Reverend Yukie Morimoto, the assistant Director of KIC, visited Germany and Britain from June 7th to 19th. A resident minister in Germany, Reverend Kiyoko Furumoto, supported Rev. Morimoto through both the gatherings. Reverend Stephanie Laite (Toronto Church)joined them in Britain.
The gatherings in Berlin were held on June 6th and 10th at the Tang Long Hotel, while the gathering in London was held at the Imperial Hotel on June 16th. Each gathering included a service, a sermon, faith talks and discussions. 続きを読む →

Reverend Kazumichi Konko, the Director of Konko Library, passed away on June 22, 06:03.
The schedule of the funeral service is below:

Shyusai: June 23, 19:00
Kokubetsushiki: June 24, 13:30
Place: Konko Kita Wing Yatsunami Hall

  The Konkokyo International Center (KIC) is going to hold Konkokyo Gatherings in UK and Germany in June. There will be faith enrichment workshops and religious services.
  Please come and join us in UK or Germany. Everyone is welcome!! Also, if you know anybody who lives in UK, Germany or other countries in Europe, please let us know at your earliest convenience!!
  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact KIC.

 Konkokyo Gathering in Germany
    ☆Faith Enrichment Workshop (held in Japanese)
        Date: Saturday, 9 June, 2012
        Time: 16:00 – 18:00
    ☆Service (held in German & Japanese)
        Date: Sunday, 10 June, 2012
        Time: 9:00 -12:00
        Location: Thang Long Hotel
                        Treskowallee 89, 10318 Berlin

 Konkokyo Gathering in London (all held in English & Japanese)
        Date: Saturday, 16 June, 201
    ☆Faith Enrichment Workshop
        Time: 10:00 – 12:00
    ☆Service, Sermon, and Casual Discussion
        Time: 13:30 – 16:30
        Location: Senate Room, Imperial Hotel, London
                        Russell Square, London WC1B 5BB
                        +44(0)20 7278 7871/2/3　　

 Konkokyo International Center
    TEL: +81-3-3818-3701
    FAX: +81-3-3818-3793
    E-mail: kic@konkokyo.or.jp 
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KIC1993
    Twitter: @konkokyo_kic

Reverend Mitsutoshi Sato, the Chief Administrative Director of Konkokyo, passed away on April 29th, 13:10.
The schedule of the funeral service is below:

Shyusai: May 1st, 19:00
Kokubetsushiki: May 2nd, 12:00
Place: Memorial Hall Fukuyama
2493 Senda, Senda-cho, Fukuyama-city

Head Administrative Office is going to hold a farewell ceremony on May 27th, 13:30 at Yatsunami Hall in Konko.

On March 11th from 1:30pm to 3pm (JMT), a special service will be held at Konkokyo Headquarters in Okayama, Japan, to pray for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and for the comfort victims’ spirits.
You can see the service only in real-time.

How to see USTREAM as follows:
1) Search “USTREAM Japan” by Google Chrome or Firefox.
2) Put “konkokyohonbu” on the top blank bar and click the enter key.
3) When you see some of Konkokyo programs on the list, click “konkokyohonbu (Konkokyo Crest)”. Then you will see the program.

Let us pray together through the internet.

In Brazil there is a group named “Wakaba”, which means “young leaves” in Japanese. They perform Japanese drums and the Japanese dance Yosakoi Soran.
The group was formed in 2002 by Reverend Katsuyuki Kajiwara, Head Minister of the Konko Church of Critiba to nurture young people.
On July 31, the 8th Japanese Drum Championship was held in Brazil and “Wakaba” became the champions!! Also on the same day, the 9th Yosakoi Soran contest was held and “Wakaba” won third prize!!

Please check the videos of “Wakaba” winning! Enjoy Japanese drumming and dance!!

Japanese Drum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWZdWxTzPF0

Yosakoi Soran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-KITNpFz6w&feature=channel_video_title

【Konko Kita (North) Wing】
To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Konkokyo Establishment, Konko North Wing was constructed, and completed in March 2008. It consists of wooden Japanese-style buildings – “Open Site Yatsunami Hall” and “Kofukan Faith Training Hall.” In Yatsunami Hall, there are two conference rooms, one with both tatami and wood flooring; the other, just wood flooring. These rooms are used as: a rest area for believers, for training workshops, lectures, and wedding ceremonies. “Kofukan” is a training center and dormitory that can accommodate up to 150 people. It has Japanese and Western-style rooms, including twin rooms with private baths. Wireless internet access is available at the Yastumami Hall. Some users’ impressions were: “I am happy because for so long, I had looked forward to this type of facility to be made,” and “The facilities are so good that I had a comfortable stay.”

【Seismic Retrofitting of the Grand Service Hall】
The Grand Service Hall is used for services and events. When the Grand Services and another large ceremonies are held five times a year, believers gather here from all over the world. It was completed in 1959 and can hold 15,000 people.
The building met the seismic standards at the time of construction. However, several years ago, it was rechecked and determined that the Grand Service Hall needed seismic retrofitting to meet today’s current standards to withstand an earthquake. Placing highest priority on human life, Konkokyo Headquarters decided to repair the Grand Service Hall as quickly as possible. Seismic retrofitting commenced on August 2008 and was completed in January 2011. At the same time, audio equipment, lighting, worn-out stages for the chorus and ritual music performers were upgraded, and a new restroom facility for the disabled was built on the south side of the Grand Service Hall. The building was also remodeled in order for people to be evacuated safely and smoothly in the event of any disaster, not just earthquakes.

The original English Prayer Book was first published in 1989, but many Japanese prayers were translated and added over the past two decades. Lately, there were discussions about the sentiment of the prayers being lost in translation as well as the number of loose inserts put into the book.
In response to these concerns, a committee was formed in 2007 to revise and update the English Prayer Book and now their task is complete.
The main changes are:
• New translations of Konkokyo keywords were adopted.
• “Refreshed” Tenchi Kakitsuke, In Praise of Konko Daijin, Heaven and Earth Prayer, Newly Departed Soul Prayer, Before & After Meal Prayers, and Peace Prayer were added.
• Three songs – “A Shining, Shimmering Light,” “A World of Prayer,” and “A New Life, A New Beginning” – were added along with translations and scores.
For more information, please contact KIC.