News

From 5th to 7th January every year, the Sechi Festival lively takes place in Jiba, which is an annual event sponsored by Church Headquarters to serve zoni, a special New Year’s soup containing rice cakes that had been offered to God the Parent at the New Year’s Day Service, to those who returned to Jiba for their new year greetings to God the Parent and Oyasama.

In parallel with this event, the “Sechi Festival Students Hinokishin Corps” was orgnised this year once again, and Mr. Yonehiro Masuno, a high school student sent by Church Headquarters to Australia to live in Brisbane participated in the Corps. All of them enjoyed engaging in hinokishin as a server or a guide, together with hundreds of students gathering from throughout the country.

At Tasman Fellowship NZ/Auckland

From 11th until 22nd of November, Rev. Noriaki Nagao, vice-head of the Overseas Department, and Rev. Hinao Nagao, chief of the North America & Oceania Section, made their missionary visits respectively to not only the Oceania Centre, but also the church and fellowships in the region.

Rev. Noriaki Nagao, who made his first visit to the region, arrived in Sydney to attend the Sydney Service Convention on 13th November, and then continued his visit to the church and fellowships in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane. He attended the Centre’s November monthly service where he delivered the sermon on 20th , and stayed until 22nd. On the other hand, Rev. Hinao Nagao, who made his first trip to the region since becoming the chief of the section last September, visited Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from 11th to 16th. During his stay in the region, he encouraged students sent from Church Headquarters, attended the Sydney Service Convention, and paid a visit to the church and fellowships in Sydney and Melbourne.

From 27th December to 1st January every year, the Woodford Folk Festival, one of the biggest music festivals in Australia, is held in a suburb of the rural town of Woodford which is located about 70 km north of Brisbane. World famous artists and local musicians participate in the festival together with poets, theatre show artists and academians, holding live performances, literature forums, comedy shows, workshops, symposiums, etc. This time, responding to the initial approach from Mr. Yomei Nakajima, a Shakuhachi player living in Brisbane, some volunteer followers in our region performed the Gagaku music at the festival this time.

The Gagaku performance was conducted from 8:00 p.m. on 29th December at the “Folk Lorica” where folk music and dance performances all over the world are shown. This performance was led by Mr. Yukihiro Doi, a doctoral student who is researching Aboriginal music at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, having been sent from Tenri University Oyasato Research Institute. Mr. Doi first introduced the history of the Gagaku music as well as the activities of the Tenri Uniersity Gagaku Music Society in the world using a Power Point presentation, and then performed “Etenraku”, a very famous piece of Gagaku music, together with four other members including Ms. Cornelia Dragusin, a doctoral student who is researching Tenrikyo music at the ANU, Mr. Yomei Nakajima and two staff members from the Oceania Centre, which attracted the audiences very much.

New Year's Day service Performance

Blessed with perfect fine weather for the first time after many years, the New Year’s Day Service of the Oceania Centre in the 175th Year of Tenrikyo was performed joyously and spiritedly from 11:00 a.m. on the first of January (25 attendees).

In the prayer, Rev. Adachi, head of the Centre, thanked for God the Parent’s unlimited blessings we received throughout the past year and expressed his joy and gratitude for the safe arrival of the new year. Furthermore, concerning the activities of Yoboku throughout the new year, quoting the Shinbashira’s words at the Autumn Grand Service last year: “When it comes to those of us who have faith in Oyasama’s teachings, it is important, I think, to accept it as a stern way in which God the Parent is telling us something and to ponder deeply over it because we are taught that natural disasters can be seen as expressions of God’s regret and anger. While we cannot necessarily generalise about how to interpret what God is saying to us, I think we would do well to begin by reflecting critically on ourselves, asking ourselves whether or not we have been living in a way that fails to accord with God’s intention”.

Rev. Adachi pledged that all of us Yoboku and followers in this diocese would exert our utmost to respond in the new year to the intention of God the Parent in our daily life, as well as to continuously nurture as many “real Yoboku” as possible who engage in spreading the teachings.

After the service, Rev. Adachi made his new year’s greetings, instead of the delivery of a sermon, and all the attendees were provided with Japanese Sake, which had been offered to God the Parent. After that, Osechi-ryori (Japanese festival dishes for the new year) prepared by the Centre was served for lunch and all present shared a good time with each other in a friendly atmosphere of the New Year’s Day.

On 28th December, the annual year-end general cleaning was conducted in the Centre from 9:30 a.m. 17 Yoboku, followers and TOC staff sincerely engaged in hinokishin, cleaning the sanctuary and the Youth Hall.

