Today I’d like to take a quick look at Reiki Admiralty, those Imperial Japanese Navy Admirals (Ushida, Taketomi, Wanami and the lesser known Imaizumi) who played an important role in the development of the Reiki system in the early days. The current goings on behind the secretive (dare I say militaristic) walls of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai were also no doubt influenced by these men three of which became the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Presidents (respectively) of the Gakkai following the passing of Dr. Usui.

Of the four known Reiki Admirals, three (Juzaburo Ushida, Kanichi Taketomi and Tetsutaro Imaizumi) were trained to Shinpiden (Reiki Master) level by Mikao Usui himself and later served as President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai while one (Hoichi Wanami) was trained by Admiral Ushida and also served as a Gakkai President. A few date ranges to bear in mind are:

• 1865 – Birth of Mikao Usui
• 1894-1895 – 1st Japanese War with China (Emperor Meiji)
• 1904-1905 – Japanese War with Russia (Emperor Meiji)
• 1914-1919 – Japanese involvement in World War I (Emperor Taisho)
• 1922 – Birth of Reiki and creation of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai
  
• 1926 – Death of Mikao Usui
  
• 1937-1945 – 2nd Japanese War with China (Emperor Showa)
• 1941-1945 – Japanese involvement in World War II (Emperor Showa)

–

The Reiki Admirals

–

Juzaburo Ushida

Born in Kyoto on May 8, 1865, Juzaburo Ushida graduated from the 12th class of the Japanese Naval Academy in 1882 and achieved the rank of Captain on August 05, 1905 and the rank of Rear Admiral on December 1, 1911. Rear Admiral Ushida joined the reserves (semi-retirement) on May 31, 1913 and officially retired on May 08, 1926. Juzaburo Ushida passed away on March 22, 1935 at the age of 69. In 1894, at the height of the 1st Japanese War with China, Lieutenant Ushida traveled to England and in 1898, as a Lieutenant Commander he spent several months in the U.S.

It is generally acknowledged that Juzaburo Ushida was the 2nd President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (most likely serving in that capacity after the death of Dr. Usui in 1926 until his death) although some Reiki historians claim that Mikao Usui never acted in that capacity and that Admiral Ushida was actually the first Gakkai president. Admiral Ushida also trained Vice Admiral Hoichi Wanami, who later became the 5th President of the Gakkai. Juzaburo Ushida is also the author of the inscription on the Usui Memorial at Saihoji Memorial Park in Tokyo.

Kanichi Taketomi

Born in Tokyo on December 28, 1878, Kanichi Taketomi graduated from the 27th class of the Japanese Naval Academy in 1897 and achieved the rank of Captain on December 1, 1918 and the rank of Rear Admiral on December 1, 1923. Rear Admiral Taketomi joined the reserves (semi-retirement) on February 25, 1924 and officially retired on December 28, 1941 (21 days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor). Kanichi Taketomi passed away on December 6, 1960 at the age of 81.

Kanichi Taketomi served as the 3rd President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and also trained Kimiko Koyama, the wife of a Tokyo University Professor, who later became the 6th President of the Gakkai. Mrs. Koyama in turn trained Hiroshi Doi who is my Reiki teacher. There are conflicting reports as to how long and exactly when Admiral Taketomi served as Gakkai president as both he and his successor, Yoshiharu Watanabe (a retired school teacher) both died in 1960. Some say Mr. Watanabe was only a fill in president and others say he never was president at all. The official Gakkai stance is that Kanichi Taketomi served as the 3rd President and Yoshiharu Watanabe served as the 4th.

Hoichi Wanami

Born in Mie on November 2, 1883, Hoichi Wanami graduated from the 32nd class of the Japanese Naval Academy in 1904 and achieved the rank of Captain on December 1, 1925, the rank of Rear Admiral on December 1, 1931 and the rank of Vice Admiral on November 15, 1935. Vice Admiral Wanami joined the reserves (semi-retirement) on March 30, 1936 and served as a Consultant for the Department of Welfare until his death on January 2, 1975 at the age of 91. The rank of Vice Admiral is second only to the rank of Admiral, the highest rank in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Hoichi Wanami served as the 5th President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and also trained Masaki Kondo, a Tokyo University English Literature Professor, who later became the 7th (and current as of this writing) President of the Gakkai.

Tetsutaro Imaizumi

Born in Saga on November 12, 1877, Tetsutaro Imaizumi graduated from the 25th class of the Japanese Naval Academy in 1897 and achieved the rank of Captain on December 1, 1916 and Rear Admiral on December 1, 1921. Rear Admiral Imaizumi joined the reserves (semi-retirement) on February 25, 1924 and officially retired on September 12, 1940. Tetsutaro Imaizumi passed away on February 8, 1945 at the age of 67.

While Tetsutaro Imaizumi never acted as a Gakkai President, as one of Dr. Usui’s Shinpiden Masters he was around in the days when the Gakkai was formed and no doubt, as a high ranking naval officer, extended his influence . As Admiral Taketomi’s superior, it is surprising that Taketomi was made President of the Gakkai and not Imaizumi. It is also interesting to note that while a Commander he served in England from 1913-1915 (during the outbreak of World War I) and was promoted to Captain soon after his return to Japan.

For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!