New signboard (Feb. 14)

On January 16, the signboard of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters on the South Gate was replaced with a new one. It had last been changed 20 years before, when the Centennial Anniversary of Oyasama was conducted.

Shortly before 9:00 A.M., the new signboard carried on a 2-ton truck arrived in front of the South Gate. Made of hinoki cypress, the signboard measures 554.5 centimeters (18.19 ft.) long, 90 centimeters (2.95 ft.) across, and 11 centimeters (4.33 in.) thick. The characters reading "Tenrikyo Church Headquarters"--written by the Shinbashira--appear in vivid black calligraphy on its surface. It weighs 300 kilograms (661.39 lb.), and it required 10 people to load it and unload it.

After two hours of replacement work, the signboard stood out in contrast with the blackness of the South Gate under the sunshine while gathering attention from followers passing by. The old signboard will be stored in a warehouse in Sanmaiden.