Church of Perfect Liberty, Australia

Kyoso-sai: The PL Art of Fireworks

The First Founder left a will stating, “After my death, these teachings will spread around the world. Therefore, my death is a happy event for world peace. Never grieve over my death! Please celebrate it by setting off fireworks.” Therefore the Second Founder created the “PL Art of Fireworks” to honour the First Founder’s will and his virtue. In July of 1953, upon the fifteenth anniversary of the First Founder’s death, the first fireworks display was held in Matsuyama.

click image to change at random

On July 6, 1954, the first Kyoso-sai (Founders’ Day) was held at Habikino Seichi (Holy Land). It was a great ceremony celebrating the sixteenth anniversary of the First Founder’s death. Every year since, Kyoso-sai has been celebrated with the “PL Art of Fireworks” at the PL Holy Land in Japan.

Special notes: This has now become one of the worlds largest yearly display of fireworks, with over 120,000 pieces launched and lit (a typical fireworks festival will launch between 5,000 to 10,000 pieces). The highlights of this display includes a fireworks "Niagara Falls", which measures 50 meters high and one kilometre long. Some of the most advanced fireworks methods are employed providing spectators with never before seen effects and displays. As part of the grand finale, more than 7,000 pieces of fireworks are launched at once, transforming the the night sky into a "daytime-like" scene. This is a must see event for all PL members.

PL Daihoncho (Headquarters)

The First Founder said, “The permanent headquarters has to be more than three million tsubo in area (over 2450 acres) and has to have both mountains and water.” The Habikino Hills fulfilled these prerequisites. Upon the invitation by people in the area, the Second Founder decided to move the headquarters and build it there. Through the Misasage (making effort for the sake of others) of the members, which began in 1953, the land was cleared, the hills were shaved off and the valleys filled. In November of 1961, the Headquarters was named Daihoncho.

PL Headquarters, Osaka, Japan

The Himorogi

The Himorogi (sacred tree) is presently kept safely at the tomb of the Founders (Okutsuki), which holds the remains of all the Founders.

Okutsuki, final resting place of PL Kyoso's and the Himorogi tree

The Main Temple

This pure white structure is called the Main Temple of PL Holy Land. It was built in 1959 and is the core of PL Headquarters, therefore we face this hallowed structure with respect. The altar of this temple has been consecrated for all who pray there, making it a rapid gateway to the spirits of Mioya-ookami (God), the First and Second Founders, and the ancestors of the members.

PL Main Temple, Japan

PL Peace Tower

The PL Peace Tower, reaching to 180 metres (590 feet) in height, was built 1970 as the symbol and quintessence of the most sophisticated contemporary technology. It can be seen as far away as Kobe City. The unique shape, originally designed in clay by PL's late Second Founder. It's unique pointing finger-like shape symbolizes the Second Founder's revelation that "the truth is one"– an understanding that's basic to realizing the desire for the eternal peace and welfare of humankind.

PL Peace Tower

The PL Peace Tower has become an interreligious, sculptured monument dedicated to all the departed souls of those who have died as a result of all human conflicts. It's a place where people can reflect on the ravages of war and pray for world peace. For this reason, the PL Peace Tower was erected and dedicated to symbolize PL's heartfelt desire for "the eternal peace and true happiness of humankind."

Enshrined within the main altar in Peace Tower, is a list of unlimited names of those who have died as a result of human wars. These names have been collected from around the world, regardless of race, nationality, religion, or political beliefs, and they have been recorded on microfilm and placed in a sacred golden container.

Inside the PL Peace Tower, Alter and the sacred golden container

Prayers for World Peace
Each year, on August 1st, the annual Peace Tower Ceremony is held to remember and console the spirits of all whose lives have been cut short by war, and to pray for the rapid realization of true world peace. During the first three days of each new year, the Peace Tower is also open to any pilgrims who come to pray and to receive the New Year's blessings.

Praying for those who died in wars
The family of anyone who died in any war, regardless of their religion, can apply for an enshrinement of the deceased person's name at the altar of the PL Tower for World Peace. For this reason, if there is anyone among your friends, relatives or acquaintances who lost a family member during any war, let them know that they can apply to have that person's name added to the Sacred File at the altar in the Peace Tower. In this way, services for the peace of the deceased person's spirit, as well as for the rapid realization of world peace can be performed each August 1st.

Propagation In Foreign Countries

In 1958, in order to open the path to world peace, the Brazilian PL Headquarters was established in São Paulo as the initial base for world propagation. The Second Founder visited thirty-three countries over the course of five months in 1960. From that point on, foreign propagation increased tremendously. He continuously sent many ministers to propagate PL in foreign countries, and at present, it is developing in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, France, Portugal, Australia, Switzerland and Italy.

