Church Headquarters Announces New Personnel

Directors-in-Chief Sanctioned

On March 26, Honbu-in Yoichiro Miyamori, 61, and Honbu-in Zensuke Nakata, 56, received sanction as the Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs and the Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, respectively. Rev. Miyamori is serving his first term, and Rev. Nakata his second term.

Director-in-Chief Miyamori was born on July 31, 1956, and received the truth of the Sazuke in 1975. He was appointed as Honbu-seinen (HQ junior official) in 1979, committee member of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association Headquarters in 1983, vice chairman of the association in 1989, Honbu-jun’in (HQ senior official) and Besseki Lecturer in 1996, Honbu-in (HQ executive official) in 2006, and head of the Religious Affairs Bureau in 2016. He became the head minister of Meihai Branch Church in 1994. He also served as chief of the Overseas Department’s America II Section (now Latin America Section), vice head of the Overseas Department and chief of Human Resources Development Section (now O.H.R.D.C.), head of the Overseas Department, member of Church Headquarters’ Executive Board, responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo, and responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. As the Director-in-Chief of Religious Affairs, he serves as representative officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo Church Headquarters as well.

Born on March 5, 1962, Director-in-Chief Nakata received the truth of the Sazuke in 1980. He was appointed as Honbu-seinen (HQ junior official) in 1985, committee member of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association Headquarters in 1989, chairman of the association in 1995, Honbu-jun’in (HQ senior official) and vice head of the Religious Affairs Bureau in 1998, Besseki Lecturer in 2000, and Honbu-in (HQ executive official) in 2006. He became the head minister of Senkyo Branch Church in 2001. He also served as responsible officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo, member of Church Headquarters’ Executive Board, head of the Education and Nurture Department, and head of the Mission Department. As the Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs, he also serves as representative officer of Religious Corporation Tenrikyo.

Heads of Bureaus and Departments

Heads of bureaus and departments and chiefs of sections were appointed on March 27. Director of Shuyoka Hiroo Nagao, Finance Bureau Head Hiroyoshi Shimamura, and Security Bureau Head Itaro Nishida were reappointed whereas Office of the Shinbashira Head Harunobu Nakayama, Department of Doctrine and Historical Materials Head Hiroaki Yamazawa, Religious Affairs Bureau Head Tadakazu Nishiura, Ritual Affairs Bureau Head Yoshiharu Nakayama, Divine Gifts and Sanctions Bureau Head Ikuhiro Masui, and Oyasato-yakata Management Bureau Head Shuichi Sakamoto were newly appointed in the Religious Headquarters.

In the Administrative Headquarters, Administrative Affairs Department Head Yoshiyuki Nakano, Education and Nurture Department Head Kiyoharu Kontani, Mission Department Head Umeo Izutsu, Overseas Department Head Zenkichi Tanaka, Transportation Department Head Toshihiko Yamamoto, and Finance Department Head Masatoshi Masuno were reappointed while General Affairs Department Head Tatsufumi Shikao, Church Affairs Department Head Shigehito Kimura, Doyusha Publishing Company President Yoshiji Matsumura, Pilgrim Reception Department Head Michiro Yamamoto, Property Management Department Head Haruo Maegawa, and Construction and Maintenance Department Head Eiichi Imamura were newly appointed.

Overseas Department

Rev. Zenkichi Tanaka is serving his second term as head of the department. Rev. Hinao Nagao, who continues to serve as the department’s vice head, has taken on an additional role as chief of Asia I Section. The other appointments relating to the Overseas Department are as follows: Rev. Kiyoharu Masuda, who formerly headed the department’s Asia II Section, as senior department member; Rev. Mitsuzo Nakanishi, former chief of Asia I Section, as chief of General Affairs Section; Rev. Junzo Matsuda, who worked in Translation Section, as chief of Asia II Section; Rev. Akihiko Nishimura, who was a staff member of North America and Oceania Section, as chief of that section; Rev. Kaoru Murata, former chief of General Affairs Section, as chief of Latin America Section; Rev. Masahito Seko, formerly a Translation Section staff member, as head of the Overseas Human Resources Development Committee; and Rev. Yoshio Uchida, former chief of Latin America Section, to the post of principal of Tenrikyo Language Institute.

Rev. Masuhiko Yoshikawa, former vice principal of Tenrikyo Language Institute and head of the Overseas Human Resources Development Committee, is now vice head of Religious Affairs Bureau as well as chief of Training Section. Rev. Mitsuo Kajimoto, former chief of North America and Oceania Section, was appointed as chief of Religious Affairs Section.

Reappointed to their positions were: Rev. Tomozo Hirano, a senior department member; Rev. Akira Nakata, chief of Europe and Africa Section; and Rev. Masaharu Matsuda, chief of Translation Section.

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