IMPORTANT DISCOVERY:
A RARE PIECE OF REIKI-RELATED PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FROM 1934
[Copyright © 2012 James Deacon]

Most people who have taken a close interest in the history of Reiki will probably be familiar with many, if not all, of the following names:

Suzuki-san, Tenon-in, Yuri in, Takeuchi, Yuji Onuki, Yoshiharu, and Tatsumi-san.

Very briefly, for those who may not be familiar with these names:

Yuji Onuki:
While on holiday in Morocco in the 1970's, so the story goes, one day on the beach, some (tai chi or chi gung?) students met a man named Yuji Onuki, who apparently had been a student of Usui-sensei's close friend Toshihiro Eguchi.
Over several days, it is said, Onuki taught the students an early form of Usui-sensei's system.

Tatsumi-san:
Later, one of the same group of students claimed to have had another chance meeting, this time with one of Hayashi-sensei's students, a Mr Tatsumi (Tatsumi-san). This encounter would, in time bring access to many of Hayashi's original notes, and lead to the sharing of a particular (hitherto unknown?) version of the 'attunement' process, and much other information concerning Reiki as taught by Hayashi-sensei and also Usui-sensei.

Yuri-in / Tenon-in:
Later still, the same lucky individual apparently met a couple of Buddhist Nuns – Yuri-in, and Tenon-in (AKA Mariko-obaasan), who had also been among Mikao Usui's early students. Tenon-in, so we are told, was happy to share additional teachings to those provided by Yuji Onuki and Tatsumi-san.

Takeuchi:
It is claimed by some people that one of Hayashi-sensei 's students was a Zen monk named Takeuchi. As part of his Reiki training, Hayashi-sensei, so the story goes, taught Takeuchi a special and also very powerful meditation (not shared with other students) which, had supposedly been practised by Usui-sensei during his retreat on Mount Kurama. Later, it is claimed, Takeuchi's own student, Seiji Takamori, would go on a quest to discover the roots of this meditation, in the process apparently discovering an ancient healing system similar to, but far more comprehensive than Reiki.

Suzuki-san
One martial artist and Reiki student claimed to have been introduced to yet another nun who had apparently also trained with Usui-sensei. Her name, so he tells us, was, Suzuki-san (Mariko Suzuki) and, according to him, Suzuki-san became his teacher and shared with him a different version of the early form of Usui-sensei's system.

Yoshiharu:
Another Western student claims to have begun his Reiki training in Japan in 1954 (aged 7,) and to still be training - with an individual known as Yoshiharu.
Yoshiharu (confusingly referred to as “Soke-dai”) is claimed to have studied directly with Usui-sensei, and is, to all intents and purposes, presented as being Usui-sensei's true successor.

A rare Reiki-related photograph from 1934

 
A few years ago there were rumours on one of the now defunct online Reiki groups concerning a photo from the 1930's – a group photo in which all seven of these 'fabled' individuals: Suzuki-san, Tenon-in, Yuri-in, Takeuchi, Yuji Onuki, Yoshiharu, and Tatsumi-san appeared.

It was not long before the picture was being referred to as the “Magnificent Reiki Seven”, however, no specific details were forthcoming as to the actual whereabouts of this important piece of Reiki history.

Eventually, after a lot of detective work to discover who exactly was in possession of the picture - and more recently, a good deal of delicate negotiation (and certain financial inducements) - access was finally granted to the original photograph.

It was agreed that the photo be submitted to scientific testing, and that a copy be made for public display via the internet or other chosen medium.

The photograph was recently submitted to a series of tests in a photo lab in Sapporo, Japan, where technicians reported that they were satisfied that the photo is indeed genuine; that it has not been 'digitally manipulated”, or altered in any way. In fact, tests have proved conclusively that it is printed on the correct paper and with the correct chemicals which were being used in Japan at the date given.

True to the owner's word, copies were permitted to be made so that this important (in fact unique) piece of Reiki-related history may be freely shared with the Reiki community.

Written on the back of the photograph, in old-style Japanese kanji are the names of the seven people in the photo:
– top row (from left to right): Tatsumi-san, Takeuchi, Yuji Onuki
– bottom row: Tenon-in, Yuri-in, Suzuki-san, Yoshiharu.

The photograph, dated 1934 , is really quite small, and (as can be seen) has signs of wear and minor damage only to be expected considering its age.

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Group Photo:
Tatsumi-san, Takeuchi, Yuji Onuki, Tenon-in, Yuri-in, Suzuki-san, Yoshiharu
standing in front of an unidentified Buddhist Temple, 1934

What do you mean: “THERE'S NOBODY THERE”  ?