PL South America Headquarters, Arujá, São Paulo, Brazil

Date	Key Events
Apr. 1912	First Founder’s initial contact with Tokumitsu Kanada
Oct. 1917	First Founder learned how to do the Sacred Migiwari Prayer
Jan. 1919	Tokumitsu Kanada died on January 4th, 1919
Feb. 1919	First and Second Founder left the Tokumitsu Church
Feb. 1919	First Founder, as instructed by Tokumitsu Kanada, planted and protected a sacred Himirogi at the site of his death.
1923-1924	First Founder received 3 more precepts to complete the 21 Precepts.
Oct. 1924	First Founder established a kyodan with his teachings.
Jan. 1931	First Founder’s named his religious organization Hito-no-michi Kyodan.
Sep. 1936	Ceremony named Tokuchika Miki to succeed as the Second Founder on September 27th, 1936
Sep. 1936	Military government began suppressing Hito-no-michi on September 28th, 1936
Apr. 1937	Hito-no-michi was ordered to be dissolved on April 28th, 1937
Jul. 1938	First Founder died July 6th 1938
Feb. 1943	Mutsubi-tai group began Hito-no-michi war time underground communication
Sep. 1946	PL Kyodan established on September 29th, 1946
Sep. 1947	Second Founder received the 21 PL Precepts on September 29th, 1947
Apr. 1949	Temporary PL headquarters built in Shimizu
Aug. 1951	Second Founder founded the Federation of New Religious Organizations Of Japan (Shin Shuren) and served as president for 14 years
Jan. 1952	Second Founder began serving for 14 years as a member of the Council for Religious Co-operation in the Ministry of Education for Japan.
Mar. 1953	Ceremony to initiate construction of PL Holy Land and Headquarters at Tondabayashi, Osaka, Japan
Jul. 1953	First fireworks display for the 15th anniversary of the First Founder’s death on July 6th, 1953
Aug. 1953	First Holy Land Rensei began
1954	Second Founder served as president of the Japanese Religious Organization (different from Shin Shuren)
Jul. 1954	First fireworks display held at PL Holy Land
Mar. 1955	PL Holy Land temporary main church built and Omitama installed
Apr. 1955	PL High School established (junior high school in1959, elementary school in 1964, kindergarten in 1967, junior college in 1974, nursing school in 1977)
Nov. 1956	PL Hospital opened
Dec. 1957	Takahito Miki (Third Founder) born on December 2, 1957
Feb. 1958	Brazil’s PL Holy Land established
May 1958	Second Founder received and revealed the sacred “Oyashikiri” on May 29th, 1958
Aug. 1959	Main Temple and Okutsuki completed
Aug. 1959	Headquarter’s Omitama moved to the Main Temple
Aug. 1959	21st anniversary of First Founder’s death celebrated with fireworks.
Dec. 1959	Second Founder’s book “Life is Art” published
Nov. 1961	North American PL Headquarters Church established
Feb. 1962	PL publishing company established
Apr. 1963	PL newspaper established
Apr. 1963	School for training new ministers established
Nov. 1964	Use of the Aramitama began
Nov. 1964	Main Temple left and right side buildings and Rensei Building completed
Oct. 1965	Second Founder given the title of Honorary President of Shin Shuren
Aug. 1966	Use of computers at PL Headquarters began
Jun. 1970	PL Botanical Research Center opened
Aug. 1970	PL Tower for world peace completed
Dec. 1970	PL Health Check-up Center Tokyo opened
Jan. 1971	100th anniversary of First Founder’s birth celebrated
Dec. 1971	PL Health Check-up Center Osaka opened
Mar. 1972	Kappa-za Children’s Theater started
Aug. 1972	PL High School first won the all-Japan Kendo competition
Oct. 1972	PL Tea Ceremony began
Nov. 1973	Second Founder visited the Pope
Oct. 1974	PL School of Flower Arrangment (Ikebana) began
Dec. 1974	“PL Kyodan” renamed the “Perfect Liberty Kyodan.”
Jul. 1976	Established Headquarters for Spanish-American propagation in Argentina
Aug. 1978	PL High School first won the all-Japan high school baseball competition
Jul. 1979	Reverend Ono, and family arrives in Canada from Brazil
Sep. 1979	Takahito Miki appointed as Setsuji-oya
Oct. 1979	PL Ottawa Omitama enshrined on October 20th
Feb. 1980	Second Founder visited Pope John Paul II
May 1981	Ceremony announcing Takahito Miki to eventually be Third Founder
Feb. 1983	Second Founder died at 82 years of age
Feb. 1983	Third Founder succeeded the Second Founder
Apr. 1983	Special inauguration service for Third Founder
Jun. 1984	Oshieoya-sama visited North American churches
Jun. 1984	Oshieoya-sama visited the South American churches
Oct. 1988	Oshieoya-sama became vice president of Shin Shuren
Aug. 1989	PL baton twirling team won first spot overall in international competitions
Aug. 1996	Oceania Headquarters in Australia established