A New Light in Shizuoka: Ideal Scientology Mission Opens in the Heart of the City

Leaders and parishioners from across Japan celebrate the opening of a new center at the foothills of Mount Fuji, dedicated to uplifting communities and fostering unity among all faiths.

 

Prominently located along Shizuoka’s bustling Road 75—at the heart of a city famed for its green tea hills, Pacific coastline and views of majestic Mount Fuji—the new Ideal Scientology Mission of Shizuoka opened its doors to the community on October 25, following a dedication ceremony attended by parishioners, civic leaders and humanitarian partners from across Honshu, the main island of Japan.

The celebration burst to life with a Yosakoi dance performance—a joyful blend of traditional choreography and modern music—infusing the festivities with color and rhythm and capturing the spirited energy that defined the day.

Scientology Missions form the vanguard of the Scientology religion, providing the full array of basic and introductory Scientology services and Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling). The Ideal Church of Scientology Mission of Shizuoka is designed to serve as the physical embodiment of Scientology Technology in helping all to attain spiritual freedom.

 

Mission Executive Director Mr. Atsushi Kamada extended a warm welcome to the many attending the momentous occasion. “Thank you for coming to celebrate this important milestone in the history of Japan, and all of Scientology. This Mission represents more than a building. It’s a new starting point—where people can discover real tools for life, where families can find peace, and where anyone can experience what it means to truly know themselves.” 

Leaders and dignitaries from across the region joined the celebration, honoring the Church of Scientology’s continued dedication to service, understanding and the betterment of communities across Japan.

Mr. Taiyū Yamamoto, Chief Priest of Henshōzan Sesshūin Shinkōmyōji Temple spoke of his appreciation for the Church’s efforts to foster unity and understanding among people of all faiths. “I see the birth of the Scientology Mission of Shizuoka as the creation of a new space for dialogue and cooperation in this community,” he said. “Even though our doctrines or beliefs may differ, we share the same goal: to create a society where every person can live with dignity.”

Mr. Yusuke Hosokawa, Lions Club Member and President of the Machi-Yutaka Company, praised the life-changing impact of the Church’s spiritual technology. “The spiritual learning provided by the Church of Scientology is truly essential for living,” he said. “It has the power to make society better. With the establishment of the Scientology Mission of Shizuoka, each individual now has a place to choose their own path and take a new step forward.”

Ms. Reiko Hōki, Director of Business Networking International’s Shizuoka Suruga West Region, spoke of her admiration for the Church’s global humanitarian initiatives. “I have a very positive impression of the Church of Scientology’s humanitarian programs,” she said. “They shed light on issues that often go unnoticed—such as drug abuse prevention, human rights education, moral recovery and disaster relief—and take concrete action to make society better. To see these activities carried out on a global scale is, to me, a true expression of the desire for the happiness of humankind.”

His Eminence, Most Venerable Nichikō Yoshida, Chief Priest of Shinshōjō-ji Temple—honored with distinctions including the World Peace Award (presented by UNICEF, UNESCO, the UN World Peace Association and the UN Development Fund), the Papal John Paul II Memorial Peace Medal, and the highest Shinto rank of Master of Divination—commended the Church of Scientology for promoting interfaith harmony and advancing the universal values shared by all faiths. “The root of every religion is to respect life and to bring salvation to one another,” he said. “Shizuoka is at the center of Japan and is destined to become a sacred site for Scientology. From here, may people and religions unite, radiating a light of hope that illuminates the future.”

Mission Director Chiyoko Yoneyama brought the ceremony to a close with a message of hope and new beginnings. “Today, we open the doors to Scientology for the people of Shizuoka,” she said, “embarking on a new chapter to uplift this vibrant community with understanding and hope.”

 

Visitors to the Shizuoka Mission are welcome to tour the Public Information Display, featuring multimedia presentations of the basic beliefs and practices of Dianetics and Scientology as well as the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

As an Ideal Church of Scientology Mission, Shizuoka is equipped with every facility needed to provide the full array of introductory Scientology services. These include the popular Life Improvement Courses through which anyone may find workable solutions to common challenges of everyday life—such as how to improve a marriage, successfully raise children, increase personal motivation, and set and achieve goals.

The new Mission also offers seminars on a wide range of topics, including personal efficiency. The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar is based on Mr. Hubbard’s watershed work Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, the bestselling book that reveals the source of one’s nightmares, unreasonable fears and irrational behavior—the reactive mind—and how to conquer it.

Additionally, the Mission provides spiritual counseling, known as auditing, and the Purification Program, developed by Mr. Hubbard to free individuals from the mental and spiritual damage caused by drugs and toxins.

Further Ideal Scientology Missions are planned across the globe in the coming months.