The Social Welfare Section sponsored a training course for audio book readers at the Home of the Parent between November 27 and 29, drawing 33 participants.
Seeking to make the teachings available for the blind and the visually impaired, the section not only maintains a collection of audio and braille books in its Tenrikyo Braille Library, but also records audio books and prints braille books. The section has organized this course twice a year since 1968 in order to train volunteer readers to record audio books. The course began with an opening address delivered by Section Head Tadaaki Umetani, who voiced his expectation for the participants to impart the warmth of Oyasama by making use of the skills they would acquire during the course. This was followed by a lecture delivered by Michie Sato, head of the Research Room for Voice Books. The participants were then divided into small groups according to their level of proficiency. In the beginners class they learned basic skills such as techniques of breathing and speaking as well as voice intonation, while in the advanced class the participants learned how to vocally express graphs and four-panel cartoons.