Cosolargy of Japan tour group in Pusan, Korea. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

We traveled to Pusan in South Korea from March 17 to the 19.

Bishop Yukinori Matsushita and Mituyo Fukuyama, Kazuno Kawasaki, Saeno Tokunaga and her son Ryota, Nami Aiki, Junko Kodama, Jun Ikeda, and myself, Miyuki Okayama, traveled to Pusan by ferry.

Nami organized the tour, and she was a very good guide.

Nama Aiki, tour guide and Consociate of the Cosolargy Institute of Japan.

Korean people think that if they have a diet of balanced, healthy food, it will be effective medicine and make good health of body. Following the traditional Korean diet was part of our experience.

We had a great experience of Korean culture and enjoyed this trip.

Dragon Palace Temple. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

We did the Sunrise Ceremony at Haedong Yeongkoong Temple (Dragon Palace Temple) on the morning of March 19.

Pre-sunrise liturgical reading at Pusan, Korea.                                        PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

Sunrise in Pusan, Korea. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

Haedong Yeongkoong Temple (Dragon Palace Temple).                   PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

This temple is built on the cliffs of the grand seashore and is harmonized with its natural surroundings.

Dragon Temple shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

It is believed that a boy-child will be conceived if a woman touches her belly while visiting this shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

The twelve animal signs of of the Chinese zodiac are displayed at the temple. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

We had a wonderful time there.

Sincerely,

Miyuki Okayama

Bishop Yukinori Matsushita and Mituyo Fukuyama, Kazuno Kawasaki, Saeno Tokunaga and her son Ryota, Nami Aiki, Junko Kodama, Jun Ikeda, and Miyuki Okayama in Pusan, Korea PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

Artist Sadayuki Hagiwara posing before one of his works. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

From January 22 – 27, 2013, Japanese Consociate Sadayuki Hagiwara held a private exhibition at Kagoshima Municipal Art Museum titled “Flower of Life.”

Work of artist Sadayuki Hagiwara. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

The round shape had always been a theme of his works of art. However, he thought something was missing. He found that “something” when he began to study Cosolargy. After that his artwork changed.

Work of artist Sadayuki Hagiwara. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

Work of artist Sadayuki Hagiwara. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

Sincerely,

Miyuki Okayama

The itinerary for the official seminar to be held in Japan May 24–29, 2013, has again been altered slightly. The new itinerary appears below together with a  NEW downloadable document that holds details of the seminar agenda .

Traveling from the Reno Community to participate in the seminar sponsored by The Cosolargy Institute of Japan are Bishop Gene Savoy Jr., Sabrina Savoy, Reverend Robert Roy, Noriko Roy, Joseph Roy, and Deacon Stephan Fuelling.

Gene Savoy Jr. will be speaking to celebrate the publication of the Japanese-language edition of Gene Savoy Sr.’s book Project “X”: The Search for the Secrets of Immortality.

FINAL ITINERARY (as of May 16, 2013)

May 23
Arrival at Fukuoka Airport
Visit offices of Manners Sound Research Co., Ltd.
Lunch at SHUN restaurant
Hotel check-in
Dinner with Yukinori Matsushita and guests
Overnight at  Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume

May 24
Guided tour around Saga-shi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka-shi
Yoshinogari Historical Park (The Remains)
Saga Castle History Museum
Saga Shrine
Ise Shrine
Xu Fu Kan Longevity
Sunset Service at Megalith Park
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume

May 25
Communion of Fellowship at headquarters of Cosolargy Institute in Japan
Ino Noh Theater
Dedication dance by Mizuho Asano
Presentation on Project “X” by Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.
Dinner and social gathering with participants at Michishirube restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume

May 26
Sunrise Service at the ancient solar site of Yakinotouge
Ordination Service
Social gathering  at offices of Manners Sound Research Co, Ltd
Ordination Service
Visit to Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu (optional)
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume

May 27
Ferry from port of Hakata to Iki Island
Visit Tatsuno Island
Q & A with Gene Savoy Jr. at Iki Byu Hotel
Dinner, Iki Noh Dance performance and overnight at Iki Byu Hotel

May 28
Visit shrines on Iki Island
Kojima Shrine
Tsukiyomi Shrine
Ondake Shrine
Medake Shrine
Ferry from Iki Island to port of Hakata
Dinner (site to be announced)
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn Kurume

May 29
Breakfast at Kurume Esprit Hotel
Meeting with Yukinori Matsushita and Gene Savoy Jr.
Lunch at SHUN restaurant
Seminar program ends

<Download 2013 Japan Seminar details here (as of May 16, 2013) >

 Following the seminar program, a further excursion is planned. Attendees from Reno will be returning to the United States on June 4, 2013.

The itinerary for the official seminar to be held in Japan May 24-29, 2013, has been altered slightly again.

Guests will not be staying  at the Kurume Esprit Hotel while they are in Kurume but at the Hotel Toyoko Inn. Please make this correction in your personal itinerary if you plan to participate in the tour.

The downloadable document made available in the April 8 announcement will need to be revised to show this change.

