A couple more videos (in Japanese only) about the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba (Kodomo Ojiba Gaeri or KOG) have been posted on the Tenrikyo Japanese website.
Video 1: Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba: Followers Dormitories
Here is a translation of the narration:
Many children from all over the world, not to mention Japan, returned for this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba that began on July 26.
Returning children stay at various followers dormitories (tsumesho) throughout “The Home of the Parent” (Oyasato).
At the over 200 dormitory in Tenri, children eat and live together as a group. By doing so, they learn to practice the “Three Promises”: (1) Savor the joy of living, (2) Take good care of things, and (3) Help one another.
Each dormitory has prepared various attractions and stalls for the enjoyment of returning children.
Here, at Oka Dormitory, the giant slide is popular with the kids. There is also an event called “Fureai Hiroba” (personal get-together) that allow children and accompanying staff enjoy the summer in Jiba.
Many people returned for this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage from areas affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
Staying at Asakusa-Fukagawa Dormitory was a pilgrimage group comprised of children from Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, and members of the Tairyo Utaikomi Preservation Society, Sakihama and Shibitachi districts.
Members of the Tairyo Utaikomi Preservation Society returned to Jiba at this time to express their appreciation for Tenrikyo’s relief efforts in Kesennuma City with a performance of Tairyo Utaikomi.
The Tairyo Utaikomi is a traditional fishermen’s song (translator’s note: presumably sung to bring in a big catch of fish) that has been sung for almost 340 years and designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Kesennuma City. The bold fishermen’s song expressing gratitude and joy, coupled with dormitory staff helped stir up a warm feeling.
(Read the related Japanese language article here: 立教174年こどもおぢばがえり開催中 「信者詰所」(8月3日記))
Video 2: Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba Comes to a Close
Here is a translation of the narration:
This year’s Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba finalized its ten-day program and came to a close on August 4. Returning children from around Japan departed Jiba with fun memories in their hearts.
The theme for this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage was “All people are brothers and sisters. Let’s return to the Home of the Parent.” Roughly 233,000 people from across the country and the globe returned to Jiba, humanity’s homeland.
The “Grand Finale” was held after the Oyasato Parade on August 4, marking the end of this year’s Children’s Pilgrimage events.
(Read the related Japanese language article here: 立教174年こどもおぢばがえり“思い出を胸に”閉幕(8月5日記))
