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, or Reiyūkai Shakaden, is a Japanese
Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
new religious movement A new religious movement (NRM), also known as alternative spirituality or a new religion, is a religious or spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in origin or th ...
founded in 1919 by Kakutarō Kubo (1892-1944) and Kimi Kotani (1901-1971). It is a lay organization (there are no priests) inspired by
Nichiren Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism ( ja, 日蓮仏教), also known as Hokkeshū ( ja, 法華宗, meaning ''Lotus Sect'') is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222–1282) and is one o ...
, but not affiliated to any particular sect. Reiyūkai considers itself the grandfather of lay-based new religions devoted to the
Lotus Sutra The ''Lotus Sūtra'' ( zh, 妙法蓮華經; sa, सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्रम्, translit=Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, lit=Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma, italic=) is one of the most influ ...
and ancestor veneration.
Reiyūkai membership currently stands at 5.14 million members, with the majority living in Japan.


History

In 1920s, during the crisis after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and the following economic depression, Kakutaro Kubo begins formulating his philosophy for what is now Reiyūkai. He compiled and published The ''Blue Sutra'' (a collection of texts from the Threefold
Lotus Sutra The ''Lotus Sūtra'' ( zh, 妙法蓮華經; sa, सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्रम्, translit=Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, lit=Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma, italic=) is one of the most influ ...
), used by members for recitation practice. In 1930, Reiyūkai was formally inaugurated, Kakutaro Kubo became Chairman of the Board of Directors and Kimi Kotani becomes President. In 1937, headquarters were established the Iikura area, Tokyo. In 1954, the Reiyūkai Youth Group was inaugurated. In 1971 Kimi Kotani died and Tsugunari Kubo became president. The next year, a Reiyūkai Centre was established in the United States. It was followed by centers in Brazil and Canada (1975); the Philippines (1976); Mexico, Italy, and Taiwan (1977); United Kingdom (1978, closed as of March 1998); Peru, Thailand, and France (1979); India, Nepal, and Paraguay (1983); Spain (1984); Korea (1988); Bolivia (1996) and Sri Lanka (1999). In 1980, the Reiyūkai’s Inner Self Development campaign began. In 1978, Statistic public body counts in Japan 2,838,000 members, that is 2,46% of total population In 1985, representatives from 14 countries participated in a Youth Speech Festival in commemoration of United Nations International Youth Year. Since then, national festivals are held annually throughout the world and international festivals are held in the Asian, American and European regions on a regular basis. In 1990, the Sixth International Youth Year Speech Festival was held in Osaka, Japan, as part of the International Garden and Greenery Expo ’90. Representatives from 17 countries attended. In 1992, Reiyūkai International Operation for Cambodian Relief (RIOCR) opened its office in Cambodia. The next year, Reiyūkai International Committee was inaugurated. In 1994, the Tenth International Youth Year Speech Festival was held in
Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
, Nepal. In 1996 Tsugunari Kubo resigned as President of Reiyūkai and Yae Hamaguchi became her successor. The Reiyūkai-sponsored Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI) was inaugurated in Nepal and the International College for Advance Buddhist Studies (ICABS) was established in Tokyo. The First Reiyūkai Supervisory Council was inaugurated. In 1999, Reiyūkai established Japanese and English homepages on the Internet. In 2000, the 4th Reiyūkai International Conference was held in
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
. Yae Hamaguchi died, and Ichitaro Ohgata succeeded as President, Yushun Masunaga and Hiromichi Hirakawa as Vice Presidents. In August 2004, the Reiyūkai sponsored, together with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the UN World Food Program and the Nikkei newspaper, the World Youth Peace Summit (WYPS) Japan conference, as a direct outcome of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference. It was held at the United Nations University in Tokyo. Over 400 youth delegates engaged in lively discussion and decided to mark the date, August 5th, as International Youth Peace Day and will organize an event on that day each year. The summit was broadcast by the Japanese national broadcaster, NHK, on its BS Forum. In 2007, thanks to the contribution of members of Reiyukai Eurasia community, as an NGO committed to rural development acting in India and Nepal, a new eye hospital, the Reiyukai Eiko Masunaga Eye Hospital, was established in
Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
. From April 8, 2013, Masaharu Sueyoshi is currently the Reiyūkai International President. Reiyukai France is member of the European Buddhist Union (EBU) since 1997.


Relevant places


Shakaden

"Shakaden" in the name Reiyūkai Shakaden means that this organization lays extra emphasis on the veneration of
Shakyamuni Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in Lu ...
, the founder of
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
. The Shakaden is an architectural complex that serves as a meeting place and social center for Reiyūkai members in the local community. In Japanese, "Shakaden" means the "House of Shakyamuni." It is a place where anyone can seek to further practice the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. It consists of the Main Hall, the Plaza, the Kotani Hall, various conference rooms, a cafeteria, a child care room, and a nurse's office. After four years of construction, the Shakaden was completed in 1975. Shakaden is a 3 minute walk from Kamiyacho subway stop, Hibiya Line.