The corrected itinerary appears below.

REVISED ITINERARY (as of April 12, 2013)

May 23
Arrival at Fukuoka Airport
Visit offices of Manners Sound Research Co, Ltd
Dinner with Yukinori Matsushita and guests
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn

May 24
Guided tour around Saga-shi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka-shi
Yoshinogari Historical Park (The Remains)
Saga Castle History Museum
Saga Shrine
Ise Shrine
Xu Fu Kan Longevity
Sunset Service at Megalith Park
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn

May 25
Communion of Fellowship at headquarters of Cosolargy Institute in Japan
Ino Noh Theater
Dedication dance by Mizuho Asano
Presentation on Project “X” by Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.
Dinner and social gathering with participants at Cineate-ku cafe
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn

May 26
Sunrise Service at the ancient solar site of Yakinotouge
Ordinations
Social gathering  at offices of Manners Sound Research Co, Ltd
(Afternoon schedule to be announced)
Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn

May 27
Ferry from port of Hakata to Iki Island
Visit Ikinoku Museum and Haranotsuji Site
Q & A with Gene Savoy Jr. at Iki Byu Hotel
Dinner, Iki Noh Dance performance and overnight at Iki Byu Hotel

 May 28
Visit shrines on Iki Island
Kojima Shrine
Tsukiyomi Shrine
Ondake Shrine
Ferry from Iki Island to port of Hakata
Overnight at Hotel Toyoko Inn

 May 29
Breakfast at Kurume Esprit Hotel
Meeting with Yukinori Matsushita
Seminar program ends

The itinerary for the official seminar to be held in Japan May 24–29, 2013, has been altered slightly. The new itinerary appears below together with a downloadable document that holds details of the seminar agenda.  Traveling from the Reno Community to participate in the seminar sponsored by The Cosolargy Institute of Japan are Bishop Gene Savoy Jr., Sabrina Savoy, Reverend Robert Roy, Noriko Roy, Joseph Roy, and Deacon Stephan Fuelling.

Gene Savoy Jr. will be speaking to celebrate the publication of the Japanese-language edition of Gene Savoy Sr.’s book Project “X”: The Search for the Secrets of Immortality.

REVISED ITINERARY (as of April 8, 2013)

May 23
Arrival at Fukuoka Airport
Visit offices of Manners Sound Research Co., Ltd.
Dinner with Yukinori Matsushita and guests
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 24
Guided tour around Saga-shi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka-shi
Yoshinogari Historical Park (The Remains)
Saga Castle History Museum
Saga Shrine
Ise Shrine
Xu Fu Kan Longevity
Sunset Service at Megalith Park
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 25
Communion of Fellowship at headquarters of Cosolargy Institute in Japan
Ino Noh Theater
Dedication dance by Mizuho Asano
Presentation on Project “X” by Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.
Dinner and social gathering with participants at Cineate-ku cafe
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 26
Sunrise Service at the ancient solar site of Yakinotouge
Ordinations
Social gathering  at offices of Manners Sound Research Co, Ltd
(Afternoon schedule to be announced)
Dinner
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 27
Ferry from port of Hakata to Iki Island
Visit Ikinoku Museum and Haranotsuji Site
Q & A with Gene Savoy Jr. at Iki Byu Hotel
Dinner, Iki Noh Dance performance and overnight at Iki Byu Hotel

May 28
Visit shrines on Iki Island
Kojima Shrine
Tsukiyomi Shrine
Ondake Shrine
Ferry from Iki Island to port of Hakata
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 29
Breakfast at Kurume Esprit Hotel
Meeting with Yukinori Matsushita
Seminar program ends

<Download 2013 Japan Seminar details here (as of April 8, 2013) >

Following the seminar program, a further excursion is planned. Attendees from Reno will be returning to the United States on June 4, 2013.

Sunrise on Aoshima Island. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

On the morning of December 16, we performed the ceremony of the Sunrise service on Aoshima Island of the Miyazaki prefecture. We celebrated the completion of the two-year Academy course by the students of the 3rd graduating class after the Sunrise ceremony.

Yukinori Matsushita (3rd from left) with students of the 3rd Academy class after the Sunrise ceremony. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

After that, we visited the Aoshima shrine to pray.

Aoshima shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

The Aoshima shrine is located on Aoshima Island, and the shrine occupies most of the area of the island.

The Aoshima shrine is located on Aoshima Island. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

We also visited Udo-Jingu shrine on that day. Udo Shrine has a very old history. This shrine is situated in a giant cave perched atop a cliff overlooking the ocean.

At Udo-Jingu shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

lt is said to have been built by Sujin, the tenth emperor of Japan, and enshrines the deity Ugayafukiazu-no-mikoto.

Yukinori Matsushita at Udo shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

This is the shrine Bishop Savoy and others from the U.S. visited during the 2011 Japan seminar tour. It was a very beautiful day.

Sincerely,

Miyuki Okayama
Japan Correspondent

Group at Udo shrine. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

The Cosolargy Institute of Japan is sponsoring an official seminar to be held from May 24 to 29, 2013. Traveling from the Reno Community to participate are Bishop Gene Savoy Jr., Sabrina Savoy, the Reverend Robert Roy, Noriko Roy, Joseph Roy, and the Reverend Deacon Stephan Fuelling.

