First of all, a word of caution: this is a not a glossary of Tenrikyo terms in regard to its teachings. 

This is a glossary of words used by many second and third generation (and so on) Tenrikyo followers from the United States. Each of these words are used quite often when the followers return to Jiba, and there is a shared assumption of what these words mean. Most are Japanese words that are used as it is, not bothering with the cumbersome English translation. Others are English terms that took on special meaning in the context of a Tenrikyo followers' many years of returning to Jiba. We thought this glossary would be helpful for first-time visitors to decipher what other people are saying. 

keidai (pronounced kay die): means "precincts" or the Church Headquarters property in immediate vicinity to the main sanctuary, but often refers to the staff members who patrol these area. These are the people who will offer you a shoe horn as you put your shoes on when exiting the sanctuary. If you have issues such as "lost and found" or need direction, these kind people will surely try to help you. 

The Seminar: Refers almost exclusively to the Oyasato Seminar. When English-speaking Tenrikyo people get together and refer to "the Seminar," they are referring to the week-long educational/religious summer course held for seventeen-year-old (and up) high school students at Jiba. The course is held in English and other non-Japanese language and has been a defining moment for many high school students in regard to how they came to make the Tenrikyo faith their own. Oyasato Seminar began in 1984 and is still ongoing today. OSA is abbreviation for Oyasato Seminar alumni. Here is a video of the most recent Seminar. 

Ochasho: This term has a perfectly good English translation, of "Tea Service Center," but I have never heard anyone refer to it as such. Located not too far away from the main sanctuary, Ochasho is a nice place to rest, eat your bento lunch, or watch your small children play in the newly built indoor play area. Here is an article, with photos, of the Ochasho. 

tsumesho (pronounced tsu may sho): All grand churches (and some branch churches) operate a dormitory for their followers in close vicinity to Jiba. These are referred to as "followers dormitory" but many people very often use the Japanese term of tsumesho. If you are a member of the Honjima Grand Church, for example, you would stay at the Honjima Tsumesho for the most part. 

moya: Most people don't think about it, but there is also a thing called moya, which, from its use and physical appearance, looks just like a tsumesho. For example, Tenrikyo groups from overseas are often given the opportunity to stay at the 38 Moya, and most Young Men's Association activities center around the 100 Moya. For practical purposes, you can think of moya and tsumesho as being the same thing. So, what's the difference? Ninety-nine out of a hundred Tenrikyo followers won't be able to answer this question. Moya literally means "mother house," but in the Tenrikyo organization, it took on a specific meaning. In 1965, all tsumesho came under the jurisdiction of Church Headquarters while continuing to serve as a followers dormitory for the members of their grand church. And when any Tenrikyo dormitory facility, including tsumesho, underwent construction or renewal, it was formally re-named as a moya and numbered in order of the construction. Thus, Honjima Tsumesho is formally known as 46 Moya because it is the forty-sixth dormitory to have undergone a renewal after 1965. Most moya serve as a tsumesho for a grand church, but some, like 100 Moya, serve a unique function and is operated by Church Headquarters. 

dansanken: Literally means "pilgrimage group tickets." These are discount tickets available for those returning to Jiba from locations throughout Japan, some as close as Kyoto and Osaka. Short-distance dansanken are available at certain tsumesho while long-distance dansanken is purchased at a JTB store and require a dansanken voucher. There are also restrictions to its use. 

Sho-hi (pronounced show he): This is short for Shonen Hinokishin-tai, or Boys and Girls Association Hinokishin Corps. The Sho-hi groups are made of middle-school aged kids who help out with the Children's Pilgrimage, most often being the tea servers at various locations thoughout Jiba. Their ice-cold tea and cheerful voices have become an integral part of the hospitality that we all experience at the Children's Pilgrimage. For the kids, it is a great experience to bond with their age group over the course of a week at the Children's Pilgrimage. 

Oya-fuse: This is short for Oyasato Fusekomi katei, a year-long course at Tenrikyo Language Institute for followers from outside Japan. You can read about Tomikazu Okura's Oyafuse experience here in this article that he wrote for us. 

asa-shin: You would have had to undergo the Spiritual Development Course (Shuyoka, in Japanese) held in Jiba to know this word, but once you go, the word is firmly implanted in your mind. It refers to the morning sanctuary cleanup hinokishin duty that occurs a couple times a week during the course. The cleanup begins exactly one hour before morning service at Church Headquarters, so in the month of June (when the morning service begins at 5 AM), those assigned to the cleanup hinokishin duty that morning would all assemble at 4 AM. If you'd like to see what the Spiritual Development Course is like, here is a video of a recent course, held in Portuguese.

Ojiba: "Ojiba" refers to "Jiba," the place where God the Parent conceived human beings for the first time at the time of origin. While all official church publication refer to it as "Jiba," there is a tradition of placing the honorific "o" in front of it and calling it "Ojiba," especially in spoken language. 

KOG: Abbreviation for Kodomo Ojiba Gaeri, or Children's Pilgrimage to Jiba. I don't know why we don't abbreviate it as CPJ, although KOG can be used across all languages. 

America/Canada and Hawaii Group: You'd think that Hawaii is part of America. It is, but it's not. Given the way that the boundaries of dioceses are set up in Tenrikyo, Hawaii has its own diocese (and Mission Headquarters) while the remaining 49 states of United States of America together with Canada form a single diocese. So, you may hear the phrase "the joint KOG America/Canada and Hawaii" group, implying that the followers from the two dioceses formed a single group for the Children's Pilgrimage. 

shokken: "meal ticket." During any group pilgrimage stay at Jiba, staff members have lost many nights of sleep making sure that the right number of shokken has been ordered for each meal. With an extra shokken in hand, I've been asked to stand outside a very crowded entrance to a dining hall, waiting for that stranded member of the group who didn't have their shokken. There is quite a bit of stress put into getting the right count, and you can do your group staff a huge favor by cooperating in this regard (ie eating what you pre-order, being in the right place at the right time before meals). 

Sui-Hon: Short for Suiji Honbu, whose official translation is "Dining Service Center" although no dining takes place there. This is a large-scale cooking facility where all the meals eaten at every single tsumesho in Tenri are prepared and cooked. The idea is that, in Jiba, all returning followers share from the same cooking pot. There are huge vats that produce thousands of meals three times a day, and these meals are delivered to all the tsumesho throughout Tenri in the Sui-Hon delivery trucks. Your shokken entitles you to a Sui-Hon meal, which is surprisingly good considering that it is mass produced. My favorite (everybody's favorite) is the curry rice.