Mirokusan

It is on the side of Togasa Mountain in the center of the Amagi Mountain Range on the Izu Peninsula; its building was strongly supported by Kimi Kotani, as a meeting point for young people, for an immersive visit in a natural environment, where to exchange experiences with other members. It was completed in 1964. It is dedicated to , that is Maitreya, a future Buddha, whose apparition is waited by all Buddhists.


Derived movements

Reiyukai has experienced a number of splits headed by some members; further offshoots from Reiyūkai are
Risshō Kōsei Kai ; until June 1960, is a Japanese new religious movement founded in 1938 by Nikkyō Niwano and Myōkō Naganuma. Risshō Kōsei Kai is organized as a lay Buddhist movement, which branched off from the older Reiyūkai, and is primarily focused ...
,
Bussho Gonenkai Kyōdan Bussho Gonenkai Kyōdan (佛所護念会教団) is an offshoot of Reiyūkai and branch of Nichiren Buddhism. It was founded in 1950 in Japan by Kaichi Sekiguchi and his wife Tomino Sekiguchi. Its teachings are based on the Lotus Sutra. Ancestor ...
,
Myōchikai Kyōdan Myōchikai Kyōdan (妙智会教団) is a Japanese Buddhist lay organisation that stems from Reiyūkai. It was founded in 1950 by Miyamoto Mitsu. Its teachings are based on Nichiren Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra. By its own account it has close ...
, and Myōdōkai Kyōdan.


Political influence

Reiyukai is a pacifist movement. For Reiyukai, peace can be achieved through the promotion of one’s personal development for the benefit of all humanity.
The Inner Trip Ideologue Research Center (IIC) was founded to raise awareness about the value and importance of engaging people within society, fulfilling one’s civic responsibilities, and participating in the political process. As an opportunity to deepen the knowledge of politics and to transmit the voices of people, the IIC organizes various lectures and seminars in different locations within Japan inviting politicians as guest speakers. Also, the IIC publishes a monthly magazine providing a space for politicians to present their political viewpoints. Former Tokyo governor
Shintaro Ishihara was a Japanese politician and writer who was Governor of Tokyo from 1999 to 2012. Being the former leader of the radical right Japan Restoration Party, he was one of the most prominent ultranationalists in modern Japanese politics. An ultra ...
is a believer and writes in Reiyūkai publications. Ms Claudine Shinoda, of Reiyukai France, has been president of EBU for 3 years and vice-president for 6 years. In this role, she was a speaker in various international meetings:
- in an UN event at Bangkok in May 2007 : Speech on Buddhism and governance;
- at UNESCO at Paris in October 2006 on European Buddhism;
- at the European Parliament in Bruxelles in 2008 : Discours sur la place des femmes dans le bouddhisme Reiyukai lors du Colloque sur la place des femmes dans le bouddhisme.
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) of
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
, opening its regular session for 2015, recommended 16 organizations for special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, including Reiyūkai Eurasia.The Economic Times - Politics and Nation - June 2, 2015
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References


Literature

*Deal, William E.; Ruppert, Brian (2015), A Cultural History of Japanese Buddhism: John Wiley & Sons. p. 222- *Chryssides, George D. (2012), Rowman & Littlefield, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements (2nd edition), p. 293 * Buswell, Robert E., Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton: Princeton University Press, p. 709 (Reiyūkai) * Hardacre, Helen (1984). Lay Buddhism in Contemporary Japan: Reiyukai Kyodan, Princeton Univ Press. * Hardacre, Helen (1979)
Sex-role norms and values in Reiyūkai
Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 6 (3), 445-460 * Kubo, Katsuko; O'Drobinak, Charles J.; trans. (1982). Reflections in search of myself, Tokyo: Sangaku Publishing * Kubo Tsugunari, Yuyama Akira (tr.
The Lotus Sutra
Revised 2nd ed. Berkeley, Calif. : Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research 2007. *Kubo Tsugunari, The philosophical foundation of the lay Buddhist practice of the Reiyukai, as depicted in the Lotus Sūtra (1988, first edition) *Montgomery, Daniel (1991). Fire in the Lotus, The Dynamic Religion of Nichiren, London: Mandala, * Lai, Whalen (1985)
Review of: Helen Hardacre, Lay Buddhism in Contemporary Japan: Reiyūkai Kyōdan
Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 12 (4), 358-362


External links


Reiyukai Canada

Reiyukai-USA
US branch
Inner Trip Reiyukai International

Reiyukai en France

Reiyukai de México

Reiyukai India

Reiyukai - Japan

Reiyukai Youth - Japan

Eurasia Reiyukai

The Inner Trip Foundation

We Are One Reiyukai Sukarya

Reiyukai do Brasil
{{Authority control Religious organizations based in Japan Nichiren Buddhism Religious organizations established in 1920 Japanese new religions