Tag Archives: expressing indebtedness

The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 24

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , ,

The following is a translation of Part 24 of the series “Senjin no sokuseki” (Footsteps of Our Predecessors) from the December 2004 (No. 432) issue of Taimo, pp. 34–35. This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

Part 24: “Destined to Be Saved”

Kozaburo Murakami was born in a rich farming household in Izumi Province and was known for his honesty and his strict, hard-working nature. He was trusted by the people around him as a reliable man who never refused his assistance.

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This World is a Place Where We Express Our Appreciation and Indebtedness

Tenrikyo Fundamentals, Translations, ,

The following is an excerpt from Omichi no joshiki [Tenrikyo Fundamentals] (pp. 69–72) by Koji Sato 佐藤浩司, assistant professor at Tenri University and instructor at Tenri Seminary. Note: This translation is a provisional one at the moment and may require further revision.

This World is a Place Where We Express Our Appreciation and Indebtedness

We tend to think that we are living by our own and that we can do almost anything due to our own strength and abilities. This is especially so during our youth.

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 11

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, ,

*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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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 26

Honseki: Anecdotes, Translations, , ,

26. “I Returned Your Contribution Ten-Thousandfold”

In August 1886, a Nobu Nakai from Kobe returned to Jiba and was staying at the Tofuya Inn, owned by Chobei Murata. Izo, who at the time was managing the Nakayamas’ household matters, came by and mentioned to Chobei: “Without 5 yen, we won’t be able to make ends meet this season. But no matter who I go see, no one of them is willing to lend us the money.”

Nobu, who remembered how she had been miraculously saved from a rare case of stomach spasms and a toothache in 1883, overheard this and thought to herself it was an honor to have such an opportunity to help out the Residence. She took out 5 yen (about 47,000 yen in 1995 currency) and said to Izo, “Though this isn’t much, I happened to have it on me.”

Izo was overjoyed, and replied, “I’ll return it to you later.”

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The Footsteps of Our Predecessors 6

Footsteps of Our Predecessors, Translations, , , ,

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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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 11

Honseki: Anecdotes,

11. Izo and Ikuzo, the Roof Tile Dealer

As a result of the Oyamato Shrine Incident, debts were incurred with the lumber dealer Shinbei Shoji (Daishin) and the roof tile dealer Ikuzo Fukui during the construction of the Place for the Service. While Izo was able to pay off the lumber dealer after New Year’s in 1865, he was unable to pay off the debt to Ikuzo for some time. A bill would come to Izo and he paid it off little by little.
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Anecdotes of the Honseki Izo Iburi 10

Honseki: Anecdotes,

10. Repaying an Old Debt to His Brother

On one New Year’s Eve, Izo’s brother Kumejiro came through with 5 ryo, four of which Izo used to pay off his year-end debts. Though different accounts do not agree on the year — some claim the year to be 1867 but it most likely was 1864 — Izo never forgot Kumejiro’s kindness.
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