HONOURING
CHUJIRO HAYASHI &
HAWAYO TAKATA

BRINGING REIKI TO THE WEST:
HOW THEY KEPT THE FLAME OF REIKI ALIVE

History of Reiki - Hawayo Takata - Traditional Japanese Usui Reiki - Within The Space Melbourne

The history of Reiki has witnessed the emergence of various narratives, particularly surrounding the life of its founder, Mikao Usui. Among these versions, one prevailing alternative account suggests that Mikao Usui was a Christian Minister instead of a lay Buddhist. It portrays him as having received education from Christian Missionaries and later assuming the position of Principal at a Christian boys' school. In this depiction, his Christian beliefs take center stage.

Hawayo Takata, who disseminated this version, narrated how Usui Sensei "rediscovered" Reiki while pondering how Jesus performed healing miracles. With this crucial question in mind, he embarked on a meditative journey to Mt. Kurama. It is at this juncture where all the different versions of Reiki's history converge.

Despite subsequent research unequivocally debunking this version as false, the importance of Takata's account remains undeniable in the annals of Reiki's history. Her modified portrayal of Usui Sensei's life proved instrumental in facilitating its widespread accessibility and adoption in the Western World.

Moreover, the survival and continuation of Reiki would not have been possible without the foresight and wisdom of Usui Sensei's last student, Chujiro Hayashi. His unprecedented willingness to Initiate Takata (the only foreigner at the time) as a Shihan (Teacher) in Usui Reiki Ryoho played a pivotal role. Without this bold step, Reiki might have faded both from the general population in Japan and the Western world.

Together, the endeavors of these two remarkable individuals have left an indelible mark on the history of Reiki, allowing it to endure as a revered healing practice worldwide. We honour their legacy and express profound gratitude for their invaluable roles in the continued practice and dissemination of Reiki across cultures and borders.

INTRODUCING HAWAYO TAKATA

Hawayo Takata with her husband Sachi Takata at the Maeda Clinic in Tokyo, October 23, 1928

Hawayo Takata was born on 24 December 1900 on the island of Kauaui, Hawaii. She grew up and began working in various jobs from farm work, to an education assistant, a house worker and finally progressed to House Manager, giving all of her wages to assist her family. As the manager of the Estate, she handled paychecks and general finances for the Estate. It is there where she met Saichi Takata, the Estate accountant whom she ended up marrying and having two children together with. It was a happy but short marriage as sadly, in 1930 her husband died.

Following Saichi Takata’s death, between 1930 and 1935 Hawayo continued to work hard but struggled to provide financial care for her family. In addition to the stress and burden of trying to make ends meet, Hawayo suffered from a painful abdominal condition which required surgery and a lung condition which prevented the use of the anaesthetic needed for the abdominal surgery. In 1935, the burden proved too much and she suffered a nervous breakdown.

Desperate and not knowing what to do, every night after finishing her chores she would sit under the big camphor tree where she would meditate and pray for guidance. On one such night she heard a clear and distinct voice advising her to take care of her health first, for only then would she be able to work and earn a good living.

Within a few weeks, one of her sister’s died very suddenly, so Hawayo returned to Japan where her parents lived, to deliver the news to them in person. After doing so and after her sister’s funeral she attended hospital for treatment of her conditions. It was there that the doctor confirmed that she had a tumour, gallstones and appendicitis. She was scheduled for surgery the next day.

Early the next morning, she was taken into the operating theatre to prepare for surgery and as the operating staff prepared around her she heard a voice clearly telling her “the operation is not necessary”, several times. She looked around the room but no one was talking and then she heard the words “ask…ask…ask” and when she wondered who to ask, she heard the words “The head surgeon.”

When Hawayo asked the head surgeon whether he knew of any other treatment therapy that would help her, he said that he did but that there was no way to know how long the treatment would take, that it could take one, two months or even a year which meant she would have to extend her stay in Tokyo. She was committed to trying the treatment and it was from there that she was referred to Churijo Hayashi Sensei, a Master Reiki Practitioner.

INTRODUCING CHUJIRO HAYASHI

Chujiro Hayashi was an ex-naval Officer in the Japanese Navy who graduated from Navy School in December 1902. He was Initiated into Reiki Shinpiden (Shihan/Teacher) by Usui Sensei in 1925, after his retirement from the Navy and at the age of 47.

He was the last Reiki Shihan (Teacher) trained by Usui Sensei prior to Usui's death.

Several years following Usui's death, Hayashi left the Usui Gakkai and started a small clinic in Tokyo, ‘The Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu-Kai’.

Chujiro Hayashi

Hayashi Sensei with his students in Tokyo)

Hayashi Sensei's clinic shaded in on old map of Tokyo)

HAWAYO TAKATA MEETS REIKI

History of Reiki - Hawayo Takata and Chujiro Hayashi- Traditional Japanese Usui Reiki - Within The Space Melbourne

Photo of a young Hawayo Takata with Dr. Hayashi

Taking on her surgeon’s suggestion, Hawayo remained in Tokyo and commenced Reiki treatments with Hayashi Sensei at the Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu-Kai. Within weeks of her daily Reiki treatments, Hawayo showed great improvement. She was so fascinated with Reiki that she begged Hayashi Sensei to train her so that she could treat herself back in Hawaii and also make a living for herself and take care of her family. At that point Reiki was only taught and practiced in Japan to the exclusion of all Foreigners. However, following a compelling letter from Hawayo's surgeon, Hayashi Sensei agreed and began teaching Hawayo Reiki.

