Current Situation of Reiki in Japan

Current Situation of Reiki in Japan

Unlike in Europe or the Us, Japan-the homeland of Reiki has completely different situation.

Recently, Reiki has slowly been known among people but absolute majority of Japanese people still don’t know about this wonderful non-religious energy healing originated in Japan.
Prewar time in Japan, Reiki became very popular and was practiced by over one million people. After the World War 2, because of the connection to the Japanese Navy, Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, (the organization that Usui sensei established) had to stop their outstanding activities even though people kept practicing Reiki quietly at home.
With the dramatic change of the ideologies in postwar Japan, the people gradually had lost interest and belief in this kind of healing arts.
Recently, with the popularity in the West , Reiki has started to be acknowledged slowly here in Japan too. However, mainstream of Reiki taught in Japan is “Western Reiki”- Reiki which was reintroduced from the West. It has Western influence in the practice of Reiki. In many Reiki teachings of Western lineage in Japan, some important essence of original Reiki seems to have disappeared. People had been trying to find original teachings which have no Western influence.