Honmichi

(also 本道 or 天理本道, ) is a Tenrikyo-based ''shinshūkyō'' (Japanese new religion). Honmichi became formally independent in 1925 under its founder, Ōnishi Aijirō (大西愛治郎), also known by the title . Despite the religion being derived from Tenrikyo with a different interpretation of doctrines such as , Honmichi's religious structure still maintains the same basic overall characteristics as Tenrikyo. It was reorganized from the earlier . It had 319,031 followers in 2022 according to the Reiwa 4 (2022
Religion Almanac
published by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Scriptures and practices

Honmichi considers itself, rather than Tenrikyo, to be the true, original religion of Nakayama Miki. Devout Honmichi members are called rather than ''yōboku'' (ようぼく) as in Tenrikyo.

The term ''Honmichi'' comes from the '' Ofudesaki'' and can be found in ''Ofudesaki'' 1:49, 3:37, 4:75-77, 5:30, 5:82, 6:17, 6:28, and 17:22.

Some of the main scriptures used in Honmichi include the '' Ofudesaki'' and '' Mikagura-uta'', which also form the basic scriptural canon of Tenrikyo. The '' Osashizu'', written by the second spiritual leader of the original establishment, Iburi Izō, was also sometimes consulted by Ōnishi Aijirō. The , written by Ōnishi Aijirō, is also used.

The mantra is frequently chanted by adherents of Honmichi. Honmichi utilizes the gagaku in its

Every year, Honmichi followers celebrate to commemorate their founder.

History

Honmichi began as a religion on July 15, 1913 in Yamaguchi when its founder Ōnishi Aijirō received a divine revelation, during which God told him that he was the living '' kanrodai''. At the time, he was a Tenrikyo missionary in Yamaguchi Prefecture. In January 1925, Ōnishi Aijirō officially established the , which was later renamed as in 1937, and finally as ''Honmichi'' in 1950.

Honmichi was a noticeable Japanese religion before World War II due to its leader's active defiance against the Emperor of Japan. There were government crackdowns in 1928 and again in 1938. It quickly re-established itself during the US Occupation of Japan.

In 1958, Ōnishi Aijirō died. Aijirō's grandson, Ōnishi Yasuhiko (大西泰彦), took over as the leader in 1960 and was viewed as Aijirō's reincarnation, and hence as the new ''kanrodai''.

In 1962, , led by Aijirō's daughter Ōnishi Tama (大西玉; 1916–1969) (whom Aijirō and Honbushin followers claim was the reincarnation of Nakayama Miki), separated from Honmichi. It was incorporated as a religious organization in 1966. Originally, it was headquartered in Takaishi, Osaka, but then moved to Shiojiri, Nagano. In 1969, Honbushin moved to Okayama, where it set up its ''kanrodai'' on Mount Kami.

Locations

Honmichi is currently headquartered in Takaishi, Osaka. However, the main worship hall is located in Sennan, Osaka.

Apart from the headquarters, there are several other locations, including two :
* Uda office (宇陀支部). This is the location of Ōnishi Aijirō's birth place.
* Sennan office (泉南支部). Honmichi's largest building, the , is located in Sennan.

There are several , including one in the United States:
*Central (Chūbu) branch (中部出張所) in Okazaki, Aichi (near Motojuku Station 本宿駅)
*Western (Seibu) branch (西部出張所) in Yamaguchi (near Nihozu Station 仁保津駅)
*Akashi branch (明石出張所) in Akashi, Hyōgo (near Nishi-Akashi Station 西明石駅)
*Kantō branch (関東出張所) in Noda, Chiba
*Hon-Michi Congregation of LA on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, United States

File:Honmichi headquarters.jpg, Honmichi headquarters in Takaishi, Osaka
File:Honmichi Takaishi headquarters 1.jpg, Honmichi headquarters in Takaishi, Osaka in 2025
File:Honmichi Takaishi mural 2.jpg, Mural at the Honmichi headquarters in Takaishi, Osaka
File:Honmichi Chubu Branch.jpg, Honmichi Central ( Chūbu) branch in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture
File:Honmichi-Chubu-Branch-from-inside-train.jpg, Central (Chūbu) branch in Okazaki as seen from a train
File:Hon Michi Los Angeles Shutchosho.jpg, Hon-Michi Congregation of Los Angeles

There are also facilities in Katsuragi, Nara (竹之内廟所, where Ōnishi Aijirō and his wife are buried) and Izumi, Osaka (信太山作業所), as well as a training center (花瀬山修道場) near Fudo Waterfall (不動滝) in Takigawa Valley (滝川渓谷) in Totsukawa, Nara Prefecture (located just to the southwest of Mount Shakka).

Schisms

The following religious movements and organizations are founded by former Honmichi members.

*, founded by (1899–1983) in 1929
*, founded by in 1933 (now defunct)
**, founded by in 1934 (now defunct)
***
***
**, founded by (1889–1974), originally a follower of Tenri Sanrinkō in 1942. Upon her death in 1974, her son (米谷千恵子) took over until his death in 1985. The current leader is . Kami Ichijōkyō is headquartered in Higashiōsaka, near Fuse Station and Shuntokumichi Station.
**, founded by , originally a follower of Tenri Sanrinkō in 1944. It is headquartered in Toyokawa.
*, founded by Ōnishi Tama in 1961. It is currently headquartered in Okayama.

Further reading

*
*

During the 1970s, Shigeyoshi Murakami ( 村上重良) and Masaki Umehara ( 梅原正紀) published a few books about Honmichi:
*
*
*

References

External links

Honmichi
(Encyclopedia of Shinto)

{{Coord, 34, 31, 56.5, N, 135, 26, 19.4, E, type:landmark_region:JA, display=title
Japanese new religions
Religious organizations based in Japan
Religions derived from Tenrikyo
Shinto new religious movements
Takaishi, Osaka
Sennan, Osaka
1925 establishments in Japan
Religious organizations established in 1925
Organizations based in Osaka Prefecture