Hawayo then began practicing Reiki on herself daily and within weeks her health improved. Finally, after four months, she began to practice Reiki in Hayashi Sensei's clinic and did so for over a year until finally earning her Second degree in Reiki.

History of Reiki - Chujiro Hayashi Reiki Certificate - Traditional Japanese Usui Reiki - Within The Space Melbourne

Reiki certificate with Hayashi Sensei's stamp

Diary entry of Hawayo Takata dated 10 December 1935 describing 'Leiki' (Reiki) Energy

"Meaning of "Leiki" Energy within oneself, when concentrated and applied to patient, will cure all ailment - It is nature's greatest cure, which requires no drugs. It helps in all respects, human & animal life. In order to concentrate one must purify ones thoughts in words and in thoughts & to meditate to let the "Energy" come out from within. It lies in the bottom of your stomach about 2 inch below the naval. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, concentrate on your thoughts & relax, close your hands together & wait for the sign. Kindly & gently apply the hands starting from the head downward on the patient who is about to receive this treatment must purify ones thoughts, feel comfortable and a desire to get well. One must not forget to feel grateful. Gratitude is a great cure for the mind. In all cases, the patient could be diagnosed first by the touch of hand."

In 1937, Hawayo returned home to Hawaii and a few weeks later Hayashi Sensei arrived to help her establish a Reiki clinic in Honolulu. Hayashi Sensei publicly announced Hawayo Takata as a Reiki Shihan ('Master' was the term she adopted and used in the West) at the end of his trip. As a Reiki Master, Takata Sensei was allowed to now teach Reiki to others.

In her clinic, Takata both practiced Reiki and began taking classes to teach and pass Reiki on to students. She also travelled around, sharing Reiki and finally came to purchase a large property in Hilo, Hawaii where she continued to practice and teach Reiki.

Photo of Hawayo Takata demonstrating Reiki in Hawaii. Hayasahi Sensei is pictured in 2nd row to the right of the Reiki table

Hawayo Takata on the porch of her Hilo Home Reiki Clinic (circa 1940-41)

History of Reiki - Chujiro Hayashi - Traditional Japanese Usui Reiki - Within The Space Melbourne

In 1949, Hayashi Sensei died by suicide at the age of 62. Despite much speculation in the Reiki community, the reason remains unknown.

Before his death, Hayashi Sensei made his wife his Successor, but after the war and for various reasons, the Reiki Clinic he left to her eventually waned and closed. Despite this, in the US, Takata Sensei claimed that Hayashi Sensei made her the Grand Master of Reiki (The Leader and Head).

She continuing to spread Reiki in The USA, and this is where the story of Usui Sensei being a Christian Minister was born. She also claimed that she was the only surviving Grand Master in the world after the war and that all other Grand Masters had passed away in their war efforts.

No one truly knows why Takata altered the story of Usui Sensei, but in the context of the war between America and Japan it is possible that Takata took the steps to alter the story about Usui Sensei, claiming that he was a Christian that taught, studied and worked in Christian, Western Institutions and Universities to avoid rejection of Reiki by the West due to the hostilities towards Japan that existed at the time.

With animosities at their highest between the two countries, anything that even marginally linked back to Japan would most likely have been emphatically rejected in America. Perhaps intent on fulfilling the wishes of Founder and Father of Reiki, Usui Sensei, to spread Reiki worldwide and in order to secure the continued proliferation of Reiki in the West, she may have decided to make the story more palatable by ‘Westernizing’ and ‘Christianizing’ Usui Sensei.

Furthermore, since the War, Japanese Reiki and the association founded by Usui Sensei, ‘The Gakkai’, has since become (and to this day remains) a Members-Only, private (and secretive) Association, closed not only to foreigners but even to the broader Japanese community. The Reiki practiced by such members is, to this day, only practiced amongst close friends and family members.

Since the war ended, Takata Sensei continued to practice and teach Reiki prolifically right up until her death at the age of 80. In her final years she initiated 22 Masters and nominated her grand-daughter, Phyllis Furumoto, the Lineage bearer of the Reiki system taught by Takata Sensei.

We here in the West owe a depth of gratitude to her. It was as a result of her tenacity to keep Reiki alive after the War and her ingenuity by re-inventing the story of Usui Sensei in a way that would be accepted in the West that we have Reiki available to us today. It can be said that as a result of Hayashi Sensei's foresight to make Hawayo Takata, a Westerner, a Reiki Master (Shihan/Teacher) and indeed his Successor, that Usui Sensei's dream to spread Reiki Worldwide became a reality. For that, we owe a debt of gratitude to them both.

MORE REIKI HISTORY...

History Of Reiki - The story of Mikao Usui and his inspiring journey towards Usui Reiki Ryoho

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