68 Facts About Ryuho Okawa

Ryuho Okawa was a Japanese religious and political leader who was the CEO and founder of the Happy Science and the Happiness Realization Party.

Ryuho Okawa was an author and chairman of two companies affiliated with the organization, New Star Production and ARI Production.

Ryuho Okawa's organization has been widely criticised as a cult.

Ryuho Okawa was born Takashi Nakagawa on 7 July 1956 in Kawashima, Tokushima Prefecture as the second son of Tadayoshi Nakagawa and Kimiko Nakagawa.

Ryuho Okawa's older brother is named Tsutomu Nakagawa was born on 1952 and.

Ryuho Okawa said his family was religious; both of his parents believed in God and the Buddha, and Ryuho Okawa believed in the existence of spirits and souls, and a world after death in childhood.

Ryuho Okawa said, despite not having a spiritual or religious master, Yoshikawa had an important influence.

Ryuho Okawa studied in the Christian Church as a teenager, as well as in a new religion called Seicho-no-Ie after World War II.

The lectures included religious topics like the Bible and The Gateless Barrier, as well as secular topics like Kantian philosophy and Marxism during elementary school, although Ryuho Okawa was not successful in school.

Ryuho Okawa wanted to spread his ideas in academia, or broaden his view on life by experiencing different cultures as a diplomat.

Ryuho Okawa was involved in school activities; he was president of the student union and editor of the school newspaper.

In 1975, Ryuho Okawa failed the entrance exam for Tokyo University.

Ryuho Okawa said he once wrote love letters to a girl, but was rejected.

Ryuho Okawa felt uncomfortable amongst the students who were uninterested in spirituality.

Ryuho Okawa read the works of Shinji Takahashi of GLA and Masaharu Taniguchi of Seicho-no-Ie.

Ryuho Okawa accepted a job offer from TOMEN Corporation, a major Japanese trading company, because his grades were not sufficient for graduate school.

Ryuho Okawa was assigned to the foreign exchange department at the headquarters in Tokyo.

On 23 March 1981, before graduating from university and working at TOMEN Corporation, Ryuho Okawa said he experienced his "Buddha Enlightenment", his first contact with a high divine spirit.

Ryuho Okawa asked the spirit what mission he should pursue in life.

The next month, the spirits spoke through Ryuho Okawa, including those of Kukai, Shinran, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Moses, and Nostradamus.

Ryuho Okawa acted as a spiritual medium and answered Yoshikawa's questions.

Yoshikawa's help allowed Ryuho Okawa to continue working as a businessman at TOMEN Corporation.

Ryuho Okawa published a vast number of spiritual messages from various spirits in order to prove the existence of the Spirit World to the public.

The books of spiritual messages were replaced with newer versions when Ryuho Okawa started publishing under his own name after the foundation of Happy Science.

Ryuho Okawa told his readers to not let foreigners read the spiritual messages and to not translate the messages into English, Chinese, or Korean.

Ryuho Okawa claimed El Cantare was one of ten Highest Spiritual Beings.

Ryuho Okawa took an English course at Berlitz Language School and he studied international finance at the City University of New York.

Ryuho Okawa dropped out of university after experiencing an intensified inferiority complex from seeing a Taiwanese classmate who spoke fluent English.

Ryuho Okawa earned a particular reputation at his work, where rumours about him spread.

On 6 October 1986, Ryuho Okawa opened the first office for Happy Science in Suginami, Tokyo, with four staff members.

On 23 November 1986, Ryuho Okawa gave his first sermon to about 80 followers in Tokyo.

In March 1987, Ryuho Okawa gave what is known as his first official large public lecture, entitled "The Principles of Happiness", to an audience of about 400 people.

Ryuho Okawa said that a prophet's task is to listen to the voice and spread the word of God.

Ryuho Okawa stated that the early years of Happy Science would consist of study.

