Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its establishment on Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15.
Shinbashira Zenji Nakayama, the patriarch and spiritual leader of the Tenrikyo Church, from Japan, will be present for this auspicious occasion.
As part of the anniversary festivities, a commemorative service will be held from 10 a.m. with an address by the Shinbashira, followed by a lunch banquet and entertainment by music and dance groups. Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters invites all interested people, whether Tenrikyo or not, to help celebrate the church’s long history in Los Angeles. No RSVP is required.
The Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters in America was established in 1934 in response to the growing number of followers and regional Tenrikyo churches. The purpose of the Mission Headquarters has been to serve as a central administrative entity to all Tenrikyo in mainland United States and Canada.
The current location in Boyle Heights was chosen due to the large Japanese population at the time. Although most of the residents that the church served have since moved out of the Boyle Heights community, Tenrikyo has remained and continues to serve its members and the local community through various activities.
Some of those activities include the Los Angeles Tenri Judo program and Yoki Daiko drumming group. The judo program, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, boasts a long list of national and international competitors who have trained at its dojo. The City and County of Los Angeles have commended the dojo’s efforts for helping the youths of the Los Angeles community in developing their physical and mental growth through judo training.
Yoki Daiko, the Japanese drumming group based at Tenrikyo Church, has performed at various venues and events throughout Southern California and is now recognized as one of the premier taiko groups in the region.
The 80th anniversary is a milestone in the history of the church as it looks forward to utilizing this day as a stepping stone for future growth, enabling more people to understand and benefit from the ideals of peace and harmonious living through the purification of the heart and soul as prescribed by the teachings of Tenrikyo.
Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters is located at 2727 E. First St., Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 261-3379 or click here.
Saturday, June 14
1:30 p.m.: Joint commemorative convention for 60th anniversary of Tenrikyo Young Men’s Association and Tenrikyo Women’s Association
3:30 p.m.: Commemorative activity: Family Festival (games, crafts, nail art, bazaar, etc.)
4–6 p.m.: Dinner in Dining Hall
6 p.m.: Evening service
7 p.m.: Future Gathering (wine-tasting contest, video, etc.)
Sunday, June 15
10 a.m.: 80th anniversary of Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of America
1:30 p.m.: Reception