Tenrikyo Mission Department recently announced the activity guidelines for this year’s Tenrikyo Nioigake Day, which is scheduled to be observed this autumn under the slogan “Let all of us Yoboku sprinkle the fragrance of the path to the world in unity of mind.” As usual, Tenrikyo Nioigake Day will be held during the three-day period from September 28 through 30. The 28th, in particular, has been selected as the day for church head ministers to give roadside speeches while the 29th and 30th have been designated as the action days for all Yoboku to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings.
Tenrikyo Nioigake Day started in 1932 when the Young Men’s Association and the Women’s Association promoted the “Roadside Speech Day.” This year marks the 75th year of the activity although there was a period around World War II when it could not be conducted. After the interruption, Nioigake Day resumed in 1947, and it has been observed ever since, although the designated days and the length of the duration have been changed.
This year being the 170th year of the Teaching, the Mission Department announced new guidelines for the activity based on the founding spirit of Nioigake Day. Because it began as a day for giving roadside speeches, the first day of the three-day period, the 28th, will be conducted with emphasis on roadside speeches. In particular, the church head ministers are asked to give roadside speeches on that day so that they, being the leaders of all other Yoboku, can take a leading role in building up enthusiasm for the activity. As for the last two days of the three-day period, the 29th and 30th, all Yoboku are encouraged to distribute leaflets, not by just putting them in mailboxes, but by personally handing them to people.