The construction for the westward expansion of the Sanctuary precincts is one of two major construction projects being undertaken by Church Headquarters in anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of Oyasama, the other project being the construction of the Oyasato-yakata’s South Right Wing 2. The construction for the westward expansion of the Sanctuary precincts has been making steady progress since its commencement on June 25 last year. A total of over 610,000 people have already participated in the earth-carrying hinokishin (as of May 31).
The construction is designed to facilitate access to the Main Sanctuary from the west. The area on the west side of the west entrance–about 120 meters from north to south and about 75 meters from east to west–will be raised by 4 meters, and a ramp measuring 19 meters in width will be constructed directly in front of the West Worship Hall along with a gentle slope for wheelchairs. Earth carrying, which has been implemented through hinokishin, has been going well from the beginning, and, by the end of this May, about eighty percent of the earth needed to expand the Sanctuary precincts had already been carried to the construction site.
In addition, the construction of a new west branch office of the Precincts Section of the Security Bureau is under way in an area to the west of Foundress’ Hall 3. The roofing of the new branch office has been completed, and interior finishing has already begun. The office is a one-storied wooden building with a floor space of about 300 square meters. Restrooms with wheelchair access will also be provided in this building. This new branch office is scheduled to be completed at the end of this August.
Among the 610,000 participants in the earth-carrying hinokishin were more than 84,000 people who were sent by their directly-supervised churches to participate in the Five-Day Hinokishin Corps, which has been conducted in 54 sessions since last August. Both the earth-carrying hinokishin and the Five-Day Hinokishin Corps will come to a close at the end of this October. The construction for the westward expansion of the Sanctuary precincts is scheduled to be completed next autumn.