World Peace Flag Ceremony with Macrobiotic group in Italy

September 27, 2025

On September 27th, we held a flag ceremony in Tolentino, central part of Italy, with a group of Italian Macrobiotic Association. First, we were doing the ceremony in a large plaza next to the macrobiotic restaurant, but suddenly a thunderstorm hit midway while we were praying for the countries in Asia Continent.

We quickly moved the outdoor tables and chairs in front of the restaurant and continued the ceremony, sheltered from the rain, on a small veranda. For each continent, we recited poems about peace written by the Dalai Lama, Mrs. Masami Saionji, Eileen Caddy from Findhorn, Swami Kriyananda from Yogananda Community, and also the Simple Prayer by St. Francis. We prayed in Italian and all national languages during the flag ceremony.

Four adorable children also raised many flags. Occasionally, they switched places on their own, leading to a little mix-up where I had to rearrange them in a correct order of nations. It was a family and joyful atmosphere, with restaurant staff, their families, friends, and regular customers participating.

It was truly heartwarming to feel all participants concentrated deeply, harmonizing their voices and hearts to pray together for each country one by one. I offered as memorial gift a tabletop peace pole to three young co-owners of the restaurant and gifted each participant a paper peace doll hand-maded by my friends in Japan with their prayers for Peace.

Sonoko Tanaka, MPPOEI representative in Italy