On 30th, the rice-cake pounding was conducted at the Centre from 8:30 a.m.  17 people including followers gathered and had a good time. The rice-cake pounded was used for Kagami-mochi (a round rice-cake) to be offered to God at the New Year’s Day Service of the Centre, and, in addition, small rice-cakes made were also handed out after the service to each attendee of the service, who enjoyed Japanese-style New Year’s Day.

Pilgrimage to Jiba for 174th Year Autumn Grand Service

On 26th October, the Autumn Grand Service in the 174th year of the Teaching was performed joyously in Jiba, the hometown of all humankind, to which a great number of followers of the Path returned from every corner of the world.

17 pilgrims from different cities in our region including Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns and Auckland returned to Jiba prior to the Autumn Grand Service and stayed at their affiliated followers’ dormitories or churches. On 25th, they attended the “Overseas Department Seminar”, joined the “Dinner Party for Overseas Followers” sponsored by the Overseas Department, and shared a memorable time with many other followers from various countries.

On the following day, the day for the Autumn Grand Service, they worshipped at the Autumn Grand Service, which was performed in commemoration of the day of origin of the founding of the Teaching, listened attentively to the sermon delivered by the Shinbashira, and reaffirmed their resolution toward the next milestone. After the Grand Service, they assembled and took a commemorative group photo in front of the Black Gate.

During this period, Ms. Aki Umamoto (Sakurai/Shinkyo: living in Cairns) and Ms. Kayoko Wallis (Sumoto/Taiten: living in Cairns) received the truth of the Sazuke.

Tenrikyo Students Assoc. of Oceania Held “2011 Students of the Path Hinokishin Day”

On 11th and 24th September, the “2011 Students of the Path Hinokishin Day”, sponsored by Tenrikyo Students Association of Oceania, was lively held in Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

The “Students of the Path Hinokishin Day” is a unified event sponsored by Tenrikyo Students Association, and held once a year with the purpose that students of the Path, regardless of their dioceses, church affiliation and so forth, spiritedly engage in hinokishin activities on the same day at their respective places by inviting as many friends as possible, share their feeling of joy and gratitude for being kept alive by God the Parent, and spread it to the local community as well as to the world. With this objective, the event was held in Sydney for the first time, whereas the one in Brisbane marked the second, continuing from the previous year.

In Sydney, the event was held on 11th September where 11 youths including boys and girls participated in hinokishin which started right after the monthly service of the Tono Sydney Fellowship, to pick up rubbish from the streets and the park in the neighbourhood of the fellowship under the blue sky. Meanwhile, hinokishin in Brisbane was conducted on Saturday, 24th from 10 a.m. where 11 university and high school students picked up rubbish in high spirits from the streets around the Calamvale Community College which is located near from the Centre, and shared the feeling of joy and gratitude together.

Sydney Service Convention AU/Sydney

On Sunday 13th November, the “3rd Sydney Service Convention” was successfully held at Tono Sydney Fellowship (head: Rev. Yozo Suzuki), as part of the Fellowship’s November monthly service in the presence of Rev. Noriaki Nagao, vice-head of the Overseas Department, Rev. Hinao Nagao, chief of the North America & Oceania Section and Rev. Masafumi Adachi, head of the Oceania Centre. The convention has been held every year since two years ago for the purpose of raising Sydney followers’ awareness of the Service and sowing the seeds of the Joyous Life to the local community by uniting their minds as one through performing the Service. Toward the convention, some of the followers in Sydney started to practice the hand dance and musical instruments every weekend afternoon a few months ago.

Gathered by 24 Yoboku and followers including children regardless of church affiliation, the service convention was started from 10:30 a.m. with the service prayer read by Rev. Suzuki, adults and children intermingled to perform the seated service, the first half of the Twelve Chapters and the second half in high spirits.

After the service, Rev. Hinao Nagao delivered a commemorative speech, followed by the greetings from Rev. Noriaki Nagao. All of the convention participants listened to them attentively and realised by heart how important and wonderful the Service is.

After the convention, the lunch party was conducted in a lively fashion. Various delicious dishes were served including those brought by some followers, BBQ and so on.  In addition, “Suzuki Draft Beer”, a well-known draft beer made by Rev. Suzuki added an extra touch to the party where everyone enjoyed eating, drinking and talking to deepen their friendship.

On 24th & 25th September, the “6th Oceania Seminar” was lively held at the Oceania Centre. This seminar has been conducted twice a year since two years ago for the purpose of nurturing a “real Yoboku” who can perform the service and engage in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings and salvation work toward the next milestone. This time 14 followers of the path, including 10 men and 4 women, assembled mainly from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and shared a very significant and fruitful time together by earnestly learning the basic teachings, spiritedly practicing the musical instruments and the hand dance for the service, and positively exchanging their thoughts in the discussion sessions.

