The Board of Directors of the Japanese Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (Religions for Peace Japan) met June 6 to approve "Prayer and action for advancing shared security" as the main theme of its peace activities from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013. It also approved activity reports and a financial statement of its fiscal year from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012. It agreed to create three special teams to promote activities based on the main theme: disarmament and the abolition of nuclear weapons, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and peace education. It also endorsed the hosting in Japan of an international seminar next year by the International Peace Corps of Religions, a South Korean corporation established by the Korean Conference of Religion for Peace. The board approved the continuation of surveys of students at junior and senior high schools and colleges and universities across Japan on how to respect and protect life, which has been carried out by the Women's Executive Committee of Religions for Peace Japan.
The meeting was the board's second since Religions for Peace Japan received recognition on February 15 from the Japanese government as a public interest incorporated foundation. It was held at the residence of Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo, in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Fifteen directors took part, including Rev. Keiji Kunitomi, director of the Tokyo Area of Rissho Kosei-kai.
The meeting opened with addresses by Ven. Gijun Sugitani, chair of Religions for Peace Japan and supreme advisor to the Tendai Buddhist Denomination, and Rev. Seitetsu Ishikawa, a new director of Religions for Peace Japan and priest at Renjoji, a temple of Honmon Hokke Shu, one of the Nichiren sects of Japanese Buddhism.
Before their meeting, the directors visited Saint Mary's Cathedral, adjacent to the archbishop's residence, and prayed together and were addressed by Archbishop Okada.
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