Tenri Kindergarten, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, held its 100th Anniversary Ceremony on November 3 at Yoki Hall of South Right Wing 2. Honored by the presence of the Shinbashira, Mrs. Harue Nakayama, and Rev. Daisuke Nakayama, the ceremony was attended by 342 people, including the kindergarten’s children and their parents.
Tenri Kindergarten was established in 1925 by Tenrikyo Women’s Association as a commemorative project celebrating the installation of the second Shinbashira, Shozen Nakayama. The kindergarten was born out of the strong desire of Mrs. Tamae Nakayama, wife of the first Shinbashira and the association’s first president, who emphasized, “Education and training in the path should begin in early childhood.”
Since its founding, the kindergarten has provided care that encourages interaction among the children, putting great importance on its founding spirit: imparting the faith to our children from early childhood and fostering Yoboku who will contribute to building the Joyous Life World so desired by God the Parent.
The ceremony began with a moment of prayers and the singing of the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo, followed by an address delivered by Kindergarten Principal Kazuko Ito. Afterward, Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Zensuke Nakata offered a congratulatory address.
In it, he referred to the kindergarten’s day of origin and the spirit of its founding. He noted that successive generations of teachers and staff members, guided by the teachings of God the Parent and Oyasama’s Divine Model as their conviction of faith, have dedicated themselves to nurturing children with attention to the children’s point of view—helping them grow into fine Yoboku who will contribute to the construction of the Joyous Life World, the way of life intended for all human beings.
Rev. Nakata also emphasized that the kindergarten’s blessed environment, including its proximity to Jiba, has undoubtedly played an important role in children’s growth as it warmly embraces them during their formative years.
Concluding his remarks, he expressed his hope that, in keeping with the founding spirit, the teachers and staff members, together with parents and all those around them, will continue to unite their minds in further weaving the history of Tenri Kindergarten into the future.
Following this, Ms. Katsumi Kiyokawa, president of the Nara Prefectural Association of Private Kindergartens, offered her congratulatory remarks. The ceremony concluded with all participants singing “Tenri Kindergarten Song” with lyrics by Zenpei Nakayama (who later became Zenpei Kubo) and music by Zenye Nakayama, the third Shinbashira.
After the ceremony, a commemorative video titled “100 Years of Tenri Kindergarten” was shown, reflecting on the kindergarten’s centennial. The children then took to the stage, three classes taking turns, from the youngest to the oldest, to perform dances and songs.
Tenri Kindergarten will also hold a commemorative photo exhibition reflecting on its 100-year history on December 25 and 26 this year and on January 24 and 25 next year in the kindergarten building.