If you haven’t heard by now, Tenri Forum 2016 will be held in five weeks on July 15 and 16. Although I don’t feel the buzz as strongly as I did for Forum 2006 and the Hawaii Convention in 2011, I look forward to attending the first day. Health issues will prevent me from attending the second day of events.

Register and get more information here

There is also a Facebook page dedicated to Tenri Forum 2016: https://www.facebook.com/tf2016

The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake had recorded quakes with the maximum seismic intensity of 7 on two occasions, damaged 74,000 homes, and left about 10,000 people displaced.

Between May 4 and 5 the Shinbashira and successor designate Daisuke Nakayama visited eight affected churches and offered words of sympathy to earthquake victims.

The first phase or expedition of the Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps (DRHC) was dispatched on April 20 and corps members supported the launch of a disaster volunteer center in Mashikimachi, covered the roofs of affected homes with blue tarp, and removed debris.

The second expedition was dispatched between April 27 and 30 and along with the third to eighth expeditions between May 2 and 20 continued to expand its activities to meet the needs of residents.

On the other hand, Oita Diocese DRHC received a request from Yufu City to carry drinking water to city hall and also engaged in recovery efforts at affected churches.

Until May 20 a total of 2883 people (including 154 Kumamoto Diocese Women’s Association members) from Church Headquarters and Oyasato DRHC, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Nara, Oita, Osaka, Yamaguchi, Wakayama, Shimane, Okayama, Tottori, Hyogo, Ehime, Kochi, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Tokushima, Kagawa, Fukui, Mie, Nagano, and Shiga dioceses took part in the relief effort.

Further, among the work petitions submitted to the volunteer center in Mashikimachi, 84 instances of debris removal, 66 block fence dismantling, 147 blue tarp roofing, and 180 home organizing were fulfilled by the DRHC.

Lastly, 10 million yen was donated to Kumamoto prefectural government on May 30.

Japanese sources

• 真柱様　被災地へお見舞いに
• 熊本地震 災救隊出動から1カ月 25教区隊延べ3000人実動
• 救援募金　熊本へ

40,000 homes have been damaged by the Kumamoto earthquake. The second phase of Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps (DRHC) was dispatched on April 27 to Mashikimachi, an area that suffered substantial damage. A total of 377 members from Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Nara, and Oyasato Diocese DRHC participated in clearing debris over four days.

On April 29, the annual Hinokishin Day was held throughout Japan and abroad. In Oyasato, 4,000 Tenrikyo Church Headquarters staff, students, Shuyoka students and others broke up into 51 groups and cleaned areas throughout Tenri City. Participants built up a sweat of spiritedness and gratitude on the first event of its kind involving the entire congregation in this year of the 130^th Anniversary of Oyasama.

On April 19, 4:30 p.m., Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps (DRHC) Headquarters dispatched a team to Kumamoto. Director of Administrative Affairs Rev. Zensuke Nakata gave an address at the departure ceremony. The dispatched staff is scheduled to join local diocese DRHC.

Kumamoto earthquake recorded magnitude 7 on two occasions and damaged 10,000 homes. The DRHC were dispatched to Mashikimachi between April 20 and 24. A total of 416 DRHC members helped clear debris. A second group is scheduled to be dispatched on April 28.

(Simple translation of video narrative)

On April 3, “All-Japan Judo Invitational Tournament” was held at Fukuoka International Center. Shohei Ono, an athlete and graduate student at Tenri University, participated.

Ono entered the 73-kg weight division. The tournament also determined spots in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Ono easily made his way through the first and second rounds. In the final round Ono went up against London Olympics silver medalist Riki Nakaya. Ono pressed ahead and won by judge’s decision.

After the tournament, Ono was selected as a representative to Rio de Janeiro Olympics to be held in August, where he stated he would like to display Tenri Judo.

Again, a hasty translation of the accompanying video:

On March 28, high school and college-aged students connected to the faith returned to Jiba to attend the 130^th Anniversary of Oyasama Tenrikyo Student Association Pilgrimage to Jiba, which was held in the Inner Courtyard of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters.

The slogan of this year’s event was “Yoboku who will lead in the next generation.” The event attracted 9,266 attendees, the most ever.

The Shinbashira Zenji Nakayama gave an address in which he spoke of how TSA members ought to be and of his hope those attending will grow up to be able to judge matters based on the Tenrikyo faith.

The event ended with the singing of the “image song” Kibo no hana (Flower of hope). The students’ joyful singing resounded in the Inner Courtyard.

• Japanese article: 教祖130年祭 学生おぢばがえり大会 開く

The 130th Anniversary of Oyasama was held. Read the rest of this entry »

Uploading more disaster relief news, with a video and hasty translation of the narrative:

The Tenrikyo Disaster Relief Hinokishin Corps (DRHC) from Ibaraki Diocese were dispatched between October 29 and November 3 to areas inundated by the Kinugawa River after heavy rains struck the Kanto region. Read the rest of this entry »

Ancient Orient Museum in Tokyo (Photo source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/onodera1203/33676365.html)

Presenting information and related videos on ongoing exhibits from Tenri Sankokan and Tenri Central Library.

Read the rest of this entry »