The Shinbashira and his attendants, Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs Hiroaki Yamazawa and Overseas Department Head Yoichiro Miyamori, visited Hawaii from June 12 to 17 and attended a service performed on the 15th at Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii, located in Honolulu, to install Rev. Shugo Yamanaka as its eighth bishop. During their stay, they also attended the June monthly service of the mission headquarters and paid a visit to Tenrikyo churches and facilities in the Hawaii diocese where they spoke to local followers.
On June 15, blessed with pleasant weather, the installation service was conducted and drew 320 people not only from Oahu Island, where the mission headquarters is located, but also from other islands such as Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai.
At 10:00 a.m., the Shinbashira led the congregation in offering worship. Bishop Yamanaka then delivered his prayer in which he made a resolution that, inheriting the path in Hawaii that had been built and handed down by our predecessors through their many years of sincere and painstaking efforts, he would work to the best of his abilities to further advance the path in Hawaii by uniting in hearts and efforts with the church head ministers and fellowship heads as well as all Yoboku and other followers of the Hawaii congregation.
Following the prayer, the Shinbashira took the lectern to deliver his address. He first reflected anew on the roles of the mission headquarters and emphasized that, during this seasonable time, it is important to walk the path of single-heartedness with God in unity of mind in our efforts to make spiritual growth. Explaining the significance of observing an anniversary of Oyasama and the importance of committing ourselves to the pre-anniversary activities, he said that, although Oyasama withdrew from physical life out of Her single-hearted parental love for all humankind, She has been taking the lead at the forefront of world salvation as ever before by virtue of Her eternal life. He thus asked the congregation to settle the mind to respond to Her single-hearted parental love for Her children, to implement the teachings while basing their thoughts and actions on Her Divine Model, and to make further progress on the path of single-hearted salvation.
He went on to encourage the congregation to proactively sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings and work for the salvation of others by making sincere efforts to fulfill their respective roles and positions while maintaining the spirit of single-heartedness with God at all times. Before concluding his address, he expressed his hope that all of them would make further efforts to enrich and promote salvation work in unity of mind through conveying and spreading the intention of God the Parent and Oyasama, starting with those nearest to them, so that the Joyous Life might be realized even a day sooner. The seated service was then performed with the Shinbashira as the core.
Following the service performance, Bishop Yamanaka took the podium to deliver his address. In it he expressed his appreciation to the Shinbashira and called upon the congregation to fix firmly in their hearts the words of the Shinbashira and walk on the path of single-heartedness with God—the path of single-hearted salvation—even more joyously and in even higher spirits.
After the service, a reception was held to celebrate the occasion, during which the Shinbashira received a lei. The reception included performances by various groups including Aloha Band and a hula dance group.
Prior to and after the installation service, the Shinbashira paid a visit to Tenrikyo churches and facilities in the diocese. On the 13th, he visited Haleakala Church headed by Rev. Tad Kyoji Iwata and Maui Church headed by Rev. Mark Mikio Hisao, both of which are on the island of Maui. On the following day, he visited churches on Oahu Island including Pearl Church headed by Rev. Owen Osamu Nakao, Paradise Church headed by Rev. George Soji Akemoto, McCully Church headed by Rev. Eric Aiji Takata, and Asakusa Hawaii Church headed by Rev. Yasutsugu Miyauchi. On the 15th, the Shinbashira visited Hawaii Tenri Cultural Center and Tenri Judo Hall.