Shikishima Followers Dormitory (Image source: http://profile.ameba.jp/fugo0330/)

Tenrikyo-Related Facilities to Accept Up to 3,000 People Displaced by the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake Until the End of September

According to the situation as grasped by the National Police Agency, the number of evacuees from Fukushima, Miyagi, and other prefectures that have been greatly impacted continue to increase. Numerous evacuees currently find themselves having no choice but to live in evacuation sites which have multiplied in many prefectures.

In response to such severe circumstances, Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Headquarters set up an office to accept displaced persons on March 22 (Shinsai hisai-sha ukeire taisaku-shitsu).

In cooperation with Tenri City and Nara Prefecture, the office has extended an offer to local governments to accept up to 3,000 displaced persons at various Tenrikyo-related facilities in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, until September 2011.

(Translated by TR Translation Staff. To Japanese article: 被災者３千人受け入れへ)

A separate announcement on the Japanese Tenrikyo website provides the following information:

• The above offer has been extended to 3,000 displaced followers and non-followers alike. Elementary and junior high school-age students will have the option to attend Tenri City public schools.
• Room and board is free through September 2011. Arrangements may be made for anyone needing extension beyond this date.

For further inquiry, please contact:

• Fukushima: Tenrikyo Iwakidaira Daikyokai
• Iwate: Tenrikyo Iwate Diocese Office
• Miyagi: Tenrikyo Miyagi Diocese Office
• Tenri City Hall: Disaster Prevention Division of General Affairs Department

Refer to the original announcement for phone numbers and addresses. (Sorry, Japanese only.)

CNN Belief Blog website on article page.

Dr. Barbara Ambros, associate professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, has written on religions’ roles in the recent disaster, including Tenrikyo’s efforts:

Tenrikyo has established a disaster response center at its headquarters in Tenri City. The group’s long history of volunteering is rooted in its religious practice of hinokishin, a contribution of voluntary labor through which adherents express their gratitude toward the divine.

Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps is equipped to work with local governmental agencies and provide assistance in emergencies. A division from Niigata Prefecture is now at work in quake-ravaged Sendai to repair broken water lines. In addition, Tenrikyo has organized a vast, multinational fundraising campaign through its branch churches in Japan and around the world.

My Take: Japanese new religions’ big role in disaster response [ CNN ]

Fukushima Prefectural Government (Image source: http://machi-ga.com)

Another quick update from the Japanese Tenrikyo website:

On the morning of March 22, Yuji Tanaka, the director of Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps Headquarters, delivered a monetary donation of 10 million yen to the Fukushima Prefectural Government.

He also used the occasion to notify prefectural officials that preparations have been made at Tenrikyo-related facilities in Tenri to welcome and accept disaster evacuees.

(Translated by TR Translation Staff. 救援活動 続報（3月22日記）)

Iwate Prefectural Office （Image source: http://machi-ga.com/)

News from the Japanese Tenrikyo website:

On March 19, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters delivered monetary donations of 10 million yen each (equivalent to US $123,564.00) to the prefectural governments of Miyagi and Iwate. Honbu-in* Yoshitaro Fukaya went to Miyagi while Honbu-in Zensuke Nakata went to Iwate. They also informed prefectural officials that preparations were being made at Tenrikyo-related facilities in Tenri to welcome and accept disaster evacuees.

On noon the same day, five water trucks left Church Headquarters for disaster zones in Iwate Prefecture.

Twelve members of the Osaka Diocese Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps were in charge of driving the water trucks to Tokyo. Saitama Diocese members of the same corps took over from there.

On the following day, March 20, 50 members of the Saitama Diocese Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps began distributing water in disaster zones within Iwate Prefecture. The unit is being stationed at Iwai Bunkyokai, a branch church in Ichinoseki City, Iwate.

(Translated by TR Translation Staff. To Japanese article: 救援活動 続報 (3月21日記))

*Note: A Honbu-in is an executive official/staff member of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters.

Leilehula High School Band in front of the Main Sanctuary - March 2011. Photo from "Hawaii News Now"

Despite the current situation in Japan, the Leilehua High School (LHS) band had followed through with their long-prepared 2-week plans to participate in a cultural exchange with the Kyoko High School in Nara, Tenri City.  They also planned to go on a tour in Tokyo, but it was canceled for safety reasons. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest news from the Japanese Tenrikyo website:

The Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps has sent their first unit, composed of Niigata Diocese Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps members, to the disaster zone. The unit distributed water in areas without running water in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

The unit is scheduled to stay between March 18 and 21.

(Translated by TR Translation Staff)

災救隊 仙台市で給水活動（３月１８日記） [ Tenrikyo Japanese Website ]

"Thinking of Japan" image art from inhabitat.com

See Tenrikyo Church Headquarters’ Official translated announcement.

The Tenrikyo Church Headquarters had just announced in English means of which donations can be accepted for funding their two initiatives in helping the victims of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami and their efforts in disaster relief. Their announcement can only be found through their RSS feed at the moment.

Donation announcement:

In response to the widespread destruction caused by the Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake, the Tenrikyo Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake Disaster Relief Headquarters (headed by Yoshitaro Ueda) is now accepting donations to “Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund” and “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps.” Donations will be accepted through Doyusha Publishing Company.

