Reiki: History Timeline

Reiki had to go through an exciting historical journey to become what it is today. Born from a mixture of the Japanese indigenous spirituality (Shinto) and the socio-cultural framework in Japan, and influenced by several cultural and political events (including circumstances caused by the World Wars), it has eventually found its way to the West and the rest of the world. It was due to those same political influences, though, why its original history and practice almost became forgotten and why it took us almost a century to recover its origins.
Below, you can see some of the most important stations in history that influenced the course of Reiki.

Before the time of Usui Reiki…

1865
Mikao Usui is born

1870
Proclamation of State Shinto*:

*Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan, focusing on the worship of kami — spirits or gods associated with natural phenomena, ancestors, and significant cultural sites. It emphasizes harmony with nature, ritual purity, and reverence for Japan's divine heritage. With emperor Meiji, Shinto was framed as a patriotic, nationalistic tradition, emphasizing loyalty to the Emperor and the divine nature of the Japanese state. The emperor was viewed as a divine figure, central to Japan's identity.

1914
Mataji Kawakami introduces "Reiki Ryoho" as a healing method:

He publishes a book about it in 1919. In addition, there is evidence that there were at least 3 other Reiki styles developed before Usui (Reikan Tonetsu Ryoho, Senshin-ryu Reiki Ryoho, Seido Reisho-jutsu), none of which were spread and taught publicly though.

1868
Beginning of the period of emperor Meiji

1908
Japan restricts immigration to the U.S.

1914
Japan sides with the Allied Powers in World War I

The beginning of Usui Reiki…

1922, March
Mikao Usui meditates on Mt. Kurama to find inner peace.

On the 21st day he passes out and awakes with the ability and awareness of Reiki.

1922, April
Usui creates the Reiki Ryoho Gakkai,
(the Usui Healing System Learning Society).

To this day, the Gakkai remains a private and members-only association where the old style of Reiki is practised.

1923
The Great Kanto Earthquake

Over 100.000 people killed and over 500.000 injured.
Usui travels to Tokyo to help healing the victims, which contributes to the awareness of Reiki in Japan.

1925
Chujiro Hayashi arrives at Usui's Reiki clinic and begins his Reiki training.

1926
Mikao Usui dies from a stroke in Fukuyama

After Usui's death, Hayashi opens a Reiki clinic in Tokyo (Reiki Kenyukai), continuing Usui's work.

1931
Hayashi leaves the Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.

Hayashi leaves the Gakkai due to disagreements with the member's attitudes, and the approach of teaching and practising Reiki. In contrast to the Gakkai, Hayashi believes Reiki should be accessible to all. He continues to teach and practice Reiki outside of the Gakkai.
Picture: Hayashi and his students in Tokyo

After Usui’s passing: Reiki under the threats of war…

1935
Hawayo Takata arrives at Hayashi's Reiki center.

She is treated for about one year, before she starts her Reiki formation.

1937
Takata travels to Hawaii promoting Reiki.

1938
Takata is acknowledged a Reiki Master.
She begins teaching in Hawaii.

1938
Chiyoko Yamaguchi begins her Reiki training with Hayashi in Daishoji,

This event is of crucial importance for the preservation of the original roots of Reiki (but only 61 years later).

1940
Hayashi commits suicide (Seppuku).

It is assumed that he chose this path due to the inner conflicts caused by his role as a military officer in the second world war, having to help coordinate attacks against the same people to whom he was teaching Reiki.

1941
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, entering World War II

Hereafter, Japan mobilizes its population to gather forces for the military.
All spiritual practices and groups were associated with pacifistic movements and therefore strictly forbidden. As of this time, Reiki was practised only secretly underground and the knowledge of it has slowly died out in public.

1945
The U.S. takes control over Japan.

All alternative medicine methods and modalities that are not from the West have become illegal, contributing further to the oblivion of Reiki.

1946
As a Japanese-American, Takata moves to the US.

Reiki’s modification under Takata…

Due to the political circumstances, Reiki went underground and with the years it became publicly unknown in Japan. The only few individuals who kept practising it secretly were the members of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and a few single families who received the formation from Hayashi, like the Yamaguchis.
Meanwhile, Reiki continued its spread in the West thanks to Hawayo Takata, but not without sacrifice.
The following historical events are not well documented in terms of their exact date/year of occurrence but have happened mainly in the 70s throughout Takata's teaching period in the West:

Reiki course in the 1970s:

Takata alters the teachings of Reiki and some details about Usui’s history.

