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February 2024 Voice of the Divine Parent

Vol. 24# 2


Kametaro Nakayama

Becoming a believer of the Konko faith - continued from the January Issue

Because of my  three-month stay in the hospital, my mother sold all of her household goods and items.

Although I was discharged from the hospital, we were no longer able to live in Kokura, so we had to rely on relatives in Shimane Prefecture. Since we didn't have the money to travel, my mother decided to carry me on her back and walk, but it was not an easy situation.  I did not have hands to hold on to my mother’s shoulder. Even when she tried to carry me on her back with the kimono sash, I did not have an arm to wrap the sash with. My mother carried a wicker trunk with the few remaining changes of clothes on her back, sat me down on top of it and tied my body to her neck.  She held a cloth bag in one hand, and an umbrella in the other. In the middle of summer, we took a long journey across mountains and slopes. I think this was possible because of her strong maternal instincts.

While we were in the care of my aunt, I reached school age. My mother wanted to somehow get me into school.  During my stay in the hospital, I was quiet, so when the hospital director came on his rounds, he said kindly, ``You are a good kid, so let's give you a reward. What would you like? Candy? Or maybe a toy?''  I didn't want any toys or sweets, so I said, ``Doctor, please give me my hand back. Without it, I won't be able to study even if I go to school.''

Also, when the neighborhood children would come home from school and play with me, they would always say, ``Kame-chan, you can't go to school because you don’t have any hands.'' These were words of compassion from a child's heart, but as a mother who heard them every day, they were too much for her to bear. When I was seven, my mother once again carried me on top of the wicker trunk.  We traveled across the Western Mountains and returned from Shimane Prefecture to her hometown of Nakasho Village in Okayama Prefecture  to register me for elementary school. At that time, there was a coal mine in Nakasho. There were jobs for women in the mines, but they paid less. My mother couldn't support our family that way, so she worked alongside the men and did rougher work to support our family. When my mother went to the school to ask for my admission, the principal asked, ``What can a child with one leg do?  We do not want to hinder the education of the other children, so I decline his admission," he said. My mother made a request through influential people in the village, but no one would let me in.

My mother said, ``Before asking the school for admission, I should have asked Kami. My mother, who had new aspirations and began practicing faith said, “From now on, I will ask Kami to help my child be able to read and write on his own, even if he cannot be admitted to school.'' My mother worked all day alongside men, and without resting her tired body and scarcely eating dinner, she walked more than four kilometers to visit Konko Daijin's church. Whether it was rainy or windy, she didn't miss a single day for two years.  I believe this was possible because of her strong maternal instincts.  

To be continued in next issue

 

Konko Church of Gardena and Los Angeles Announcements


Morning Service and Setsubun

On February 4, the morning service will be held from 9 a.m. After praying and cleaning the inside and outside of the church, the Setsubun event will be held. Please feel free to bring your small children or grandchildren with you. The origin and meaning of Setsubun are explained below. After the Setsubun event, the Gardena Church Shinto-kai meeting will be held. If you are interested, please join us.


February 3 is ``Setsubun''. Originally, Setsubun was a festival that marked the beginning of the seasons, and was held four times a year, on the day before the first day of spring, the first day of summer, the first day of autumn, and the first day of winter. However, in Japan, the first day of spring was especially revered as the beginning of the year, so gradually Setsubun came to refer only to the spring season. 

If we think of the first day of spring as the beginning of a new year, Setsubun falls on New Year's Eve. In the Heian period, on New Year's Eve, the direction from east to northeast was held in the imperial court by onmyoji and others to exorcise and purify the misfortunes and misfortunes of the previous year. From the Muromachi period onwards, it evolved into an event to drive out evil spirits by throwing beans, and became common throughout the rest of society.

Ehomaki is a unique type of sushi roll that is generally eaten only on Setsubun. It’s relatively long and big compared to the ordinary sushi rolls that you can find at sushi restaurants. In general, it is considered good to use seven ingredients such as tuna and egg for Ehomaki as the number is often associated with “Lucky”. It also comes from the fact that we have 7 famous gods of fortune called Shichifukujin in Japan!

When you eat Ehomaki, you need to face the direction that is believed to bring you good fortune during the year. The direction changes every year and it is east-northeast in 2024.

It is also important to make a wish with your eyes closed while eating Ehomaki. People eat the entire roll at one time without stopping (or giving up)!

 

February Monthly Service and From Farmer to Founder Study

The February Monthly service will be held from 10:00 a.m. on February 11. After the service and lunch, a study session on the From Farmer to Founder - biography of Konko Daijin will be held from 12:00 to 1:00. All participants are asked to bring their book.

 

Gardena Church Work Committee Workshop

The GCWC will be meeting on Sunday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be discussing From Farmer to Founder The Life of Konko Daijin. Please let Rev. Uzunoe know if you would like to attend.


KCNA Regional Seminar

The KCNA Southern California Regional Seminar will be held on Saturday, February 24 at the Gardena Dining Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please apply by February 18. The fee to attend is $10 per person.

The theme is: Re-Awaken our relationship through showing Kami’s workings and love in our daily faith, to ensure it is passed down.

 

Hinamatsuri-Girls’ day doll setup

Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, is observed on March 3 to celebrate the health and happiness of girls especially under the age of 10. There will be an annual doll setup on Sunday, February 25 at 10 a.m. Come join us with your children and grandchildren to display a beautiful set of traditional Japanese dolls.

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