Earning the Community’s Trust Through Relief Efforts
This year’s Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba drew many children from the areas affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Kitanoshu and Horyu Branch Churches in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, quickly established the “Suzu Hinokishin Center” right after the earthquake struck. With the support of fellow followers from various regions, they have been continuing their disaster relief activities ever since. From July 29 to 31, the center organized a pilgrimage as the Suzu Hinokishin Center Group, with forty-seven people taking part.
At 6:30 a.m. on the 29th, children with large travel bags began gathering in front of Kitanoshu Branch Church.
“Good morning!”
The staff warmly greeted the children, handing them name tags.
Ms. Satomi Hatada, 39, who was sending her daughter off for the first time, said, “I participated in the Children’s Pilgrimage to Jiba when I was in elementary school, and it was a lot of fun.” Encouraged by Ms. Hatada, almost all the members of the local basketball team to which her daughter belongs decided to join as well.
Smiling, she added, “Since I’ve participated before, I feel comfortable entrusting my daughter to the group. I hope she makes new friends and has a great time.”
“See you later!”
At 7:00 a.m., after worshiping at the church, the participants boarded the tour bus, ready for the approximately nine-hour journey to Jiba.
The Blessing of “Buds Sprouting from Knots”
On January 8th, a week after the earthquake struck, Kitanoshu and Horyu Branch Churches, which suffered relatively minor damage, began operating the Suzu Hinokishin Center. Rev. Yoshinobu Yata, the 51-year-old head minister of Tedorigawa Branch Church affiliated with Kitanoshu Branch Church, took on the role of the leader, while Rev. Yuichiro Ishibashi, 58, head minister of Horyu Branch Church, became the administrative director. Together, they worked tirelessly to support the relief efforts, welcoming many organizations from both within and outside the Tenrikyo community.
“Now, the name ‘hinokishin–san’ (a person of hinokishin) has become widely known, and there’s no one in Suzu who doesn’t know about Tenrikyo,” Rev. Yata says.
In May, the center staff proposed that children struggling with anxiety and stress should be given the opportunity to create happy memories in Jiba in the summer. This led to the decision to organize a pilgrimage under the center’s name. To make this happen, Ms. Kozue Yata, wife of Tedorigawa Branch Church’s head minister, and Ms. Keiko Kawahigashi, a 52-year-old lay minister of Kitanoshu Branch Church, took over the planning and outreach efforts from Rev. Yata and Rev. Ishibashi, who were focused on leading the disaster relief activities.
“We’re almost at Tenri!”
On the bus, after some fun activities, the children practiced the hand movements for the seated service and learned about the “three promises.” Then, they all sang the theme song for the Children’s Pilgrimage, “Thank you! Summer in Jiba!” (Arigato, natsu no Ojiba), filling the bus with the festive spirit of the upcoming event.
Shortly after 4:00 p.m., the group arrived in Jiba. They first offered prayers at the South Worship Hall of the Main Sanctuary and then paid their respects at the Foundress’ Sanctuary.
Rev. Yata gently reassured the children as he spoke about the everliving Oyasama by saying: “For the past six months, you’ve all gone through a lot of tough and lonely times. You’ve done so well. I’m sure Oyasama is patting each of you on the head right now, saying, ‘Welcome home.’” The children listened intently to his words.
The next day, after the “Morning Service,” the group participated in the “Corridor-Cleaning Hinokishin.”
“One, two, three, four!” Following the lead of Tenri High School students, the children enthusiastically wiped the corridor planks, working up a sweat.
Ms. Rie Imai, one of the pilgrimage staff members, was participating for the first time with her second-grade child. Four years ago, she began seeking advice from Ms. Kawahigashi after joining a local community gathering called “Nikomaru Group,” which Ms. Kawahigashi had started. Through this pilgrimage, Ms. Imai could see how much her child had grown. “My daughter used to cling to me but now she’s making friends easily and having so much fun. Seeing that, I’m really glad I brought her,” she said with a smile.
“It’s so cool and refreshing!” In one corner of the “Children’s Alley” (Kodomo Yokocho), the children were happily engaged in a water gun fight, their smiles never fading even as they moved to the next event.
“It feels like I’ve witnessed the blessing of ‘buds sprouting from the knots’ that we’ve been taught about. I can’t think of anything more precious.” Ms. Kawahigashi, watching from a distance, could not hold back her tears.
Reflecting on the experience, she said: “Thanks to so many fellow followers who have supported the center’s relief activities, we were able to bring so many children to Jiba. I hope they’ve made happy memories this summer that will make them want to come back again.”
Cherishing the “Three Promises”
On the last night at the followers dormitory, the children reflected on the two days they spent in Jiba. “I made new friends.” “I learned the importance of hinokishin.” They shared what they experienced in Jiba with bright smiles.
Rev. Yata said: “To these children who have endured a difficult life after the earthquake, returning to Jiba brought a lot of joy. I hope they continue to cherish the ‘three promises’ they learned here and grow into people who embody compassion, mutual help, and gratitude.”
On the last day, July 31, at 7:00 a.m., Rev. Ishibashi spoke to the children at the South Worship Hall, saying: “I hope you’ll always remember your time here in Jiba and the people who took care of you. When you go back home, continue to live in a way that honors what God the Parent desires.”
After this, they performed the service to express their gratitude for the three-day pilgrimage. Although they were unsure of how to perform the service before the pilgrimage, by this time, they were able to do it in unison, their voices harmonizing as they sang together.
Just after 7:30 a.m., the bus departed from Jiba. The children waved enthusiastically from the windows, their smiles full of life. The memories they made while learning the teachings and having fun in Jiba will surely serve as a source of strength as they continue to live in the disaster-affected area.