New York Events

Shinto Foundation Opens New York Center
Press Release January 22, 1996

The International Shinto Foundation, aimed at establishing a proper overseas image for Japan's ancient religion and developing it as a modern faith that relates positively to business, political and social conduct, has established a New York Center facing the United Nations Headquarters.

In a ceremony held on Friday, the 5th of January, 1996, at the international chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations, 777 U.N. Plaza, where its new offices are located, a Shinto plaque, symbolized by a torii gate within a circle, was added to the other major religions represented there -- Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

The ceremony began with the traditional Shinto Ritual of Blessing conducted by the Rev. Masahiko Takizawa of the Kotohira Shrine of Hawaii and the Rev. Tetsuji Ochiai of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America. The eminent Shinto leader, Dr. Akira Nakanishi, Chairman of the foundation, set the theme by remarks focusing on Shinto adherents in the New York area, participated in the formal offering of the Tamagushi sacred branch. A highlight of the colorful ceremony was the Miko-mai, an ancient ceremonial dance presented by the Shrine maidens and accompanied by the Gagaku court music. An English explanation accompanied each of the rituals.

A colloquium followed on the theme of Shinto and the Culture of Peace in which the Rev. Toshu Fukami, the foundation's Vice Chairman, stated how Shinto was distorted and misused by Japan's militarists. He declared that it needed to be placed into its proper perspective as the belief of harmony and coexistence which has defined Japanese social behavior for centuries and its nature accounts for the peaceful and prosperous society Japan has created since the War.

Mr. Fukami and other speakers who represented many different walks of life -- from Shinto priests to academics and community leaders -- stressed the flexible nature of Shinto which neither proselytizes no conflicts with any other religions. In Japan, in fact, most citizens are both Shintoist and Buddhist.

Yoshimi Umeda, Director General, noted that the foundation, which has already sponsored a series of international seminars and events in the U.K., U.S.A. and Japan, is dedicated to spreading Shinto's philosophy and humanity through further overseas seminars, classes, scholarships, publications as well as charitable activities, such as concerts and other events whose proceeds go toward helping the needy and handicapped. The foundation seeks to link its goals to the United Nations movements such as efforts to attain a lasting peace and creating a better environment.

An Internet Home Page for the International Shinto Foundation will certainly serve to utilize the most modern methods to communicate with the rest of the world, itself a symbol that Shinto's renewal as a modern religion can provide meaningful knowledge and inspiration to men and women all over the world.