The 28th English class of Shuyoka (the three-month Spiritual Development Course) began in the Home of the Parent on April 1. This year, there are four participants: Karl Jackson from England, Junus from Indonesia, Medea Santiago Raborar from the Philippines, and Chad Makoto Hamada from Hawaii.
Shuyoka offers the English class once a year from April to June. This year, the class is held as part of the 732nd session of Shuyoka, which has a total of 893 students.
The instructors for this year’s English class are Rev. David Tokio Kawasaki, head minister of Aloha Church in Hawaii, and Rev. Makio Shimada, head minister of Makinoshima Branch Church. Rev. Kawasaki serves as the homeroom instructor and teaches the classes on The Doctrine of Tenrikyo and the service dance while Rev. Shimada teaches the classes on The Life of Oyasama and the Mikagura-uta, The Songs for the Service.
From March 29, the English class students participated in a week-long preliminary training session organized by Tenrikyo Overseas Department. The training session was held to help the participants get used to life in the Home of the Parent by studying and boarding together. During that week, participants attended introductory lectures on the teachings of Tenrikyo, watched videos about Tenrikyo and the Spiritual Development Course, practiced the service dance and musical instruments, and devoted themselves to hinokishin. When the session came to a close on April 4, the students moved to their followers dormitories, where they will stay until the end of the term in June.
Also in progress from April through June is the Chinese class, in which 39 are participating. In addition, the Thai class will be held between May and July.