A Historical Timeline of the Komyo ReikiDo & Jikiden Reiki Systems

There has been ongoing confusion regarding the Komyo ReikiDo and Jikiden Reiki systems, particularly concerning their origins, dates of formation, and subsequent development. The following timeline is intended to clarify the historical sequence and distinguishing features of each system.

 

1997
Hyakuten Inamoto began training with Chiyoko Yamaguchi, who taught what she remembered from her training with Chujiro Hayashi. She offered Reiju at these weekly gatherings.

 

After approximately six months of training, Chiyoko Yamaguchi trained Hyakuten Inamoto to conduct Reiju.

 

At that time, Chiyoko Yamaguchi did not have knowledge of Reiki history or of Mikao Usui, the founder of Usui Reiki Ryōhō.

 

1998
Following independent research into Reiki history, Mikao Usui, and his practices, Hyakuten Inamoto founded Komyo Reiki Kai.

 

This system was developed with a strong emphasis on spiritual cultivation and the original practices of Usui Sensei with additions from his own experience.

 

1999
Chiyoko Yamaguchi Sensei requested Hyakuten Inamoto to help her son, Tadao Yamaguchi, with the newly formed Jikiden Reiki.

 

The initial classes included Hiroshi Doi, founder of Gendai Reiki Ho and an advisor to Jikiden Reiki. He was the first official student of Jikiden Reiki and attended with five of his own students. Hyakuten Inamoto became the seventh student in the Jikiden Reiki lineage.

 

Hyakuten Inamoto subsequently served as a translator for classes attended by foreign students for a year. One such class included Reiki Master William L. Rand and his students from the United States. After one year, the Yamaguchi’s and Hyakuten Inamoto went their separate ways.

 

Jikiden Reiki placed its primary focus on the treatment of physical health conditions.

 

2000
Frank Arjava Petter met Chiyoko Yamaguchi and began training in Jikiden Reiki. He became a Jikiden Shihan in 2002 and was appointed Vice-President in 2003. He has since resigned from the Vice-Presidency and now teaches his own system, Arjava Reiki: Arjava meaning “authentic.” This information has been confirmed by Frank Arjava Petter himself.

 

Note: Hyakuten Inamoto Sensei has never met Frank Arjava Petter.

 

Komyo ReikiDo & Jikiden Reiki Symbols

Jikiden Reiki has 3 symbols while Komyo ReikiDo has 4. The first three symbols of Komyo ReikiDo are the same as those used in Jikiden Reiki.

 

The fourth symbol in Komyo ReikiDo is DKM (an abbreviation of a symbol used in the higher Reiki levels and not openly discussed in detail). This symbol is the same as the fourth symbol in the Takata lineage. A Reiki lineage is like a family tree of teachers, tracing the line of teaching back to the founder Usui Mikao.

 

Hawayo Takata Sensei, who later introduced Reiki to the west, lived with family of Chujiro Hayashi Sensei for over a year. During this time, she worked in Hayashi Sensei’s clinic and became a Shinpiden (teaching level) student.

 

It is believed that Takata Sensei learned about DKM from Hayashi Sensei. However, it is not clear when DKM changed from being a possible spiritual concept or ideal into a formal Reiki symbol.

 

Authenticity and Tradition

Komyo ReikiDo is an authentic Japanese Reiki system, but it does not claim to be a “traditional” system in the sense of being completely unchanged since Mikao Usui Sensei’s time. Mikao Usui was the founder of Usui Reiki Ryoho and the father of all Reiki systems.

 

The word traditional would mean a system passed down exactly as Usui Sensei taught it. However, Usui Sensei’s original curriculum and symbols are not fully known, so no modern Reiki system can say with certainty that it represents his teachings exactly as they were.

 

Komyo ReikiDo does not present itself as a traditional Reiki system. Inamoto Sensei has consistently described Komyo ReikiDo as Hayashi Shiki (Hayashi-style) Reiki Ryoho. Chujiro Hayashi Sensei, the last student of Usui Sensei, made changes to Usui Sensei’s Reiki system. Any lineage through Hayashi Sensei is considered as a Hayashi Shiki (Hayashi-style) Reiki Ryoho, not Usui Reiki Ryoho.

 

Komyo ReikiDo Philosophy

Komyo ReikiDo is fundamentally grounded in Mikao Usui Sensei’s response as recorded in the Hikkei.

 

“……achieving our Principles (Reiki Principles), and intending to train and develop the mind and body. First, the mind should be healed, and secondly the physical body made healthy, so as to walk on the right path of humanity. If the mind is healthy, conforming to a path of integrity, then the body becomes sturdy of its own accord. The mission of Usui Reiki Ryoho is to enhance mutual well-being for oneself and others, on one hand, by fulfilling a peaceful and joyful life mentally and physically, and on the other, by healing the sick.”

 

The Hikkei is a small booklet carried by members of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and contains questions and answers recorded by Usui Sensei’s students.

 

Since its inception in 1998, Komyo ReikiDo has placed a strong emphasis on spiritual cultivation to achieve ‘Right mind’ or correct mindful perception for a more peaceful life. While spiritual development is central to Komyo ReikiDo, the system also incorporates hands-on practice and other traditional Reiki methods that can be traced back to the time of Usui Sensei.

 

 

Relationship to Jikiden Reiki

Komyo ReikiDo and Jikiden Reiki are different Reiki systems, even though they had Chiyoko Yamaguchi Sensei in cmmon, as a teacher and/or founder.

 

Komyo ReikiDo (originally called Komyo Reiki Kai until 2016) was founded in 1998 and Jikiden Reiki in 1999. Both systems developed independently and each has a different focus.

 

Respect for all Reiki systems

Komyo ReikiDo does not see its lineage as better or worse than other Reiki systems. Different systems offer different ways to learn and practise Reiki Ryoho, the art of Reiki healing.

 

While lineage may be important to some people, what matters most is how a Reiki system resonates with the individual. All Reiki systems can support healing for oneself and others — and that is the fundamental purpose of Reiki.