The O-Uta Concert, sponsored by the Culture and Sports Management Section of the Mission Department and Tenrikyo Institute of Music, took place after the evening service on October 25 at Dining Hall 3 of Church Headquarters in celebration of the eve of the Autumn Grand Service of the 167th year of the Teaching. "O-Uta" refers to Ofudesaki verses set to music.

The concert was given by the Chorus Division of Tenrikyo Institute of Music, as well as 16 choirs from dioceses and local churches. The total number of the participants was some 400 including 86 members of the orchestra of Tenrikyo Institute of Music. The "O-Uta" songs performed on the stage included "O-Uta 1: Over Steep Mountains," "O-Uta 2: Oyasama," "O-Uta 12: Path of the Divine Model," and "O-Uta 7: Seeds of Single-hearted Salvation."

Among the performers at this concert were 96 members of Taiwan O-Uta Choir, marking the first time an overseas choir has joined in an O-Uta Concert. Their participation was part of the preparations for an O-Uta Concert being planned to be held next April in Taipei, Taiwan, which will be the first O-Uta Concert ever to be given overseas.

The idea of holding an O-Uta Concert in Taiwan goes back some time, but only two years ago did it begin to take shape in anticipation of the 70th anniversary of the Mission Headquarters in Taiwan—scheduled for this November—and the 50th anniversary of Tenrikyo Institute of Music, due next spring. Rev. Takenori Hashimoto, bishop of the mission headquarters, spoke of his hope that the concert would contribute to sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings by helping people become better acquainted with the Scriptures as well as making the name "Tenri" better known in Taiwan.