The purpose of the journey will be to participate in the seminar program prepared for the benefit of the members of the Cosolargy Institute in Japan. Bishop Savoy will be speaking on the publication of the Japanese-language edition of Gene Savoy Sr.’s book Project “X”: The Search for the Secrets of Immortality.

ITINERARY

May 23
Arrival at Fukuoka Airport
Overnight at Kurume Espuri Hotel

May 24
Seminar program begins
Guided tour around Saga-shi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka-shi
Visit Yoshinogari Park
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 25
Communion of Fellowship at headquarters of Cosolargy Institute in Japan
Seminar Program presented in Saga-shi.
Dedication dance by Mizuho Asano
Presentation on Project “X” by Bishop Gene Savoy Jr.
Dinner and social gathering with participants
Overnight at Kurume Esprit Hotel

May 26
Sunrise Service at the ancient solar site of Yakinotouge
Ordinations
Ferry from Karatsu to Iki Island
Social gathering and overnight at Iki Byu Hotel

May 27
Visit shrines on Iki Island
Kojima Shrine
Tsukiyomi Shrine
Ondake Shrine
Medake Shrine
Sightseeing on Iki Island
Dinner, Iki Noh dance performance, and overnight at Iki Byu Hotel

May 28
Visit Ikikoku Museum and Haranotsuji archeological site
Ferry from Iki Island to Karatsu
Visit Karatsu Shinto Shrine
Visit hot springs
Dinner party and overnight at hotel in Saga-shi

May 29
Sunrise Service at Shinrin Park
Sightseeing
Seminar program ends

Following the seminar program, a further excursion is planned. Attendees from Reno will be returning to the United States on June 4, 2013.

Year-end party at Miyazaki. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

On December 15, the members of the Cosolargy Institute from the southern Kyushu area held a year-end party in Miyazaki.

Yukinori Matsushita in the middle of the festivities. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

In the southern Kyushu area, many myths, such as the tradition of descent of the emperor from the gods, remain. Miyazaki is a name from the old Hyuga Province, and the meaning of the Chinese character is “a sunny place.” Several members of the Fukuoka and Saga communities, including Bishop Matsushita and I (Miyuki) also participated in the year-end party.

Violin performance during the festivities. PHOTO: Miyuki Okayama

We spent a very pleasant time and enjoyed members’ songs, violin performances, and dance.

Sincerely,

Miyuki Okayama
Japan Correspondent

Shoko Ohba at Senkaku Bay. PHOTO: Shoko Ohba

Shoko Ohba, an original member of the Community in Japan, traveled to Sado Island in the Sea of Japan November 9-11, 2012, to experience its culture and beauty.

Sado Island is located in Niigata Prefecture. There has been a silver mine in Sado for many years. Gold was discovered in 1601, and at one time the mine was producing the most gold of any in Japan.

In Sado Island the aristocratic culture and samurai culture united to develop a unique culture. Many people, such as Emperor Juntoku, Nichiren, and Zeami, were banished to this island. Since it was Zeami who developed the complete “Noh” play form, there are still many Noh stages in Sado.

This is what Shoko told us about her trip:

“The first crested ibis chick in 36 years has hatched in the wild in Japan. I thought the geographical form of this island was similar to the form of an “S”, or the front view of the bird with extended wings. I thought I would like to see a Japanese crested ibis. This was one of the reasons for this trip for me.

Map of Sado Island. PHOTO: Shoko Ohba

“Sado is a big island. Its history goes back a long way. The nature on this island is also quote wonderful.

Because of the influence of the Tsushima current, it is warmer than the mainland in winter and cooler in summer. There are big gold mines and silver mines in the mountains. The government of the Edo period ruled them directly.

Senkaku Bay. PHOTO: Shoko Ohba

“The coastline of the north side of the island is a sharp cliff, and Senkaku Bay is famous for its unusual rock formations. While I was there I thought that I would like to pray for peace in the world.”

Sincerely,

Miyuki Okayama
Japan Correspondent

On August 26, 2012, a few Community members from Miyazaki joined members from Fukuoka for Sunrise Divine Service, after which Bishop Yukinori presented a lecture on Color and Sacred Imagery. PHOTO: Keiko Inoue

Our Japan correspondent Miyuki Okayama and photographer Keiko Inoue have provided us with a number of photographs and identified them for us, so that we could put together this gallery of photos to revisit some of the events during Fall 2012 at the Cosolargy Institute in Japan. In addition to Sunrise Services on Sunday, the Community in Japan at Fukuoka holds Communion Service on Saturdays, followed by informal meetings with the public, and lecture seminars each weekend for two of the seven Academy classes.

Bishop Yukinori poses with officiants and staff after Communion Service on his birthday, September 1, 2012. PHOTO: Keiko Inoue

Participants in the Sunrise Service held at the ancient solar site of Yakinotouge on September 2, 2012. PHOTO: Keiko Inoue