Former Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Kiyotsugu Hatabayashi passed away on March 24. He was 79. The funeral service was performed on the 28th at Toyodayama Columbarium, with the Shinbashira presiding.
Rev. Hatabayashi was born on November 12, 1925, and was a graduate of Kyushu University. He received the truth of the Sazuke in 1944 and became an instructor at the Head Minister Qualification Course as well as a member of the Qualifying Examination Committee in 1956. He became a committee member at the Young Men’s Association Headquarters in 1959 and was appointed as Tokyo Diocese Counselor and chief of the Europe Section of the Overseas Mission Department in 1961. He concurrently served as chief of the General Affairs Section of the Overseas Mission Department from 1962. He was made vice-head of the Overseas Mission Department in 1965, and concurrently served as chief of the General Affairs Section, chief of the Europe Section, and chief of the America Section of the Overseas Mission Department from 1966. He was also member of the Overseas Medical Mission Committee from 1967. The following year, he was appointed as Besseki lecturer, head minister of Chuki Grand Church, responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo, member of the Executive Board, and head of the Overseas Mission Department. He became a member of the Board of Directors of Tenri University in 1969 and member of the Preparation Committee for the 90th Anniversary of Oyasama as well as member of the Steering Committee for the 90th Anniversary of Oyasama in 1972. He concurrently served as chief of the Africa Section of the Overseas Mission Department from 1977. He was made Honbu-in in 1979. He became a member of the Preparation Committee for the Centennial Anniversary of Oyasama and head of the Property Management Department in 1981. He started to serve as acting Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs in 1990 and was formally appointed as Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs in 1992. He was made chairman of the Board of Directors of Tenri Yorozu-sodansho Foundation in 1999.
Over the years, he also served as counselor to eight directly supervised churches, namely Kiyo, Yagi, Hon’e, Kofu, Sakurai, Shikinori, Toai, and Wakayamaken.