The sacred hall of Kasugaoka Church was decorated with perishables offered for the alter. The service was leaded by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake who was appointed to the Chief Minister in February of last year. Following the service, the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake made a salmon.

Other three branch churches also cerebrated 35th or 45th year in April and May.


■ 2001 June

Wakayama Region Assembly was held
On 3 June, Wakayama Region Assembly was held in Wakayama city. Mr. Isao Shimizu opened the assembly as the moderator and Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister's Designated of Konko Church of Izuo, leaded the service.

Among the attendants, Mr. Suguru Tabita, Mayor of Wakayama, took part in. He's visited Izuo Church every time he faced to difficulties, since he was impressed by the late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the founder of Izuo Church.

On behalf of the believers, two women made a speech about their experience, then bouquets were presented for the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church, and Rev. Mitsuo Miyake. Following the service, the most reverend delivered the commemorative lecture. In the end of the assembly, the declaration was announced.

Before the assembly, the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake visited Miyake's family grave to offer pray wishing the success of the Region Assembly.

Konko-kyo Cerebrated the 101st Anniversary
On 10 June, the commemorative grand service was held at the headquarters of Konko-kyo in Okayama Prefecture, in order to cerebrate the 101st year of independence.

commemorative photograph

Konko-kyo was established in 1859 by Konko Daijin, however, it took 41 years to be authorized by the government as an independent religious organization in 1900. Until then, it was positioned as a sect of Shinto.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake in the front line

Approx. 1,500 believers including the most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Konko Church of Izuo, and his wife, took part in the service and teachers who had served for 40 years were awarded by Patriarch.

Rev. Tatsuo Miyake was also awarded

Following the service, the re-election of the most Rev. Heiki Konko for Patriarch was cerebrated with the performance of chorus and orchestra.

48th Kinki Region Religious Women Association
On 12 June, 48th Kinki Region Religious Women Association was held at the hotel in Kyoto with approx. 1,000 attendants. From Konko Church of Izuo, Mrs. Sugako Miyake, wife of Senior Chief Minister serving as Chair of Osaka Religious Women Association, Mrs. Takako Miyake, wife of Chief Minister's Designated, and 60 female believers took part in.

This organization was founded in May 1949 under the cooperation of the late Mrs. Tomoko Otani, a sister of the former Empress marrying Chief Abbot of Higashi Honguanji Temple, and the late Mrs. Tsune Miyake, wife of the former Chief Minister of Izuo Church. It was when Japan still suffered with the poverty and confusion of the World War �U. It has been tackling with social problems for 52 years.

hall filled with religious women)

The assembly contained prayer in silence, lecture, bazaar, and speech delivered by representatives of each prefecture. On behalf of Osaka prefecture, Mrs. Sugako Miyake made a speech excellently about how religious women should behave in the confused society in new century.


IRFO's Seasonal Conference was Held
On 14 June, International Religious Fellowship of Osaka (IRFO) 2001 second conference was held at the International Conference Hall in Konko Church of Izuo inviting Dr. Nobuyuki Kaji, professor emeritus of the University of Osaka who is the authority of Confucianism, as the lecturer.

attendee listening to Dr. Kaji

Before the lecture, the second board meeting of 2001 was also held. The executives gave mourning prayer for the victims killed in the incident occurred at the elementary school in Osaka on 8 June.

The seasonal conference was opened with prayer for peace leaded by the Most Ven. Eiki Ikeda, the former Chief Abbot of Shingon-shu Nakayama-dera sect, and the opening address delivered by the Most Ven. Jisho Omori, President of IRFO and the Chief Abbot of Benten-shu.

Dr. Kaji gave a lecture passionatelyi

Then Dr. Kaji gave the commemorative lecture under the title of "Circle of Life, Filial Piety (principle of Confucianism): from Memorial Service to Genetic Technology." He explained clearly about the meaning of mess for ancestors that is the common base of all Japanese religions. He mentioned the difference between the treatment for the victims of Ehimemaru accident in which the training ship sank by the submarine USS Greenville with some Japanese high school students off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in this spring and the treatment for the victims killed 60 years ago by the bombing by Japanese Imperial Navy at Pearl Harbor, in order to clarify the importance of filial piety.

Dr. Kaji, Ven. Omori, and Rev. Miyake enjoyed conversation

(After the coffee brake, they had significant time for Q&A moderated by Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Izuo Church. At the end of the assembly, the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Chair of the IRFO offered the closing address.