The Laws of the Sun is the first book in which Ryuho Okawa explained his own point of view and his teachings.

Ryuho Okawa declared that he now had at least 1.5 million followers and that his real identity is "El Cantare", the Grand Spirit of the Terrestrial Spirit Group, known as the "Buddha of Mahayana".

Since the founding of Happy Science, Ryuho Okawa has reportedly published over 500 books, most of which are transcripts of his video recorded lectures.

Fukui notes that Ryuho Okawa's leadership is consistent with sociologist Max Weber's theory about charismatic authority.

Ryuho Okawa's leadership comes from belief in his supernatural traits, as he identifies as the Buddha and El Cantare.

In Happy Science, Ryuho Okawa is known as the Buddha, both the Enlightened One and the reincarnation of Gautama Buddha, and the embodiment of El Cantare, the Grand Spirit of the Terrestrial Spirit Group, called Lord El Cantare within Happy Science.

Many members believe Ryuho Okawa is an incarnation of the Creator.

Ryuho Okawa said El Cantare has two roles: a Savior, like Amitabha Buddha, and Mahavairocana, the Buddha's essence which represents enlightenment.

Ryuho Okawa plays the exemplary role as the Buddha by embodying the correct way of living and by guiding people to enlightenment.

Ryuho Okawa said they all have the purpose of learning Happy Science's fundamental scripture, "The Dharma of the Right Mind".

Ryuho Okawa is said to have published over 300 books by 2004.

Unlike traditional religious text, Ryuho Okawa's writings are very easy to read, with some parts being almost poetic.

Ryuho Okawa opts for the modern language, even using English loanwords.

Ryuho Okawa called Asahara a frog, referring to Asahara's aquatic yogic acts.

Ryuho Okawa was criticized for having little knowledge of his own teachings and having faked his spiritual messages.

Aum members attempted to kill Ryuho Okawa by putting the nerve agent VX in the air conditioning system of his car.

In September 2008, Ryuho Okawa lectured at the New York branch of Happy Science, in which he talked about the political soft power of Happy Science:.

Ryuho Okawa learned a lot and became the Prime Minister and came to New York to give a speech at the Assembly of the United Nations.

On 27 December 2012, Ryuho Okawa was reappointed as president of the party.

On 10 April 1988, Ryuho Okawa married Kyoko Ryuho Okawa, nee Kyoko Kimura, born on 22 August 1965.

Ryuho Okawa wrote an essay for each issue of Happy Science's monthly journal Happy Science Monthly, which started in April 1987; she would address topics ranging from education to the family.

Ryuho Okawa was the joint president of the Happiness Realization party along with Okawa and later became the leader of the party.

Ryuho Okawa said that he and Kyoko were together in some of their past lives.

Ryuho Okawa then worked at a construction company for three years before returning to Happy Science in December 2015.

Ryuho Okawa was involved in film production and music, working as an actor and a singer.

Ryuho Okawa was intended to be Okawa's successor as leader of Happy Science.

Happy Science has denied the accusation of Ryuho Okawa pressuring Hiroshi to marry Fumika, saying that it was Hiroshi himself who was interested in marrying her.

Ryuho Okawa is serving as managing director and secretary general of science at Happy Science.

On 19 December 2012, Ryuho Okawa married Shio Ryuho Okawa, nee Shio Kondo, born on 22 September 1985.

Ryuho Okawa is believed by members of Happy Science to be the incarnation of the goddess Gaia.

In 2012, Ryuho Okawa delivered a Happy Science sermon about her in which Shizuko's spirit was speaking through Ryuho Okawa.

On 28 February 2023, Ryuho Okawa was hospitalized after fainting at his home in Minato, Tokyo.

Ryuho Okawa was accused of having anti-Korean sentiment, although he denied this.

Ryuho Okawa has expressed beliefs that are widely associated with historical revisionism in Japan, including that Koreans had never been forced to labor by Japan, and that comfort women were never forced to work.