ABSTRACT

Shinto-derived new religions that seek recourse to traditional concepts of the kami are by no means few and far between. Tensho¯kyo¯ is another such. Tensho¯kyo¯, founded by Senba Hideo (1925-) and his wife Kimiko, has its headquarters in Muroran in Hokkaido, and has its origins in Senba’s mystical experiences while a member of the Hokkaido Ontakekyo¯. Tensho¯kyo¯ venerates Amaterasu, O¯kuninushi and Ebisu, but is also influenced by belief in Mt Ontake. Nihon seido¯ kyo¯dan, located in Urawa in Saitama, was founded by Iwasaki Sho¯o¯ (1934-), to whom Eight Great Dragon-Kings appeared when he was in a coma suffering from jaundice. Fukami To¯shu¯’s Worldmate (originally Cosmomate) which has its headquarters in Tokyo is influenced both by O¯moto and Sekai kyu¯seikyo¯. Fukami To¯shu¯ (1951-), whose birth name is Handa Haruhisa, shows signs of seeking a rapprochement with shrine Shinto and has built the Ko¯taijinja shrine in Izu.