Six Major Japanese Unification Church Leaders Visit USA

Hideo Oyamada, Doris and Dennis Orme, David Kim, Masatoshi Abe, and Ken Sudo at joint conference, Estes Park, Colorado

As the months go by, Japanese seems to be becoming the second language in some American Unification Church centers and One World Crusade teams. At least this was the case when six key Japanese church leaders visited Washington, D.C. September 9-12.

Directors and lecturers for the International Leadership Seminar for Japanese students held in San Francisco this summer, they were touring the United States, Europe, and Asia.

“We want to extend our vision through visiting many places around the world,” explained Mr. Hideo Oyamada, acting director of the Japanese Unification Church. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington have changed our image of America. It is so difficult to understand a country unless you visit it.”

Captivated by Lincoln

The Lincoln Memorial deeply impressed the visitors. For Dr. Nobuyoshi Hori, this day was memorable. “For a long time I had wanted to see Lincoln’s statue. I have had a very strong impression of Lincoln, for when I was a child about eight years old, my mother gave me a book about President Lincoln. I read that Lincoln studied George Washington’s biography and decided, ‘I will be like Washington.’ When I read the book, I decided that I too would become someone special.” He aspires to become true to his name (Hori is pronounced like “holy”).

“I think Abraham Lincoln is my ancestor,” grinned Mr. Masatoshi Abe, remarking on the beauty of the Lincoln Memorial and the sculpture. “The true leader of this country is the one who loves this country the most,” he explained after visiting the Capitol and Congressional offices. “I feel that the real representatives of the United States are not there, but here. If you love this country so much it will not be a problem for you to become good leaders of this country. You must make a strong effort to fulfill your five percent responsibility.”

Mr. Abe directs publication and information services for the Japanese Unification Church and the International Federation for Victory Over Communism.

Mr. Gentaro Kajikuri, secretary general of the International Federation for Victory Over Communism lectures to the International Leadership Seminar in San Francisco. After returning to Japan, he plans to train more than 1,000 university student leaders.

Our way is sacrifice

After spending two months at Belvedere and two months in San Francisco, Mrs. Haruko Kanari said, “I can never forget the courtesy and kindness which I experienced from you. After I go back to Japan, I will pray for you and for this country, that you may achieve Father’s purpose. A woman of deep heart and wisdom, Mrs. Kanari is one of three “mothers” of the Japanese family, with a praying mission. “When I arrived in America,” she continued, “I prayed to Father to understand the situation of His heart. The next morning the answer came: the way of the Unification Church is the self-sacrificing way. Through many experiences I know that our prayers will be accomplished.”

Mr. Ken Sudo, former general commander of One World Crusade in Japan, charmed the family with his comparison between himself and the tall Americans: “The value of a man is not decided by the length beneath the chin.” Someone illustrated the maxim on the blackboard, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind about the existence of a Japanese sense of humor. What he lacked in height, however, was made up by his zeal: “I have the determination to win the victory by spiritual strength.” Just prior to coming to America, he organized a I 00-day training program for family members in Japan and expects to have responsibility for education at Belvedere. Although he gave an entertaining and inspiring speech in English, he explained that he will embark on a crash English-study program — mostly by flower selling! Mr. Sudo’s former One World Crusade team 3 is now commanded by Mr. Hori.

Japanese programs

But the give and take between the Japanese and American families was by no means one-sided. The Washing ton family eagerly listened to the reports and testimonies of the Japanese leaders. They explained that Mr. Kuboki is presently on a tour of Japan, giving public speeches on “How to restore Japan.” His series started in Sapporo (where the Olympics were held). Speaking first in the large cities and then one in each prefecture, his topics are: the Divine Principle, Japan’s most serious problem (the Communist threat), culture, and education. Very famous as a Victory Over Communism lecturer, Mr. Kajikuri has made speeches for more than 80 days throughout Japan. Mr. Kuboki building on his foundation, is paralleling Rev. Moon’s lecture series in America.

The general pattern for Japanese family members is to spend the first six months working for a family business; next do missionary work on a One World Crusade team; followed by Victory Over Communism programs. After that, each member or his leader choses the most suitable area to work in.

A Japanese evangelist Rev. Nakamura is a liaison between the Unification Church and Christian ministers who have come to Divine Principle seminars. Through the “Union Church” Rev. Nakamura and Rev. Emi (a Catholic priest) work for Christian unity in Japan. On September 11 more than 50 ministers were expected in Tokyo for a joint conference of Asian ministers.

Each of the leaders has been with the family for at least ten years. Two of them gave brief testimonies.

Longing to become a Presbyterian minister, Mr. [Hideo] Oyamada originally heard the Principle just before he planned to enter a seminary. The Divine Principle answered his two most serious conflicts: the struggle between God’s love and human love, and whether or not Jesus Christ would come a second time. Since joining the church he has worked for three years as a missionary in the countryside, followed by education and student ministries and later One World Crusade.

Mr. [Nobuyoshi] Hori explained that, like his hero Lincoln, he studied law, but with some difficulty, later turning to the study of religion. Three years after entering the university he began seriously searching for the purpose of his life. Finally, shortly before President Kennedy was shot he came to know the existence of the spirit world.

Believing that Kennedy went to the spirit world, Mr. Sudo bought a Bible to read and later came to the Unification Church. He counseled the family, “The most difficult task is to overcome ourselves. If we each can gain the victory over ourselves, we will win the kingdom.”

After leaving America, they will visit London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Athens, Cairo, Cyprus, Israel, Teheran, Delhi, Bankok, Hong Kong, and finally Tokyo. Next year they expect to return with 120 more Japanese students.