Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi Announces a New Prayer, “Prayer to Head Jubilantly toward the Realization of The Rebirth of Japan”
Relief Activities for Recovery Spread
It has been more than one month since the massive earthquake/tsunami struck the Tohoku Region of Japan. Seicho-No-Ie’s relief effort for recovery is becoming more active.
In his April 11 blog, Shokan Zakkan (Random Thoughts) Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, announced a prayer entitled “Prayer to Head Jubilantly Toward the Realization of the Rebirth of Japan.” This is his second prayer which deals with the Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan after the “Prayer to Visualize Grand Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings” announced on March 17. Rev. Taniguchi stated in his blog, “I again offer deep sympathy for the victims of the earthquake. At the same time I am grateful for the kind thoughts and support extended to them from all corners of the world. I hope to lend power to the spirit that the Japanese people unite as one and work for the recovery.” In his new prayer, he states that the time has come for us to take human life and the country in a different direction of progress and development from the one that believes that material prosperity is the goal of humankind and the country as well as the source of happiness. He stresses that it is important that we bring out the True Image of people, things and nature by recognizing and praising their value and that we move forward to create and build a new Japan, where a rich and abundant nature coexists with the abundant minds of human beings.
Rev. and Mrs. Taguchi went to the Miyagi Missionary Center by car from April 13 to 14. They also visited earthquake-struck areas in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.
The status of the Missionary Centers affected by the earthquake/tsunami: the Fukushima Missionary Center has moved into a temporary office; the Ibaraki Missionary Center, whose large hall sustained a fallen ceiling, is discussing whether to refurbish or rebuild its building; and the Miyagi and Iwate Missionary Centers are also planning to repair cracks and warps.
From right after the disastrous earthquake/tsunami in March the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters, various Missionary Centers and followers have engaged in volunteer relief activities and gave material help such as rice and clothes.
From April 7 to 10, a team organized by the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters to bring relief materials to victims went around in three trucks to the four Missionary Areas: Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki Missionary Areas and distributed relief material such as bicycles, gasoline, rice, and bottled water. They also checked the state of the damage sustained.
On April 19, it was decided to set up Seicho-No-Ie Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Relief Project Office at the Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters in Harajuku, Tokyo headed by the Chairman of Seicho-No-Ie. The Relief Project Office manages the website for the dispatch of Headquarters’ employees, reception of follower volunteers, procurement of relief materials, and exchange of information as well as the control of donations.
Seicho-No-Ie has donated 30 million yen to the Japan Red Cross as a relief fund for the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. This fund was sent as a relief fund for ordinary citizens prior to the end of the Relief Fund Donation for Ordinary Citizen and that for Seicho-No-Ie Followers being held at all Missionary Areas across Japan. These donations totaled 60,870,000 yen, as of April 18.
Nippon Kyobunsha Co., Ltd., a company affiliated with Seicho-No-Ie, donated 15,000,000 yen for the relief of Seicho-No-Ie followers and 5,000,000 yen for the relief of victims who are not Seicho-No-Ie followers.
The collection of donations in Japan will continue until May 31.
In overseas countries, Brazil has held a donation campaign and collected a total of 400,000 Real (approximately 20 million yen, as of April 5). The circle of prayers and donations by followers is spreading in many countries.
Also, on April 9 Seicho-No-Ie opened the “Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Relief Community” on its Facebook, an SNS with the world’s greatest number of users. This facilitates checking individuals’ safety, posting requests for relief goods and volunteers. Anyone can view it and upload information and requests.
Also, at the White Dove Association National Leaders’ Seminar, Brotherhood Association and Prosperity Association Joint National Leaders’ Seminar, and Youth and Young Adult Association National Convention which were held in May, the Iwate Missionary Center and Miyagi Missionary Center were newly added to the Convention sites for simultaneous transmission of the programs on the Internet. It was also decided that at the Hozo Shrine Urabon Memorial Festival of the Uji Temple, “Memorial Service for the Victims of Great Eastern Japan Earthquake” will be held in the evening of August 18, the day before the main festival. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, President of Seicho-No-Ie, will serve as the Chief Priest and Mrs. Junko Taniguchi will be present at this service.