In response to the knot on the evening of July 26, a Ceremony to reinstall the Kanrodai will be held.

• “Commencement of Activities Ceremony” August 8, 9:00 a.m.
• Ceremony to reinstall the Kanrodai August 24, 6:30 p.m.; evening service will be held from 5:30 p.m., an hour and a half earlier than usual *This will be followed by a thanksgiving service

On July 26, the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba, sponsored by Church Headquarters, began.

At least 30 attractions are available, including pools, Ninja Village, and musicals. This year’s theme is “Spreading smiles. Mutual help.”

Over 20,000 children are expected to return during the Children’s Pilgrimage, which is scheduled to run until August 4.

At around 18:20 on July 26, we were shown the knot of a trespasser entering the Inner Sanctuary and knocking over the upper sections of the Kanrodai.

The evening service was held as scheduled that evening.

After evening service, an emergency meeting of Honbu-in (executive officers of Church Headquarters) was held. The Shinbashira spoke at the start of the meeting. The assembled Honbu-in then held a discussion on the knot.

Record rains in northern Kyushu left 29 dead and 21 missing and much damage in its wake. On July 11, the Fukuoka Diocese Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps (DRHC) were dispatched to Asakura City.

On top of clearing debris from homes and a preschool, DRHC members distributed water to 1,600 homes cut off from the water supply. Finally, Fukuoka Diocese members cooked a meal at an elementary school serving as shelter for displaced residents.

On July 9, Tenrikyo Oceania Centre held a service commemorating its 20^th anniversary. The Shinbashira, his wife Harue, and Successor Designate Daisuke Nakayama attended the service.

Brisbane, where the centre is located, is one of Australia’s three biggest cities. It is warm all year round and is filled with tourists.

The Shinbashira then shared his thoughts regarding the significance of the centre and expressed his hope for followers to forge ahead spiritedly for the path in Oceania.

This was followed by a joyous performance of the service. The 160 or so followers who assembled sang to the Mikagura-uta.

At the post-service reception, followers offered songs and dance.

On April 23, the opening ceremony for Tenri Plaza in front of the train station took place. Named Tenri Plaza CoFuFun, the plaza has stores and a extensive playground. Tenri school clubs such as Tenri University Gagaku Society and Tenri Kyoko Gakuen High School’s Violet Impluse performed at the opening ceremony. Also, Tenrikyo Doyusha set up temporary shops to sell spicy curry-filled bread.

On April 18, Oyasama’s 219th birthday was celebrated. Many followers returned to the Parental Home for the event. The Shinbashira served as chief officiant for Oyasama Birth Celebration Service. After the reading of the service prayer, the Kagura (masked dance) and Teodori (dance with hand movements) were performed. Followers sang the Mikagura-uta with joy in their hearts. Following the Service was the “Joyous Chorus,” which presented the “Oyasama Birth Celebration Song” and five other songs, creating a festive mood in the Inner Courtyard of the Main Sanctuary.

Followers from Kumamoto Grand Church participate in a “prayer for recovery” event a year after the 2016 Kumamoto quake. Followers made soup and roll sandwiches.

The Students Association Pilgrimage to Jiba for Tenrikyo 180 was held on March 28 in the Inner Courtyard of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. Students from across the country flocked to Oyasato, the Parental Home.

The Shinbashira spoke of the importance of learning the teachings and expressed his hope that students will grow up into fine members of the path in the future by repeatedly setting their minds at each development in their lives. This was followed by student representatives sharing their faith experiences and a declaration of resolve. Students pledged to grow up into Yoboku who will carry the faith into the next generation and closed the event with the singing of Kibo no hana (flower of hope). 

The High School Graduates Division of the Students Training Course, sponsored by Tenrikyo Church Headquarters, was held between March 10 and 12. The course, in its third year of existence, assembled about 350 students. Participants deepened friendships with their peers through group work, listening to lectures, and engaging in hinokishin together.