From the Road: Preparing for Japan

By Peter Morales

From March 3 – 12, 2012 Rev. Peter Morales, UUA President, will travel to Japan to visit with a number of historic interfaith partners. The visit will also provide Rev. Morales with an opportunity to extend congratulatory greetings to Rissho Kosei-kai during its annual “Founding Day.”

The event will begin at approximately 6:3opm Eastern Time on Sunday, March 4th. And, Rev. Morales’s speech will begin at approximately 8:30pm. Tune in for a live broadcast of his speech; a recording of the speech will also be available following the event.

I write this as I prepare to leave on a 10 day trip to Japan for ceremonies commemorating Rissho Kosei-kai Founding Day and the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011.

Rissho Kosei-kei is a liberal Buddhist organization with 6 million members in Japan. We have a long and enduring relationship with this group, beginning with the Rev. Dana Greeley, first president of the UUA, whose passionate work for peace and civil rights became the foundation for this interfaith partnership. Last year, RKK President-designate Rev. Kosho Niwano addressed our General Assembly in Charlotte, NC. In a few days, I will return the favor. Portions of this celebration will be simulcast and the greetings I will bring on behalf of all Unitarian Universalists will be posted on the UUA web site shortly thereafter.

Later during this trip, I will be visiting some of the most impacted areas in the Sendai region from last year’s earthquake and tsunami. UUs have held the Japanese people in their thoughts and prayers as they struggle to rebuild their lives and homes. To date, UUs have also contributed over $500,000 to relief efforts. I will bring a symbol of that financial support as well as your continued good wishes.

While I will share my experiences here, more information about the Japan itinerary can be found on our Faith Without Borders blog.

Cross-posted from Beyond Belief.

About the Author

Peter Morales

The Rev. Peter Morales was the eighth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). He was elected in June 2013 to a second four-year term and resigned in March 2017. Morales grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of the Pacific in Stockton,...

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UUA President Speaks at Rissho Kosei-kai Anniversary

As part of a week-long visit with interfaith partners in Japan, Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President Peter Morales spoke during the annual "Founding Day" event for Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) on March 4, 2012. Rissho Kosei-kai generously simulcast Rev. Morales's speech during the anniversary event for the benefit of Unitarian Universalists (UUs) in the United States. We thank them for providing this recording of Rev. Morales' speech.