Directors-in-Chief Sanctioned
On March 26, Honbu-in Hiroaki Yamazawa, 65, and Honbu-in Zensuke Nakata, 53, received sanction as the Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs and the Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, respectively. Rev. Yamazawa is serving his third term, and Rev. Nakata his first term.
Director-in-Chief Yamazawa was born on August 24, 1949, and received the truth of the Sazuke in 1969. He was appointed as Honbu-seinen in 1973, committee member of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association Headquarters in 1977, chairman of the association in 1983, Besseki Lecturer in 1986, Honbu-jun’in in 1987, and Honbu-in in 2002. He also served as chief of the Overseas Department’s Translation Section and North America and Oceania Section, vice head of the Overseas Department, head of the Religious Affairs Bureau, director of Shuyoka, and responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo. As the Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs, he serves as representative officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo Church Headquarters as well.
Born on March 5, 1962, Director-in-Chief Nakata received the truth of the Sazuke in 1980. He was appointed as Honbu-seinen in 1985, committee member of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association Headquarters in 1989, chairman of the association in 1995, Honbu-jun’in and vice head of the Religious Affairs Bureau in 1998, Besseki Lecturer in 2000, and Honbu-in in 2006. He became the head minister of Senkyo Branch Church in 2001. He also served as responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo, member of Church Headquarters’ Executive Board, head of the Education and Nurture Department, and head of the Mission Department. As the Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, he also serves as representative officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo.
Heads of Bureaus and Departments
Heads of bureaus and departments and chiefs of sections were appointed on April 1. Office of the Shinbashira Head Tadao Tosa, Department of Doctrine and Historical Materials Head Taketo Hashimoto, Religious Affairs Bureau Head Michikazu Takahashi, Ritual Affairs Bureau Head Motoo Matsuda, Divine Gifts and Sanctions Bureau Head Yoshikazu Terada, Oyasato-yakata Management Bureau Head Tokiro Iwasa, Director of Shuyoka Yoshizumi Nakayama, Finance Bureau Head Hiroyoshi Shimamura, and Security Bureau Head Itaro Nishida were all reappointed in the Religious Headquarters.
In the Administrative Headquarters, Administrative Affairs Department Head Yoshitaro Fukaya, General Affairs Department Head Ikuhiro Masui, Church Affairs Department Head Masatoshi Masuno, Education and Nurture Department Head Yoshiyuki Nakano, Overseas Department Head Yoichiro Miyamori, Pilgrim Reception Department Head Harunobu Nakayama, Finance Department Head Seitaro Yamada, and Property Management Department Head Seiji Maegawa were reappointed while Mission Department Head Umeo Izutsu, Doyusha Publishing Company President Tadakazu Nishiura, Transportation Department Head Koji Masui, and Construction and Maintenance Department Head Haruo Maegawa were newly appointed.
Overseas Department
Rev. Yoichiro Miyamori is serving his fourth term as head of the department. The department’s new vice heads are Rev. Zenkichi Tanaka, former chief of Human Resources Development Section, and Rev. Hinao Nagao, who also continues to serve as chief of Translation Section. The other new appointment in the department is that of Rev. Akira Nakata, who formerly headed the Mission Department’s Nioigake Section, to the post of chief of Europe and Africa Section.
Rev. Michitaro Masuno who served as vice head of the department has been appointed chief of Shuyoka’s Class Section. Rev. Motoharu Kirinuki, former chief of Europe and Africa Section, has been appointed chief of the Pilgrim Reception Department’s Public Health Section.
Reappointed to their positions were: Rev. Tomozo Hirano, senior department member; Rev. Hisataro Takai, chief of General Affairs Section; Rev. Mitsuzo Nakanishi, chief of Asia I Section; Rev. Kiyoharu Masuda, chief of Asia II Section; Rev. Mitsuo Kajimoto, chief of North America and Oceania Section; Rev. Yoshio Uchida, chief of Latin America Section; and Rev. Harunori Watanabe, principal of Tenrikyo Language Institute.