The Annual Assembly of Youth Association was held
On 17 June, the Youth Annual Assembly was held at Konko Church of Izuo to commemorate the 74th year of the Youth Association. The commemorative service was leaded by Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, Chief Minister Designated of Izuo Church. Mr. Shoichiro Yoshimura, President of the youth association, delivered opening address. Then Ms. Kiyomi Takeda made a speech on behalf of members.

Mr. Yoshimura opened the conference

Following the service, the lecture titled "Can USJ Bring Change for Osaka?" was delivered by Mr. Tsukasa Fujimoto, Director of Economy Division of Osaka Municipal Government. The Universal Studios Japan was opened in Osaka this spring and Mr. Fujimoto is called "Father of USJ" because he contributed for its kickoff as the Chief of General Affairs of the USJ co.

He talked about how they make people delighted, not only about the economic ripple effect brought to Osaka that aims for the international tourist city. He described how USJ raised the domestic status of Osaka and made her the city fascinating people all over the world, as the result it changed Osaka citizen's mind and improved amenity.

the young members listening to Mr. Fujimoto carefully

At the end of the Annual Assembly, they played bingo livened up for USJ tickets.

The Farewell Reception for Russian Consul General
On 21 June, the farewell reception for Mr. Uladimir K. Fedorov, Russian Consul General for Osaka. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, Executive Director of Konko Church of Izuo, attended. Izuo Church has had good relationship with Russia for more than 50 years. The late Rev. Toshio Miyake, the former Chief Minister, visited Russia several times to have summit meetings with top leaders at Kremlin and Russian Orthodox Church.

Rev. Y. Miyake and Consul General Fedorov

Rev. Miyake had researched about the Russian Orthodox Church for his thesis in the Divinity School of Doshisha University, so he exchanged opinions with priests and he deepened friendship Consul Generals from the U.S., Britain, India, and Thailand attending the reception.

On 22 June, Osaka Pref. Religious Organizations Federation held the General Assembly of 2001 at Konko Church of Izuo. More than 50 representatives from constituents such as Jinja-cho (Association of Shinto Shrines), Federation of Sectarian Shinto, Japan Buddhist Federation, Japan Christianity Federation, Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan, and etc,.

The General Assembly is managed annually by the belonging organization in turn, Izuo Church is in charge this year.

attendee listening carefully to Prof. Araki

At the first, the proxy of Governor of Osaka Pref. delivered the congratulatory speech, and Ven. Ryojun Oshima (Tendai-shu) as Chair of Kinki Religious Organizations Federation, and Ven. Teien Masuda (Shin-shu Otani sect), as Chair of Osaka Religious Organizations Federation offered a message.

Then Prof. Michio Araki, the professor emeritus of the Study of Religion at Tsukuba University, gave the keynote speech titled "Challenges imposed on Religion and Crises of City." He explained the root of problems in the present society, referring human society's transition since the establishment of city in the era of Mesopotamia and the foundation of "religion" by Shakyamuni or Jesus denying the transition.

Following the assembly, the reception was held at the Jinrui-Kyoeikai Hall, in order to deepen friendship among members. The reception was opened by the address offered by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, Senior Chief Minister of Izuo Church.

General Meeting of Kinki Region Consultation Conference of WFM was held
On 27 June, the 2001 General Meeting of Kinki Region Consultation Conference of World Federalist Movement (WFM) was held at Konko Church of Izuo with 20 representatives of the region.

The meeting was started with the opening address made by the Most Rev. Tatsuo Miyake, President of Kinki Region Consultation Conference of World Federalist Movement. This conference is the unique organization established to reply for the boom of WFM among municipal governments in the post-W.W. II. Now it contains not only civil campaigners and religious people, but also Governor of Osaka Pref., Mayor of Osaka City, and mayors of 5 cities in Kansai region.

Mr. Kazuhiko Kawamura as Vice Chair of executives and secretary general of the conference, made the lecture titled "WFM in present and the future." In the general meeting, all the matters such as budget, personnel changes etc., were approved as the draft.

Thanks Giving Service was Held
On 30 June, Thanks Giving Service of first half of 2001 was held at Hiromae (sacred hall) of Konko Church of Izuo. At this service, believers reviewed their immorality occurred unconsciously in the half year, and prayed for Kami's (God's) blessing in the next 6 months. Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake as the Chief Priest of the service, purified the altar, kekkai (confessional) and attendees.