09/15/2025
🍁 Fall issue of Reiki News Magazine 🍁
Usui Sensei Updated History: by Su Mach'ado Centro de Treinamento de Reiki - Felicidade
This excerpt is taken from Su’s most recent article. The complete article provides further detail and context.
In April 2025, newly uncovered archives in Taiwan revealed original government documents about Mikao Usui Sensei, the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho. These findings confirm details of his education, professional background, and his role as a government official during Japan’s colonial administration of Taiwan.
The records (dated August 23, 1904) show that Usui was appointed by Gotō Shinpei as a temporary employee of the Taiwan Traditional Customs Research Committee. His work involved studying local customs, language, and traditions to support policymaking.
-His handwritten résumé in the archives details:
-Graduation from Kayo School (1885).
-English studies in Tokyo (1889–1891).
-Literature and psychology studies (1893).
-Law studies at Nihon University (1893).
-Study of psychology and philosophy at Hocking School, USA (1895–1896).
-Teaching certification (1894).
-Roles as educator, school founder, business advisor, and even working in San Francisco.
These records provide evidence-based clarity to Usui’s life, reinforcing what was written on the Usui Memorial Stone, and confirm his connection with Gotō Shinpei, who later awarded him for relief efforts after the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake.
This discovery is considered one of the most important in 30 years of Reiki history research.
References:
Min Wang, “臼井甕男：歷史文件發現與考證,” Qiyuan Dezhi Reiki Study Center, April 8, 2025.
Justin B. Stein, Facebook post, April 12, 2025.
Taiwan National Archives: https://onlinearchives.th.gov.tw
Reiki News Magazine, Fall 2025, “Usui Sensei Updated History” by Su Mach’ado
For larger versions of the original documents, visit: https://www.reiki.org/usui-historical-documents
