Category Archives: Footsteps of Our Predecessors

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 15

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The following is a translation of Part 15 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the March 2004 (No. 423) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 15: A Miraculous Voyage (2 of 2)

Previously, Captain Fukuzo Kawachi was on a voyage on the Kitamaebune shipping route between Osaka and Hokkaido when he saw a dream of God telling him to “Steer your ship into the open sea.” He continued to advance his ship into the open sea amid various difficulties, and his belief in God led him to persuade his crew that the winds were sure to come if they did so.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 14

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The following is a translation of Part 14 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the February 2004 (No. 422) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 14: A Miraculous Voyage (1 of 2)

In 1875, a Tenrikyo confraternity named Shinjin-gumi was formed in Sangenya Village, Osaka, with Ichijiro Hakata as its head. Ichijiro Hakata frequented ships and had a small business of selling items to sailors on the Kitamaebune shipping routes. Continue reading The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 14 →

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 13

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The following is a translation of Part 13 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the January 2004 (No. 421) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 13: “With a Flag Flying”

In January 1884, Kunisaburo Moroi made his third pilgrimage after his conversion, bringing ten people along with him. The group left Enshu (western Shizuoka) on January 21.

On the way Kunisaburo had a sudden idea in Toyohashi. He bought four feet (1.2 meters) of cotton sheeting and made a flag with a red sun and the characters “Tenrin-O-kosha” 天輪王講社 (Tenrin-O Confraternity) in the middle with the words “Totomi-kuni Shinmei-gumi” (Shinmei-gumi of Totomi Province) on the side. He led the group with this flag flying the rest of the way heading to Jiba.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 12

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The following is a translation of Part 12 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2003 (No. 420) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 12: “God Has Twice the Strength”

Kunisaburo Moroi was absorbed in running a textile factory in Hiro’oka Village, Yamana County in Totomi Province (currently Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture), from overseeing the raising of silkworms to the production of silk thread. In February 1883, his third daughter Koshi (two years old1) contracted a throat ailment and her condition became critical.

With no option at hand, Kunisaburo’s wife Sono, feeling that only faith in “Tenri-O-sama” would save Koshi, discarded her human thinking and made an earnest petition with her husband as follows: “All praise to Tenri-O-no-Mikoto. We shall singly devote ourselves to the faith as husband and wife. Please save our baby from her illness.”

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  1. The ages of individuals that appear in this article are according to the traditional manner of counting age in Japan (i.e., kazoe-doshi). A person is considered a year old at birth and ages accordingly with the arrival of each New Year. ↩

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 11

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*The following is a translation of Part 11 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the November 2003 (No. 419) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 11: Repaying God’s Blessings

In August 1889, the heavens shook and the earth split as a raging catastrophe ravaged the countryside. Torrential rains devastated Yoshino County in Nara Prefecture. A hundred and 68 people perished in the six hamlets in village Totsukawa alone. Conditions descended to that of a living hell.
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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 10

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The following is a translation of Part 10 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the October 2003 (No. 418) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is tentative and may require further revision.

Part 10: “I Accept One Day as A Thousand Days”

In 1883, plasterer and head of Meishin-gumi Confraternity, Shirobei Umetani, stayed several days at the Residence and poured his heart and soul into the final touchups during the construction of Oyasama’s Resting House. The Resting House was completed in mid-November.

Oyasama waited for the proper time before making Her move from the South Gatehouse into the newly built Resting House that still emitted the fragrance of fresh timber. At midnight on November 25 (or 10/26 according to the lunar calendar), followers of confraternities such as Meishin-gumi and Shinmei-gumi held paper lanterns bearing the names of their confraternities and welcomed Her when She made Her move. Shirobei received a set of Oyasama’s red clothes the following day.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 9

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The following is a translation of Part 9 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the September 2003 (No. 417) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. Note: This is a tentative translation may require further polishing and revision.

Part 9: Oyasama’s Cough

Shirobei Umetani worked as a plasterer in Osaka. He converted to the faith after returning to Jiba for the first time on February 20, 1881, and became a devoted follower. On May 14 of the same year, he received permission to form a confraternity of about 60 followers, which was named “Meishin-gumi.”
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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 8

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The following is a translation of Part 8 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the August 2003 (No. 416) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. Note: This is a tentative translation may require further polishing and revision.

Part 8: Steamed Sweet Potatoes

Taemon Yamada was from Koga County in Shiga Prefecture. He heard about God’s teachings for the first time in August 1887 and made a pilgrimage to Jiba that same month. He subsequently aspired to save others. By February 1888, when the 38th Shidokai Confraternity was formed as Taemon as head, he had already helped save 500 people.
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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 7

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The following is a translation of Part 7 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the July 2003 (No. 415) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. Note: This is a tentative translation may require further polishing and revision.

Part 7: An Apology

Kikutaro Shimamura ran a marine products business in Osaka. He converted to the faith in 1888 after being saved from two major illnesses. He resolved to save a thousand persons as his expression of gratitude for being saved by God the Parent from certain death.
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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 6

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The following is a translation of Part 6 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the June 2003 (No. 414) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. Note: This translation may require further polishing and revision.

Part 6: “Suit Yourself!”

There was a great cholera epidemic in the Kinki Region of Japan in the early autumn of 1886. It was a contagious disease that was deeply feared by the populace since there was no appropriate treatment for it at the time.
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