The Tenrikyo Nioigake Day 2022 was observed between September 28 and 30 in many communities and regions. This annual event is intended to provide an opportunity for Yoboku and followers living in the same area to work together to spread the fragrance of the teachings in unity of mind—something they ordinarily carry out on a more individual basis. This year, which marks the 90th anniversary of the Nioigake Day, the event was organized under the same theme as in previous years: “Let us convey the teachings to those close to us.”
Toward this year’s Nioigake Day, the Missionary Department, the department in charge of the promotion of the event, created a leaflet entitled “Let us translate our gratitude into action” (in Japanese). The leaflet comes with a QR code printed on its back, taking readers to a video designed to help them to further deepen their understanding of the teachings.
While the spread of COVID-19 infection made it difficult for church head ministers, Yoboku, and other followers to conduct nioigake activities in large groups, each of them strove to sprinkle the fragrance of the teachings to those close to them, including their family members, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers.
In some areas, there were followers who carried out door-to-door missionary work, spread the name of God, and gave roadside speeches while taking measures to prevent infections. Others handed out nioigake leaflets on streets, administered the Sazuke to those who had bodily disorders, and sent letters and postcards to people they cared about but could not meet easily because of the pandemic. With their minds in unison, each of them thought about and put into practice the activities they could do to convey the teachings to others from heart to heart.