In the opening ceremony starting from 1:30 p.m. on 24th, immediately after worshipping God the Parent and Oyasama, Rev. Tony Cheng made his opening remarks. In the introduction session which followed, the participants easily opened up to each other because all of them already knew each other. In Lecture One, Rev. Cheng delivered the lecture on “Divine Guidance” based on Chapter Six of the Doctrine of Tenrikyo as a textbook. Citing his own experiences, Rev. Cheng explained in an easy manner “Divine Guidance” which is shown to us in the form of illness and trouble, which got a favourable reception from the participants.

From 4 o’clock, Discussion Session One was held. The participants first watched a video of “Tenrikyo Hawaii Convention 2011” which was held in Hawaii last May. Then three participants who had attended the Convention respectively gave their impressions about it. Divided into two groups, they exchanged their feelings about the Convention as well as Tenrikyo international events.

After the evening service and dinner, the practice session of the musical instruments for the service was instructed by Rev. Adachi. First, everyone revised the “Seated Service”, “Yorozuyo” and up to “Song Eight”, and then newly learned “Song Nine” and “Song Ten” together. The same as previously, since all of them were able to play the instruments to some degree, the participants challenged any instruments that they were not good at in a positive manner.

Day Two started with clean-up hinokishin in the fresh early morning air. After morning service and breakfast, the participants listened attentively to a lecture on the Mikagura-uta by Rev. Adachi. They learnt the meaning of the songs and the hand movements in Song Two in Part V as well as the Construction, the theme of this Song, which attracted the participants’ attention. Then the hand dance practice was instructed by Rev. Adachi. The participants first reviewed the basic hand movements as well as the hand movements from the “Seated Service” to “Song Six” together, and learned “Song VII” this time.

After lunch with curry and rice, Discussion Session Two was held from one o’clock. The participants first watched a video of the “Singable and Danceable Mikagura-uta (SDM)” demonstrated at the Hawaii Convention, which was an important theme of the seminar this time. Then divided into two groups, they exchanged their impressions and opinions about the SDM as well as how they could get involved with the SDM project in the future as followers living in Oceania. Then finally the representative of each group reported the opinions formed within the group. Most of them seemed very interested in the SDM.

Then followed the Overall Practice Service which was one of the highlights in this Seminar. All of the 14 participants sincerely performed from the Seated Service to Song three, Song Four to Song Six, and Song Seven to Song Ten by playing the musical instruments or hand-dancing by rotation, which provided them with a valuable opportunity to feel how wonderful the Service is and to know how important “unity of mind” is. In the closing ceremony, each participant was presented with a certificate of attendance signed by Rev. Cheng and Rev. Adachi. In this way, the two-day and one-night Seminar this time was successfully completed with joy, and all the participants expressed on their faces a sense of fulfilment and expectation for their spiritual growth.

Having successfully completed the “6th Oceania Seminar” without mishap, we become more confident that we have made a further step forward to nurture Yoboku for the future path in the Oceania region. At the same time, we feel the need to create an environment in which as many Yoboku and followers in the diocese, especially from such distant cities as Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland can participate in this seminar. We ask for your support and cooperation.

The next seminar is scheduled to be held on 25th to 26th February next year.

“TOC Choir” Held First Study & Practice Session!

Immediately after the monthly service luncheon on 17th July, the first study and practice session of the “TOC Choir” was held where 20 people, old and young, attended with keen interest, which acquired a good reputation. The “TOC Choir” was formed targeting anyone interested in singing, regardless of being a Tenrikyo follower or not, with the aim of learning vocie phonation techniques so that you can sing the Mikagura-uta, the Songs for the Service, more beautifully, loudly and easily. Another purpose is for promoting mutual friendship through the choir activities. The “TOC Choir” will conduct its activities focusing on an immediate goal to perform at the “TOC Summer Festival” which is held in January every year.

In the study and practice session which started from 1:30 p.m. led by Mrs. Layla Sainsbury who is an active professional singer, the participants first learned how to use the voice properly, did the basics of voice exercises, and finally enjoyed singing two songs, “Imagine” and “A Reflection of Truth” together.

An Australian Participated in “Overseas Boys & Girls Hinokishin Corps” in Jiba

The “Overseas Boys & Girls Hinokishin Corps” was spiritedly held in Jiba from 25th to 30th July this year once again in line with “Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba” that is held in Jiba from late July to early August every year. The event this year was attended by 85 members from nine different countries and regions including Australia, USA, Canada, Taiwan, etc.

