On October 25, the special exhibition “Oyasama,” commemorating the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, opened in the second basement of South Right Wing 2 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex.
Many directly supervised churches and dioceses organized group pilgrimages in the period surrounding the Autumn Grand Service, which was held on October 26, and the exhibition welcomed a total of 870 visitors on October 25 and 26.
The exhibition features items associated with Oyasama—including a netlike bag that Oyasama made out of paper strings and, notably, the red clogs She used as a pillow during Her last hardship of imprisonment in 1886—as well as photo panels, some of which show the interiors of the historical buildings, such as the Place for the Service, the South Gatehouse, and the Resting House of Oyasama.
The exhibition comes at a time when all of us in the Tenrikyo community are putting the finishing touches on our pre-anniversary activities in preparation for the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama.
Prior to the opening, on October 21, the Shinbashira, Mrs. Harue Nakayama, and Rev. Daisuke Nakayama visited the venue. They carefully viewed each of the displayed items and photo panels related to Oyasama.
On October 25, before the scheduled opening time, followers began gathering one after another at around 9:30 a.m. in front of South Right Wing 2 of the Oyasato-yakata building-complex, eagerly waiting for the doors to open.
The first visitor to enter the venue was Mr. Yasushi Monguchi, a 51-year-old Yoboku of Tobaru Branch Church in Okinawa City. He returned to Jiba to attend the Autumn Grand Service with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law, and visited the exhibition together with his church head minister and fellow followers.
After carefully viewing the articles related to Oyasama, he said: “Seeing the items that actually belonged to Oyasama, who spread this path, allowed me to feel tangibly that She truly lived and worked while physically present. It was a very moving and precious experience.”
Shortly after 10:00 a.m., as the venue continued to welcome a steady stream of visitors, Ms. Kaoru Takahashi, a 53-year-old Yoboku of Umenoki Branch Church in Bunkyo City, Tokyo, was seen explaining to a person she had brought to Jiba the meaning of the displayed articles and Oyasama’s 50-year journey along the path, using her own copy of the Anecdotes of Oyasama, the Foundress of Tenrikyo as a reference.
With a smile, Ms. Takahashi said: “I am deeply grateful to have been able to see the articles associated with Oyasama up close and to feel Her warmth through them. During the remaining period leading up to the anniversary of Oyasama, I will continue spreading the fragrance of the teachings so that I can bring joy to the everliving Oyasama.”
The upcoming dates for the special exhibition are as follows:
2025 (Tenrikyo 188):
December 6 (Sat), 7 (Sun), 13 (Sat), 14 (Sun), 20 (Sat), 21 (Sun), 25 (Thu), 26 (Fri), and 27 (Sat)
2026 (Tenrikyo 189):
January 24 (Sat), 25 (Sun),
26 (Mon), and 27 (Tue)
The exhibition will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, except on December 26, 2025, and January 26, 2026. On December 26, it will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and on January 26, the day of the 140th Anniversary of Oyasama, it will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.