Cathedral welcomes annual visit by Japanese religious peace committee

By Michiko Wada
Special to the Herald

The Japan Religious Committee for the World Federation made its annual visit to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Dec. 6 as part of its yearly pilgrimage to the Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony on Dec. 7.

Cathedral administrator Alika Cullen and the Japanese Catholic Community of Hawaii hosted the group represented by chairman Tomokiyo Tanaka, a Shinto priest from Iwashimizu Hachimangu temple in Kyoto, who relayed the group’s greeting and presented the cathedral with an offering.

Greetings and gifts were also given to the cathedral by the religious organizations comprising the committee, including the Kawasaki Daishi Buddhist temple in Kawasaki, Japan, which recently celebrated its 890th anniversary, and the Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhists.

Founded in 1967, the visiting committee is made up of leaders from Japan’s many religious traditions including Buddhist, Shinto, Christian, Islam and others. This interfaith committee prays as one for world peace, primarily in Japan but also during its annual visit to Pearl Harbor as well as at international summits.

For several decades, the Japanese Catholic Community of Hawaii under the guidance of Marianist Father Francis Nakagawa, who is now retired on the Mainland, has had the privilege of welcoming this group to the Honolulu cathedral and participating in its activities.

In the past, Father Chitoshi Noshita of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki was a part of the delegation. This year, Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki announced his hopes to resume sending an emissary with this group next year.

The Japanese Catholic Community of Hawaii is grateful and prays for the opportunity to serve humbly as the bridge between the Honolulu and Nagasaki community once again.

For information about the Japanese Catholic Community of Hawaii and its activities, contact Michiko Wada at 554-3328.