There was one participant from Australia, Mr. Yuki Suzuki, son of the Tono Sydney Fellowship’s head. During the period, staying at Moya 38, he experienced an unforgettable summer in Jiba by actively engaging in tea-serving hinokishin, practicing the musical instruments, taking part in some events of Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba, and appearing in the Oyasato Parade, together with other members from the different places in the world. Then he safely returned to Australia on 2nd August, having made a lot of new friends, and bringing back uncountable memories as well as a precious souvenir in his mind from Jiba.

In addition, Mrs. Kazumi Suzuki, wife of the Tono Sydney Fellowship’s head, did hinokishin by washing clothes at Moya 38. We appreciate her sincere hinokishin.

For 18 days from 7th to 24th August, six students (leader: Mr. Takaharu Odo) of Tenri University Yoboku Association Australia Group visited Australia. Staying at the Oceania Centre as their base and engaging in various activities including door-to-door missionary work, they played an active role in conveying the teachings of Oyasama to as many people as possible from the local communities in Australia.

The Yoboku Association has a long history as a religious club of Tenri University. Since 1953 they have conducted missionary work at various places throughout Japan every summer, making use of the long summer vacation. This year they have conveyed the teachings through missionary work at Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan from 6th to 11th August. The association has also looked overseas since 1970, organised the ‘Overseas Missionary Group’, and conducted missionary activities mainly in Hong Kong until 2000.

The Australia group was first organised in 1999, and the twelfth group has visited us this year. Throughout these 12 years, a total of 68 students from the Yoboku Association have visited Australia so far. During their stay at the Centre, they sincerely conveyed the teachings of Oyasama to the local communities of Brisbane not only through door-to-door missionary work and cultural exchanges with such educational institutions and local facilities as primary and high schools, a university and a nursing home, but also through homestays. Then having successfully completed their schedule without mishap, they left for Jiba on the very early morning of 24th August.

The following is a report on their main schedule and activities.

•     7th Arrival in BNE, Orientation,
•          Lecture, Welcome Party
•     8th Nioigake 1, 2, Discussion
•     9th Nioigake 3, 4, Discussion
•   10th  Exchange at Junction Park State School
•          Cultural tour 1
•   11th  Nioigake 5, Hinokishin, Discussion
•   12th  Exchange at Carindale Court Nursing Home
•          Visit and stay at Taiten BNE Mission till 14th
•   14th  Return from Taiten BNE Mission, Hinokishin
•    15th  Exchange at MacGregor State High School
•   16th  Exchange at Sunnybank Special School
•          Exchange at Griffith Univ., Homestay till 18th
•   18th  Hinokishin
•   19th  Nioigake 6, Hinokishin, Discussion
•   20th  Hinokishin, Service practice
•   21st   TOC August Monthly Service
•          Luncheon party inviting host families
•   22nd  Cultural tour 2
•   22rd  General cleaning, Thank-you party
•   24th  Departure for Jiba

This year’s group consisted of six students: four boys and two girls. As four students among them major in Englsih, the group this year seemed to be much better at English than usual. In such a situation, we put ‘door-to-door missionary work’ as a direct method of missionary activities in the schedule as many as six times for the first time during their stay. Having prepared well to convey the teachings to others in English before they left Japan, all the members actively walked around to talk to those whom they visited without wasting a minute, which deeply impressed us. Since Oyasama might accept their spirited minds, all of them were able to administer the truth of the Sazuke, the Divine Grant, more than once. This made them feel very fulfilled and delighted. It is very significant that through engaging in door-to-door missionary work, each student experienced joy and wonderfulness in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings, felt the difficulty in engaging in salvation work, and enhanced the willingness of missionary work in their future.

Furthermore, this year’s group looked more coherent as a group than those in the past, showing unity of mind throughout the period, which is the most important to engage in group activities. This is not completely unrelated to the fact that all the members could vigorously go through the entire period without getting sick or injured. Hereafter, it is important for each of them to consider how to utilise what they learned and experienced through their activities in Australia, and also how to keep in touch with people both whom they met and who took care of them during their stay for overseas mission in their future.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank those who warmly took good care of the students in such various programs as the fellowship stay and homestay, and earnestly hope that the Australia Group of the Yoboku Association, which has just completed its 12th tour, will plan more fruitful activities and take a continuous and steady step in the future, and thus will be a great power in the prosperity of the path in Australia as well as for world salvation.