Memorial Service - Prayer to the Mitama of Mrs

Fukuda Yoshiaki Sensei no Mitama no Kami

The Honorable and eternal virtues of the late Rev. Yoshiaki Fukuda, please hear our prayers…

This morning we have filled this church from cities across the globe to pray for your eternal happiness with this 50th Memorial Service. With our services, held in conjunction with the Ikigami Konko Daijin Grand Ceremony, we honor your life, give our greatest respects, and express our deep, enduring appreciation.

Dear Fukuda Sensei, fifty years have now passed since you were eternally deified as a Mitama Spirit. Over this half century, your family, the believers in San Francisco and throughout Japan and North America, have continued thrive upon your great accomplishments and abiding faith. With today’s prayers and offerings we once again thank you for your strong leadership, warm compassion, and inspirational faith.

Dear Fukuda Sensei, you were born in Nara Prefecture, Japan in 1898 as the fifth son of Kamejiro and Kiwa Fukuda, and grew up surrounded by the majestic mountains of Nara Prefecture. You were highly gifted with incredible intelligence, strength of spirit and a strong sense of justice. As a youth, you excelled in your studies but contracted tuberculosis while preparing for your college entrance exams. This illness would serve as your introduction to the Konko Faith, and through the spiritual guidance of Rev. Kumaichi Matsuda of the Konko Church of Minamimura you received blessings to recover. You were then accepted into the even more prestigious Imperial University of Tokyo, the top university of all Japan. Again, during your studies you suffered a relapse of your TB, prompting you to seek blessings at the Konko Church of Koishikawa in Tokyo. While there, you began to consider the Konko ministry as a future career. You recovered with Kami’s blessings, continued your studies and graduated from Tokyo University Although you had the opportunity to pursue a successful career in politics, business or education upon your graduation, you chose instead to become a minister. You entered the Konko Seminary and in 1928 were ordained by Konko Sama. You were soon married to Shinko Kimura of the Mishima Church and together the two of you devoted yourselves to missionary work. However your vibrant personality compelled you to move beyond the borders of Japan and spread the faith in the distant land of North America. You moved to the Konko Church of Tokyo to prepare yourself mentally and spiritually for overseas missionary work. Immersing yourself into your religious training under with the mentorship of the late Rev. Tokusaburo Hata, you truly took heart in his words, that “The way of living Kami flourishes everywhere by virtue of Heaven and Earth.”

Dear Fukuda Sensei, in 1930 you and your wife made the momentous journey to San Francisco and dove headlong into the life of a missionary on the Eastern frontier of the Faith. With firm determination you undertook the lifelong task of sharing the Konko religion with people of this new land. You soon established the Konko Church of San Francisco and from this spiritual epicenter arose powerful wave after wave of devotion, faith, blessings that would reverberate across the continent for the next 27 years. Your deep sense of justice, compassion and seemingly inexhaustible strength inspired so many believers to join the faith, and many entered the ministry as your spiritual comrades in arms. You never hesitated to fight for the powerless and help anyone who needed it. You were willing to roll up your sleeves and be directly involved in the various projects around the church, leading by example. And you prayed with such fervor and passionate intensity that people had no doubt they would receive Kami’s divine blessings through your Mediation.

In all arenas of life, you excelled. You were among Japan’s most intellectual elite at Tokyo University, and were also an exceptional student at the Konko Seminary. You were a successful missionary in San Francisco and throughout North America. And during the war, you were a leader among leaders in the various internment camps Upon your release, you were a pillar strength and stability for the uncertain Japanese community, and an inspirational leader for relief efforts to a devastated post-war Japan. You were a leader of the Japanese American Religious Federation, and other influential community groups in San Francisco. You helped organize the construction of the Grand Service Hall of the Konko Headquarters and wrote many important books for the Konko Religion. You traveled far and wide to minister to people throughout the US, Canada, and even in Japan throughout your ministerial career. We depended upon you so much.

And so it was a sad when you unexpectedly passed away in 1957. Where would we do without our valiant leader? We were able to seek comfort in our understanding that your Mitama Spirit would live on forever. Now, 50 years later, we know this is true, because even today your virtues of absolute faith and kind compassion still inspire us. Your Mitama Spirit continues to power our church by encouraging us to do our best, supporting us though our difficulties, and guiding us to a brighter future.

Dear Fukuda Sensei, in the fifty years since your spiritual rebirth, the church has evolved and changed. Your dream for propagation in English has become a reality, and new generations of believers are receiving the blessings of Kami Sama. Your family has grown and prospered, always buoyed by your infinite virtues and strong prayers. Your church has remained an active leader within the Japanese American community and among the Konko Churches in North America. All of this because of the honorable legacy you left for us. We thank you so much.

Dear Fukuda Sensei, please continue to watch over the San Francisco Church, each believer, and each of us here today, as a loving Mitama Spirit. Please continue to guide the Fukuda Family, guide all your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to happiness and peace of mind. Please guide the Konko Churches in North American and all countries with new and more creative, positive ideas. And please continue to be with us each day, in our hearts, so we can learn to live with sincerity and love.

On this auspicious occasion of your 50-Year Memorial Service, we renew our prayers for your eternal peace and happiness.

Yoshiaki Fukuda Sensei no Mitama no Kami

The Honorable and eternal virtues of the late Rev. Yoshiaki Fukuda

THANK YOU, thank you so much.