated, who is President of AYC.

It was the day of 7th anniversary of the late Mrs. Tsune Miyake, wife of the former senior chief minister, therefore, Mr. Habibuzzaman offered a prayer before the meeting, for the altar where they were enshrined.

Mr. Habibuzzaman offering a prayer

Mr. Habibuzzaman, and the reverends exchanged opinions on the activities of WFM (World Federal Movement) and AYC. Rev, M. Miyake as President of AYC had attended the international board meeting of WFM held in Italy in the beginning of September. After then, they analyzed the prospective armed revenge on Afghanistan by the USA and its allied countries. The meeting was very fruitful because Mr. Habibuzzaman had various informations about the issue and his lost cousin working at the attacked building had been included.

The 7th anniversary Memorial Service of the late Mrs. Tsune Miyake
On 24 September, the 7th anniversary memorial Service of the late Mrs. Tsune Miyake was held at Konko Church of Izuo leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister's Designated. The Most Rev, Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and his wife and family offered the sacred twigs to the altar appreciating her contribution and wishing the repose of her soul.

Rev, T. Miyake and his wife offered the sacred twigs

Mrs. Tsune Miyake married the Most Rev, Toshio Miyake in 1927 at the year of Izuo Church was started, since then she had always stood by him supporting the growth of Izuo Church until her dying in 1994. She also contributed as the President of Kinki Federation of Religious Women's Associations, for the interfaith cooperation from the woman's stand.


Autumn Ancestors Service
On 23 September, Autumn Ancestors Service was held at Konko Church of Izuo. Before the service, special ceremony was served by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister's Designated, in order to lay ashes of those who died in the half year to rest.

Rev. Mitsuo Miyake and members coming down from Inori-no-To, Peace Pagoda

Then Rev. Tatsuo Miyake moderated the Grand Service. Perishables were offered , Rev. Tatsuo Miyake chanted the prayer and offered the sacred twig. Prayer for the late Rev. Toshio Miyake was also chanted and a large sacred twig was offered to express the appreciation for the ancestor.

the Grand Service

At the beginning of the Service, Rev. Tatsuo Miyake asked 1,000 attendee to stand up and take hand in hand each other in order to wish the soul of the victims in the terror is in the peace, and to feel sympathy with the left family.

At the same time, they prayed that government of the US and allied countries would not make a hasty decision to take revenge on Taliban but they settle this incident rationally.

Attendee praying the world peace

Offer a Silent Prayer for the Victims of Terror
On 15 September, on the occasion of Thanks Giving Service, the believers of Konko Church of Izuo offered a silent prayer for numbers of victims of the terror in New York city and Washington, DC. They also prayed the world peace wishing not to witness occurring retaliations and more victims. This was supposed by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake unexpectedly.

the attendee offering a silent prayer

Izuo Church has kept praying that the world peace are accomplished as soon as possible and all leaders take the right way for 74 years in the chant offered 3 times a day. Considering this terror, Izuo Church sent a message of anti-terrorism to President Bush on 14th September, the day the US government decided as "Condolence Day."

Tokai Region Believers Meeting
On 9 September, Tokai Region Believers Meeting was held in Yokkaichi city, Mie Prefecture as the 6th regional meeting of Konko Church of Izuo.

The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, delivered the commemorative lecture. 5 groups in Aichi Prefecture and Mie Prefecture belong to the Tokai Region.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake delivered the lecture

WFM Board Meeting was Held
On 6-8 September, World Federalist Movement held the International Executive Committee meeting at an island nearby Naples in Italy, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated, and Mr. Toshio Kozai, Director of International Affairs, attended from Konko Church of Izuo. This annual meeting is held at this island every 2 years because WFM started from there. Izuo Church has had deep relationship since 1953 when the late Rev. Toshio Miyake attended the 5th World Congress of the precursor, and he served as the honorary Chair of the board. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of the Church, also supports WFM by serving as President of its Asian Center.

Rev. M. Miyake announced at the meeting

This meeting was the last board meeting before the 23rd World Congress that would be held in the next June in London, so they discussed about the issue. Especially, Rev. Miyake's proposal to recover the religious committee (which had been paused since the previous congresses) was accepted unanimously.

Rev. Miyake attended this meeting as President of Asian Youth Center of WFM not as representatives of Japan; he was appreciated by other directors that he contributed for the promotion of WFM in South Asian region.


Chief Minister Designated met H.H. Pope John Paul II
On 5 September, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, and Rev. Osamu Miyake, Minister of Kono Church of Kobe-Nada, met H.H. Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican.

Pope and Rev. Mitsuo Miyake hand in hand

Izuo Church has had good relationship since the late Rev. Toshio Miyake as a religious leader, supported a Meriknol's Father Patrick Bryan, who was arrested for suspicion of spy, in spite of he was a heathen enemy during the World War II. Bishop Bryan became so important person in the Roman Catholic that he was dispatched to North Korea during the Korean War as a special envoy of Pope.

The late Rev. Toshio Miyake had a meeting with H.H. Pope Pio XII in 1953, and has been known as one of the non-Catholic Japanese who has had a contact with Vatican since the earliest period after the War.
Since then, the late reverend had met successive Popes, and they offered a prayer together for the world peace in February 1994 on the way from Israel, and November 1994 at the opening ceremony of the 6th World Conference on Religion and Peace.

Rev. Osamu Miyake talked with Pope

Both reverends has not met Pope John Paul II since then. They promised to continue promoting the good relationship that had been kept for half a century and the Holly Father gave blessing to them.

Chief Minister Designated Met a Minister of the Government
On 4 September, Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, and Rev. Osamu Miyake, Minister of Konko Church of Kobe-Nada, had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Nobuteru Ishihara, a Minister of Koizumi's Cabinet, at his suite during their staying in Rome.

Rev. Miyake talking with Minister Ishihara

Rev. M. Miyake and Minister Ishihara are in the same generation and knew each other, so they were delighted the unexpected meeting and discussed about international situation till late at night.

Member of the House of Council Visited Izuo Church
On 3 September, Mr. Takashi Yamamoto, a member of the House of Councilors, visited Konko Church of Izuo to express his appreciation for the support in the latest election in summer. He won the so severe competition getting the third and last seat of his district. He is an expert in citizens' movement related Non Profitable Organization having established the Scholarship Foundation for children who lost parents in traffic accident. Therefore, he has paid attention to Izuo Church's NGO activities for long time. Izuo Church expects further activity of Mr. Yamamoto who has proposed many legislation, although he is a member of non government party.

The Second Memorial Service for the Late Rev. Toshio Miyake
On 1 September, the Second Memorial Service for the late Rev. Toshio Miyake was held at the Konko Church of Izuo leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated. There were approx. 1,000 attendees beside it was not announced to the public.

Rev. M. Miyake opened the Altar

The prayer was chanted in front of the altar which decorated flowers and hung a huge picture of the late reverend. The perishables was also offered for the altar, then the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake (the successor of the late reverend), his wife, family, and relatives offered the sacred twig wishing the peace of the soul.

the memorial ceremony

Following the ceremony, Senior Chief Minister delivered a sermon to concentrate all believers' eagerness on the 75th cerebration for the late Rev. Toshio Miyake's missionary work that would be held 5 months later.
On the next day, the Miyakes and some believers visited the Miyake family tome in Wakayama Prefecture.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake offered the sacred twig for the tome