was a Japanese religious organization formed by former Premier

Prince Higashikuni was a member of the Japanese imperial family and general of the army who served as prime minister of Japan from 17 August to 9 October 1945. He is the only member of the Japanese imperial family to head a cabinet, and Japan's shortest-servin ...

in April 1950, with the help of his advisor and

Sōtō Sōtō Zen or is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai school, Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Caodong school, Cáodòng school, which was founded during the ...

-sect priest Ryukai Obara. The core of Higashikuni-Kyo was a mastery of

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

and a shared message of world peace through benevolence, service, devotion, and eternal peace in human society. Religious practices would include pilgrimages consoling the spirits of the dead from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and offering respectful and mourning prayers at tombs of unknown soldiers in various countries around the world. A devout member would also call upon society to utilize atomic power for the benefit of mankind and development of culture rather than as a

weapon of mass destruction A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill or significantly harm many people or cause great damage to artificial structures (e.g., buildings), natural structures ( ...

History

The creation and planning of the Higashikuni-Kyo was organized by Ryukai Obara, a Soto-sect priest and advisor to Higashikuni. Obara intended to appeal to those accustomed to Emperor Worship by utilizing the name of former Prince Higashikuni. On June 1, 1950, the Higashikuni-Kyo religious organization was registered in accordance with Article 2 of the Religious Corporations Ordinance and listed Ryukai Obara as its superintendent. The Special Investigation Bureau advised the organization that Higashikuni should retire from his position of founder and the organization should be renamed immediately. The Organizations Control Ordinance did not allow former General Higashikuni to assume a leading position within the organization. For this reason, the organization asked for Higashikuni's retirement from office and decided not to use his name on documents related to the organization. The faith was also renamed Hoo-kyo and appointed Obara to the position of founder. These major changes which allowed this new religion to escape the conflicts with the Organisations Control Ordinance led to its ultimate demise.The Power of Memory in Modern Japan Page 75, Written By: Sven Saaler, Wolfgang Schwentker

References

{{Japanese new religions Japanese new religions

History

See also

References