Due to the political tensions during the U.S. post-war occupation of Japan, the mindset of the U.S. population was negative towards Japan. The U.S. and its people would reject anything that is too close to Japan, its spirituality or practices. This is most likely one of the reasons why Takata had to remove several traditional aspects of Reiki in order to be able to continue its spread in the West. Reiki’s actual roots - originating from Shintoism - were replaced by more Christian-like principles. She even amended the history of Mikao Usui, telling the public and her students that he was a Christian missionary. In addition to this, one must consider that by the time Takata began teaching, many years have passed, and remembering every detail of Hayashi’s teachings was challenging since there were no manuals and no documentation about teaching Reiki back then.

The changes Takata made to Reiki include:

  • Removal of Byosen Scanning

  • Reduction of the number of Reiju (attunements) and their meaning

  • Removal of several Japanese practices to cultivate Ki (like Hatsurei Ho, Seishin Toitsu, Mawashi, etc.)

  • Removal of the "Reiki Massage" Technique (Ketsueki Kokan Ho)

  • Adding standard-hand-positions

  • Adding prayers

  • Adding the pronunciation of a symbol's name three times, when using it

  • Removal of the teachings of Kotodama

  • and more.

Further crucial occurrences throughout the 70s

  • Takata begins charging 10.000,- US Dollars for the "Reiki Master Course"
    (equivalent of 60.000,- US Dollars today). This strongly limits the spread of Reiki.

  • Everyone who becomes a Reiki Master under Takata has to make an oath to charge the same amount (10.000,- US Dollars) when passing the mastership to their successors.

  • Takata introduces a "Master Symbol" (the Japanese kanji of the word "Daikomio", which is Japanese for "Great Enlightenment"). She adds this as a seal to the certificates of her Master students as the symbol of permission to pass Reiki to others.
    This symbol was never meant to be a ‘healing symbol’, nevertheless, after Takata’s passing, Reiki practitioners have started using it as such.

  • Takata dies in 1980. Before Takata deceased, she initiated a total of 22 Reiki Masters, one of which was Iris Ishikura (a relative of Takata). Iris is the only Master to ‘break the oath’ after Takata’s passing and begins to charge reasonable prices for the Master course. Thanks to Iris, Reiki continues its course after Takata in the 80s

Reiki’s course in the 80s, 90s and under the New Age influence…

Early 1980s

  • As a member of the Johrei Fellowship (a religion that practices spiritual healing), Iris mixes some Johrei elements with Reiki in her healing practise.

  • Iris passes the Reiki mastership to her daughter Ruby, and Arthur Robertson. Ruby does not continue teaching Reiki.

  • Arthur Robertson introduces further elements to Reiki (like Tibetan Symbols) and together with Iris they start teaching Reiki to hundreds of Americans.

Late 1980s
The New Age Movement brings oriental spiritual Concepts to the West

This is the beginning of the trend of mixing modern Western healing practices with ancient oriental concepts. It is at this point, that the Chakra-concept from India is blended with Reiki by New-Age oriented Reiki practitioners and masters. Later, crystals and ‘aura’ become part of the Reiki practise.

1990s

The spread of Reiki combined with the trend of Western Reiki masters to modernize it, has caused the development of dozens of altered versions of Reiki (Karuna-Reiki, Kundalini-Reiki, Dragon-Reiki, Rainbow-Reiki, and many more). The original roots and teachings of Reiki become more and more difficult to trace.

The Return of “The old Japanese Reiki” - Jikiden Reiki

1999
Chiyoko Yamaguchi (one of Hayashi's very few surviving students and Reiki Masters) begins teaching Reiki the old way in Japan.

She and her son Tadao open the Jikiden Reiki Institute in Kyoto
"Jikiden" is the Japanese word for "directly taught" - meaning that it did not go through Western modifications.

2003
Chiyoko Yamaguchi passes away

Her son Tadao Yamaguchi takes over the Jikiden Reiki institute and continue teaching - to this day.

2010-Present
Spread of the history of Reiki and the return of the “old Reiki”

Thanks to the tireless research and dedication to the true Reiki history, which you can find in the books from authors and Reiki Masters like Frank Arjava Petter, Masaki Nishina, and others, the almost forgotten roots of Reiki as it was practised in Japan, are coming back to light. Jikiden Reiki is becoming more and more popular in the West, giving practitioners the opportunity to learn it the traditional way.