Reverend Keigo Morishita

November 14, 1922-October 30, 2016

On October 30, 2016, Rev. Keigo Morishita passed away peacefully for rebirth surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was 93 years old. Rev. Keigo was born on November 14, 1922 in Mie prefecture, Japan. In 1958 he crossed the vast Pacific Ocean by ship as a Tenrikyo missionary settling in Los Angeles, California. Rev. Keigo was a man of conviction and dedicated his entire life to the Tenrikyo Path in America with his late wife, Yaeko and founded the Tenrikyo Brotherhood Church in Boyle Heights. He served as minister for 34 years until passing it on to his late son, Reverend Jiro James Morishita, in 1996.

He also served as a board of director of Mission Headquarters in America for many years, and

during that time served for 11 ½ years, from 1997 to 2008, as minister of Tenrikyo Mission New York Center located in Flushing, New York. Rev. Keigo who held the rank of 8th dan in Judo, also served passionately as head instructor of Los Angeles Tenri Dojo and founded the New York Tenri Dojo during his term as minister there.

Rev. Keigo always greeted everyone with a firm handshake and words of encouragement.

Although a devoted missionary and Judo instructor, he kept the family laughing with his

humor, singing and dancing.

He is survived by his children; Kazushige (Mie), Masako (Toshihiko), Yoko, Jun (Art), Saburo

(Rieko), Yuri, Hitoshi (Roma) and daughter-in-law Kay, wife of his pre-deceased

son, Rev. Jiro. His grandchildren include Lummy, Ryuji, Norio, Yuji, Etsuko,

Raymond, Amy, Aya, Yukie, Kacie, Spencer, Justin, Yoshitaka, Akiko, Raiden, Ronin

and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held Saturday December 3rd at 10:00 am, at Tenrikyo Mission

Headquarters 2727 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90033.