The Fumyokai-Order appointed Sadao BEKKI as its founder, although it was actually established by Toshiro Kashima, a former staff member of Reiyukai. The foundation of Fumyokai was considerably affected by BEKKI as well as involvement of Kakutaro KUBO, the founder of Reiyuhkai.
BEKKI got acquainted with Kakutaro KUBO and Chise WAKATSUKI, a medium of Nakayama Lotus Stura school, in March 1925. He learned how to perform rites memorial service for ancestors from Toshizo NISHIDA and heard from him a prophecy that a leading Bodhisattva Preacher would appear. Furthermore, BEKKI was said to have received through WAKATSUKI’s inspiration, “His former self was Buddha”, and many other oracles.
BEKKI devoted all his energies to expiate sins, employing the Bodhisattva method. He succeeded to comprehend the initial stage of the Bodhisattva method.
BEKKI completed writing “The Buddha’s Compassion and Destiny” on August 1, as the result of his hard devotion. On the other hand, KUBO, who was practicing Bodhisattva Petition and Inspiration Impression, was initiated into a mission as “Akasagarbha” from the realm of Buddhahood under the guidance of BEKKI and his wife, Owari.
KUBO organized and held a meeting as a leader under the auspice of Chise WAKATSUKI’s Hohza (an assembly for religious teachings) at that time. KUBO rearranged both the Bodhisattva method taught by BEKKI and the teachings of the Bushogonen-Order, by the
help of BEKKI, and played a pivotal role of spreading them to the public. Thus, KUBO officially stood up as “a commander vanguard” who advocated in advance a part of the completed teachings which would be preached by BEKKI later on. The meeting was officially named “Reiyuhkai” by KUBO and the new activities became entrenched following BEKKI’s teachings .
In 1926, BEKKI moved to Fukushima following a divine revelation that came to his wife, Owari. The relationship between BEKKI and KUBO continued unchanged thereafter. In 1928, both BEKKI (under the pen name Fumyodoh), and KUBO using a pseudonym, published The Buddha’s Compassion and Destiny and Lotus Sutra of The Showa Era with the name of Reiyuhkai. In the following year, they published Buddha will never Disappear also with the name of Reiyuhkai.
In 1929, instigated by Owari’s divine revelation , a new organization for spreading the Doctrine was proclaimed both by KUBO as Reiyuhkai in Tokyo and by Fumiya UMEZU as Myohokai ( renamed later as “ Jishuhdan “) in Fukushima. BEKKI continued ascetic practices in order to complete the Bodhisattva’ s Doctrine and the teachings of the Bushogonen-Order.
In March 1930, BEKKI published Kohraiten Sutra, which was a sutra very close to the Shintoh Religion. The publication was probably made as Bekki reached the middle stage of interpreting the Bodhisattva’ s Doctrine.
In February just before its publication, UMEZU, the first president of Myohokai, died in Fukushima. BEKKI could not join the management of the Myohokai-Order because of his continued ascetic devotion. He intended to unite the Order by nominating Kubo as President of Myohohkai. However, KUBO went his own way. He left BEKKI and started a newly reformed Reiyuhkai with Kimi KOTANI, his sister in law who had been leading Reiyuhkai.
In 1939 about 10 years later, Toshiro KASHIMA, later founder of the Fumyokai-Order, joined Reiyuhkai at the age of 14 and belonged to the 7th branch led by Mitsu MIYAMOTO, who established the Myochikai Order later. After that he recruited 10,000 new members and became a leader for training them. In 1947, after graduation from high school, he was selected to become a staff member at the Reiyuhkai Headquarters by President KOTANI.
In that capacity he played a key role in editing the journal, practicing , and training members, in addition to giving private lessons to Tugunari KUBO, who later on became Reiyuhkai’s second President. According to KASHIMA’s recollection, KOTANI fully trusted KASHIMA by treating him as her child and he responded in kind to KOTANI.
However, KASHIMA gradually began to have some doubts about the Doctrine of Reiyuhkai and started to feel too deeply indebted to KOTANI. One day, a senior staff member recommended he read “Lotus Sutra of the Showa Era and Johfukyo Bodhi-sattva” in order to improve his editing works of the Order’s journal in the future. He was deeply moved and captivated by the book and made inquiries about the writer of the book.
To KASHIMA’s recollection, Reiyuhkai tabooed referring to BEKKI at that time. In that situation, KASHIMA was said to have heard the following story. “BEKKI is the real founder of Reiyuhkai, but that should be kept secret. Within Reiyuhkai, it was decided that Bekki should be treated as a mad priest.” Kakutaro KUBO died saying that the Reiyuhkai creed should be returned to BEKKI. KUBO also said many times that he was eager to meet BEKKI.” This story was said to be kept secret among the senior leaders of Reiyuhkai.
At the same time, many problems occurred in Reiyuhkai such as concealment of gold (possession of gold was prohibited by G.H.Q. policy at that time). KASHIMA was worried about the situation and came to the conclusion that the problems were caused by the result of deadlock of the Lotus Sutra which Reiyuhkai was advocating. KASHIMA repeatedly tried to persuade KOTANI to follow BEKKI again and to cope with the problems properly, but KOTANI took no notice. KASHIMA was deeply distressed with his sense of indebtedness to KOTANI and his social responsibility to correct the corruption within Reiyuhkai. In the end, he made up his mind to follow BEKKI’s teachings and left Reiyuhkai to discharge his own responsibility, having reported the concealment of gold by Reiyuhkai to the concerned official organizations.
The case of the concealment of gold was revealed to the public by KASHIMA’s prosecution in 1949, and this case led to the independence of many religious bodies as the so-called 2nd schism of Reiyuhkai.
KASHIMA followed BEKKI in the belief that the respect for ancestors (Nihon-Tennodo) preached by BEKKI was the complete doctrine. It was the true Lotus Sutra he had sought after and it would unite all religions and denominations. In November 1949, he founded Fumyokai and designated himself as president. In October 1952, it was renamed the Fumyokai Order and the current president, Takao KASHIMA, is the 3rd president to lead the Order.
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Sadao BEKKI foretold Kakutaro KUBO’s future in 1943 and conveyed his wish that KUBO should follow him via his disciple, Torajiro SAWAI. (see: “Sadao BEKKI and Reiyuhkai”p25). KUBO seemed deeply introspective about this; he kept saying until right before his last moment that he should return the Reiyuhkai creed to BEKKI. (see: Establishment of the Fumyokai Order by Toshiro KASHIMA p23). The Fumyokai Order rushed to Sadao BEKKI upon hearing this.