by Steven Fujimoto
It was truly amazing to participate in the International Hinokishin Corps this year because this is my first time to join the public activities in Tenri since my parents passed away for rebirth back in 2022.
My heart and spirit were completely opened to participate in such a great event, since my son Alex turned his "legal age" to participate at 15 years of age. Plus, I was finally able to bring my friend from high school. Since we promised each other to visit Japan together, and now that 40 years have passed, we are finally here in Japan, and he even decided to join International Hinokishin Corps even though he has faith in Islam.
This year, I have participated with 4 members of Shigeto America. My son Alexander is 15 years old and he was the youngest among all of us, Jay Johnson, our first Yoboku in Atlanta, and my old friend from high school, Irfan Nazir.
It was truly an honor to be there at International Hinokishin Corps together!
I remember back in 2006, after we had the Tenri Forum which was held in English for the first time, I participated in the International Hinokishin Corps for the first time.
Since we have established our mission station in Atlanta the previous year of December, this was my first big Tenrikyo event that I participated in.
The year 2006 made a big impact in my life dramatically. I met my wife Saori for the first time through her head minister from Okinawa, and also met my best friends through the International Hinokishin Corps as well.
It was such an amazing experience and I made my resolution to come back to International Hinokishin Corps with my son in the future (even though I wasn't married at the time).
My life started proceeding one after another. I participated with the second International Hinokishin Corps back in 2012 after the Tsunami hit the Tohoku area in Japan.
I had a great opportunity to participate with Tohoku Relief Hinokishin for nearly two weeks. It was a truly honorable experience to devote myself to hinokishin that year.
After I returned home, someone in my neighborhood asked me and my father to come to their church and share our experiences in Tohoku relief, and our daily hinokishin in our town picking up trash.
My father (the head minister of Shigeto America at the time) and I delivered a speech on Tenrikyo and explained the meaning of hinokishin to non-Tenrikyo denominations. It was such an honorable event and after this occasion, we met Jay Johnson, to be our first Yoboku in Atlanta!
A single word can be hinokishin.
I simply sprinkle my fragrance around.
Mikagura-uta, Song VII:1
And for participating in the third International Hinokishin Corps, I received my black belt. This is my second black belt along with my full contact Karate!
I brought all my intentions of hinokishin spirit this year since I made my first determination to join with my son, and felt the deep meaning of what hinokishin is about, and how much the hinokishin will influence and effect on our lives.
Forgetting greed we work in hinokishin.
This becomes the first fertilizer.
Mikagura-uta, Song XI:4
Again, sharing my experiences at International Hinokishin Corps with everyone always tells me how grateful it is to be with many of us to share all our works and walk in the same direction with everybody.
My next goal is to bring my other son, Andrew, who will be 15 years old in 6 years, and come back with my two sons and the rest of our followers from Atlanta.
The passion from International Hinokishin Corps will never cool down! Let us continue our divine work for generations to come!
[See more photos of the International Hinokishin Corps in our photo gallery. ]