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Onisaburo Deguchi, although little known in the West, was a giant among religionists of twentieth century Japan. The Omoto faith, of which he was the driving force, is the mosts important of the 'new religions' of Japan. At its zenith, the Omoto counted among its ranks some two million adherents and exerted a major impact on the political and religious affairs of prewar Japan. The scope of Onisaburo's life and achievements is truly superhuman. A prolific writer, poet, calligrapher, sculpture, and ceramist, Onisabauro left a vast cultural and artistic legacy that is truly awe-inspiring. Also, noteworthy is the fact that Onisaburo was the spiritual master of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. The latter drew heavily from Onisaburo's teachings in the creation of his ethically-based Aikido, a martial art practiced by hundreds of thousands of entusiasts worldwide.

Kyotaro Deguchi was born in August 1936 in Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. He is the only son of Hidemaru Degukchi, and grandson and direct descendant of Onisaburo Deguchi. The author attended Waseda University and his interests include linguistics, Esperanto, medititation, walking, reading, writing, and travel. For many years, he has worked for the interfaith movement, environmental protection, and for the exchange of culture and art in Japan and overseas.

Contents

Author's Preface
The Religion Called Omoto
Translator's Note
I Home of Traitors
II Childhood Days
III Youthfull Dreams
IV Spiritual Awakening
V Nao Deguchi the Foundress of Omoto
VI Faateful Meeting with Nao
VII Dynamic Adminsitration of the Religious Group
VIII Onisaburo as Prophet
IX The Sadness of a Man Who Can See Too Much
X Advance into the Mass Media
XI Wild Energy
XII Omoto Spreads to Student and Intellectual Circles
XIII Omoto Penetrates into All Areas of Society
XIV The Drama of the Great Leap Foreward Progresses
XV The Tragedy Begins
XVII Omoto Thrives on Criticism
XVIII Picture of Onisaburo
XIX The Super-scale Reikai Monogatari
XX New Developments
XXI Led on by Venus to an Expeditions to Mongolia
XXII The Man Onisaburo
XXIII People Who Were Allured by the 'Crocodile'
XIV Flag of the Skun, Moon, Earth and Stars Unfurled
XXV The reincarnation of Genghis Khan
XXVI Disaster at Tongliao
XXVII Reactions to Onsiaburo's Mongolian Expedition
XXVIII International Development
XXIX Perfect Freedom
XXX The Great Aizen Compaign
XXXI Hopes for Asia
XXXII A Great Publicity Offensive
XXXIII Prayer and Prophecy
XXXIV The Shinseikai and the Emperor Pu Yi
XXXV The Second Omoto Suppression
XXXVI A Fearsome Suppression
XXXVII Why Did the Suppression Occur?
XXXVIII Humorous Eccentricities in Prison
XXXIX A Miraculous Turnabout
XL Sensational Predictions and INcautius Remarks
XLI Onisaburo in the Time of Crisis
XLII Creation of Heavenly Beauty
XLIII New Start Towards the Reconstruction of Omoto
Bibliography
Index