How to donate to “Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund”:

• Cash can be sent by registered mail to Tenrikyo Doyusha “Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund (Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake),” 271 Mishima, Tenri, Nara 632-0015 Japan.
• Money can be donated by postal transfer. The number and name of the postal transfer account are as follows: “00900-7-10367 Tenrikyo Doyusha.” In the space provided for remarks in the transfer form, please write “Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund (Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake).”
• Money can be donated by bank transfer. The fund is held at Tenri Branch of Nanto Bank, and the number and name of the bank transfer account are as follows: “ordinary deposit account no. 2099699 “Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund (Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake).” There is no transfer fee as of March 18.
• Donations can be brought to Tenrikyo Doyusha Publishing Company and Doyusha’s bookstores in the city of Tenri as well as to Doyusha’s Tokyo Branch. Receipts will be mailed to those who send donations by registered mail and will be given immediately to those who deliver them by hand. Donated money will go to the affected municipalities and others in order to help disaster victims and support rebuilding efforts.

– – – – – – – – –

In addition, in response to calls to aid the affected dioceses and support the efforts of Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps, another fund has been set up to accept donations: “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps.”

How to donate to “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps”:

• Cash can be sent by registered mail to Tenkyo Doyusha “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps,” 271 Mishima, Tenri, Nara 632-0015 Japan.
• Money can be donated by postal transfer. The number and name of the postal transfer account are as follows: “00900-7-10367 Tenrikyo Doyusha.” In the space provided for remarks in the transfer form, please write “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps.”
• Money can be donated by bank transfer. The fund is held at Tenri Branch of Nanto Bank, and the number and name of the bank transfer account are as follows: “ordinary deposit account 2099848 “Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps.” There is no transfer fee as of March 18.
• Donations can be brought to Tenrikyo Doyusha Publishing Company and Doyusha bookstores in the city of Tenri as well as Doyusha’s Tokyo Branch. Receipts will be mailed to those who send donations by registered mail and will be given immediately to those who deliver them by hand.

Accepting Donations for Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake Victims [ Tenrikyo International Website ]

Please contact us if you have any information concerning donations. Please help spread the word by clicking on the “Like” button or posting a comment. The link to this page will then be featured to your own profile.

You can follow TR posts on the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami here.

Thank you for your support!

Last week, the Tenrikyo Church Headquarters had announced to perform a three-day prayer service or onegai-zutome, for the recent earthquake that triggered a tsunami and put Japan in crisis. In same suit, other Tenrikyo churches have also announced to perform a three-day prayer service as well. More than ever, Japan could use all they help they can get.

I would like to explain how you can help through the Tenrikyo prayer service (onegai-zutome).

Read the rest of this entry »

Offering a summary of Tenrikyo news articles in translation concerning the recent earthquakes and tsunamis:

In response to the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters has set up the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Task Force. It will be headed by (Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs) Yoshitaro Ueda. The task force will hereby coordinate a relief effort for affected areas.

We also ask for your support for two relief funds: the Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Fund and the Tenrikyo Fund to Support Affected Dioceses and Disaster Relief Corps.

The rest of the article then goes one on to offer the following options for donors in Japan:

• Send cash by registered mail
• Donate via postal transfer
• Donate via bank transfer to an account at Nanto Bank (the transfer fee will be waved starting from 3/18)

Please refer to the Japanese article (災害救援対策本部を設置) (dated March 12) for more info.

A separate but similar article (dated March 14) announces that Doyusha publishing company in Tenri and its Tokyo branch office will also be collecting donations.

Hand-delivery of the Tenri Jiho newspaper will be suspended until further notice for the following prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Iwate, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Saitama, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata, and Yamanashi. (To Japanese article, dated March 14)

Finally:

On March 16, the disaster relief task force decided to send water trucks to affected areas. On noon the same day, ten members of the Oyasato Diocese Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps left Tenri with five water trucks. The members will make a brief stop in Niigata City and allow members of the same corps in Niigata Diocese to join them before leaving for affected areas in the Tohoku region to provide water.

(Japanese article: 給水車が被災地へ急行（３月１６日）)

Other information

I have also overheard that the worship hall and sanctuary of Sendai Daikyokai, a Tenrikyo grand church in the affected area, has become a temporary shelter for residents. Ministers are refraining from conducting the daily services out of respect for non-followers who are taking shelter in the church sanctuary.

An announcement has also been made that proceeds from the annual bazaar held by the Tenrikyo Overseas Department’s International Network for Mutual Help scheduled on April 10 will go to the disaster relief fund.

If you live outside Japan and wish to contribute through the two Tenrikyo disaster relief funds, the following overseas missions are collecting donations:

• Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters in America
• Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters in Brazil
• Tenrikyo Oceania Centre
• Tenrikyo Mission Center in Singapore
• Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii (updated)

If donating from the U.S., please click below for more information:

• Relief Fund for Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami [Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters in America]
• March 11, 2011 Earthquake & Tsunami Relief [Joyous Fragrance blog by Hiroko Okazaki]
• Accepting Donations for the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake [Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii]

(Information from TR Translation Staff)