■ 2003 April

Pilgrimage the Konko Headquarters
On April 6, believers of Konko Church of Izuo chartered a train to visit the Konko Headquarters in Konko-town, Okayama Prefecture from Osaka. Tamamizu Church and Abeno Church also carried out the visiting to Headquarters from Osaka on the same day, so Osaka station was filled with Konko believers with flag in the hand.

Rev. M. Miyake offered a prayer in front of the Church members' tomb

First, they held a service leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated, in front of the tomb for Izuo Church just after they dropped at the rest station. The Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake gave a sermon at the service.

believers listening carefully to the most reverend

Then they attended the Spring Grand Service held at the worshiping hall leaded by the Patriarch Heiki Konko-sama V and registered their visiting. Before leaving for Osaka, they paid a visit to the mausoleum of Konko Daijin who is the Founder of Konko Church, a Shinto Denomination, on Mt. Yuzaki.

Visitor from the Immunotherapy Association
On April 12, Ven. Fumiya Sakow, the new Director General of the Immunotherapy Association that is known for it's unique treatment for cancer, Hasumi Vaccination, visited Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo in order to inform his assignment for Director General.

Ven. Sakow and Rev. Miyake

Ven. Sakow who is a monk of Jodo-shin-shu Hongwanji School acting globally, and Rev. Miyake are old friends since they were university students; they cooperated to hold an open lecture by the former United States President Jimmy Carter at Izuo Church in 1991.

The 7th anniversary of Sun Messe Nichinan
On April 13, Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, attended the 7th anniversary ceremony of Sun Messe Nichinan, a theme park in Miyazaki Prefecture.

you can easily find huge Moai statues

Itto-en, the spiritual training group whose headquarters is located in Kyoto established and runs Sun Messe Nichinan as leisure facility to learn ecology. Itto-en is the only organization that is authorized to produce an imitation Moai statue by Chili government as appreciation for its contribution to restore Moai statues in Easter Island. Therefore, the Moai statues placed in this park are perfectly same size and same shape with one in Easter Island. The park is popular as the new sightseeing destination in Nichinan region with the huge Moai statues stiff standing with sea in the background.

Rev. Miyake standing in front of "Thanks the Earth Bell"

There is "Thanks the Earth Bell" established on the hilltop in the park made of stone carved thanks message for the earth from the religious leaders in the world. The message from the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Chief Minister of Izuo Church, is also carved as the first one with other leaders including Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr. and Mrs. Williams Visited KCI
On April 16, Dr. and Mrs. George Williams, Professor of Religious History at University of California at Chico, visited Konko Church of Izuo, on the way of world cruise for approx. 700 students by a luxury liner to learn in the field about the history and culture of every region of the whole world.

Dr. and Mrs. Williams received Toritsugi*1 at Kekkai*2

They originally planned to travel around from East cost of the US to Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and Nagasaki Japan, then go back to the US West coast, however, shore-going to Vietnam, Cambodia, and China was canceled because of the serious epidemic of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and dropped at Pusan Korea, and Osaka.

Dr. and Mrs. Williams went strait to the sacred hall at Izuo Church to pay a formal visit and offer a sacred twig to the altar. They had been to Izuo Church several times and met the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Senior Chief Minister, therefore they kept their eyes with deep concerns to him on huge his picture hang on in front of the altar for long time.

the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake and Dr. and Mrs. Williams

Then they met the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, and Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director, who is in charge of International Association of Religious Freedom (IARF), to exchange the opinions on management of IARF. Dr. Williams strictly criticized the strategy of the present board of IARF at the 31st World Congress held in Budapest in the last summer, and would like to discuss with Izuo Church that had been leading the organization for long years.

*1 Toritsugi: mediation by the high reverend of Konko Church
*2 Kekkai: the sacred field for Toritsugi-mediation

Spring Grand Service
On April 25, Konko Church of Izuo held Spring Grand Service leaded by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister, to appreciate to Oya-gami*1.

Grand Service

It started at 2 o'clock with traditional Shinto music. There were no less than 1,000 congregations gathered from all over the country beside it was the previous day of Golden Week holidays more over the monthly closing day. A lot of perishables were dedicated to the altar and the most reverend chanted a Konko prayer, offered a sacred twig to the altar, and delivered a sermon.

attendees listening to the most reverend

*1 Oya-gami: Principal Parent of the Universe, the Deity of Konko Church

Eco-friendly Activity
The precincts of Konko Church of Izuo is kept gardenizing by volunteers through a year, especially on Green day, (a National Holiday of April 29, it was the birthday of the former Emperor) a lot of believers come to take care of the Church garden.

commemorative photo

On April 29, it was beautiful day in fresh green season, more than 100 young and elder believers worked pleasantly from early morning to around 3 pm.