Born in Yokohama.
He was much more frail and weepy than a toddler.
By the age of nine, he had experienced the deaths of his mother, two older sisters and three younger brothers.
With the escalation of World War II, he left his parents and evacuated to Ami-machi, Tsuchiura; Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture; and Yahiko Village, Niigata Prefecture.
1953.
Reads the Bible and becomes inclined towards Christianity.
1956.
Enters the Faculty of Law at Chuo University. Formally joined the Christian Protestant faith.
During his studies, he was captain of the karate club for two consecutive terms.
At the request of his teacher Shigeru Egami Honbu Shihan, a former teacher of Japanese karate, he taught karate in various locations.
1960.
Graduated from Chuo University, Faculty of Law.
1962.
Married Etsuko Ishide, a member of the Chuo University speech club.
1963.
Recommended by Shigeru Egami of Nihon Karate-do to the rank of Godan, the highest rank in the style, but declines.
1965.
In search of a new era of body art, he gathered some 30 outstanding martial arts researchers and formed the Rakutsukai.
1966.
After three years of intense training, he founded Shintaido, a body art for comprehensive human development for the modern age, based on karatedo and aikijujutsu, and also created the ‘Japanese stick art’ system.
1967.
‘Everything is complete nothingness. Everything is in absolute emptiness.” He experienced absolute nothingness, which he called ‘the absolute emptiness’.
This leads him out of the world of religion, martial arts and painting.
1970.
Formation of the General Martial Arts Federation. Later renamed International Shintaido Federation.
First Shintaido promotion tour. France, England, USA, Mexico, etc.
Frequent subsequent trips to countries around the world to teach.
1972.
First presentation of Shintaido to world scholars at the Tokyo Congress of the International Society of Humanistic Psychology.
1976.
Published book: ‘Shintaido – the birth of the greatest body art of the century’ (International Shintaido Federation).
1977-78.
Completed a major training programme in São Paulo, Brazil, in stick techniques (including 50 throwing techniques) and yo-ki-kei training.
1984
Demonstrated as a representative of Japanese martial arts at the International Symposium on French-Japanese Cooperation ‘Science, Technology and the Spiritual World’ (at Tsukuba University). He participated in the world’s first experiment to measure the brain waves of martial artists performing violent movements, shedding light on ‘attack and defence as one’ and the secret technique ‘tohate’, and ushering in the Ki boom.
Since then, he has been widely known both inside and outside Japan as a Ki martial artist.
1985.
Panelist and demonstrator at the Kyoto Congress of the International Transpersonal Association.
Performed the first waterfall performance for a Penthouse (Kodansha) interview. Since then, he has visited waterfalls all over Japan and worked on the development of the ‘Healthy Waterfall Practice’ so that anyone can perform waterfall exercises.
Author of Karada wa Uchu no Messages (Body is a message from the Universe), published by Jiyusha.
1987.
The Japanese branch of the International Shintaido Federation was renamed the Shintaido Association. The International Shintaido Federation (ISF) was established as an official international organisation.
Awarded a Doctor of Letters degree from the California Institute of Theology for his ground-breaking work in ‘founding Shintaido, a physical technique to open the spirit and develop spirituality’.
From this time onwards, he gradually retired from the forefront of Shintaido activities and entrusted it to his successors.
Becomes president of the International Academy of Meditation.
Together with Hisako Hara, President, he conducts research on folk cures in various parts of the world and organises seminar tours.
In the Philippines, where she visited for research, she met Father Candito Samonte, a qigong healer. As they deepened their friendship, they came into contact with the living conditions of the poor Filipino people and started donating clothes and daily necessities.
Book: ‘Dancing in the Light’ (Shintaido Kyokai).
1991.
Cosmic Contemplation Sutra
Author of: ‘Karada ga tsukuru inochi no daiwan’ (The Horizon of Life Developed by the Body) (Tenshinkai).
1992
Featured in the overseas edition of NHK’s ‘The Amazing Microcosm of the Human Body’ in a winter waterfall performance.
1993
Visited and acted as advisor to the Fudozenkai (Zen, martial arts and calligraphy research group ‘Terayama Tanchu Shike’), a study group for ink seki (brush strokes) studying the works of Kukai and Tesshu. (1993-2004)
Author of ‘Shintaido – Potential Ability Development Body Technique’ (Gakken).
1994.
Acutely aware of the need to provide educational support for children living on garbage heaps and for children in poor rural villages, established the ‘3H Scholarship’ in both Japan and the Philippines. Began providing educational support to primary school children from poor families in the Philippines. (Scholarship support for 20 years from 1994 to 2014)
Book: ‘Paving the Way to Create a Path’ (Toyo Keizai Shinposha).
1995.
Shintaido was chosen as the research theme for the House of Representatives’ New Year study group and demonstrated at the official residence of the Speaker.
Book: ‘Ikiru hi shining hi’ (Kinhwasha).
1996.
Held solo exhibitions of calligraphy at Yokohama Sogo, Shinjuku Sunroute Hotel and elsewhere.
1997
Author of Shin Karada Shugi (New Body Principle) Manifesto (Business Publications).
Shintaido – Body Techniques for Opening Wisdom (Business-sha).
1998
Awarded the Grand Knight of the Order of Merit for World Peace by the International Academy of Sciences, USA.
2000
Japan’s first national budget funded Ki measurement experiment at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, achieving world-class results on the remote sensing ability of Ki.
Book: TOTAL STICK FIGHTING – SHINTAIDO BOJUTSU, English edition (Kodansha).
DVD: ‘SHINTAIDO BOJUTSU’ (BAB Japan)
Graduated from Shanghai University and China Academy of Calligraphy, Master’s Degree. Obtained Master’s Certificate from the China Academy of Calligraphy.
Established Tenshin Shojyuku with Akiko Yoshida (certified teacher of the China Calligraphy Academy).
Based on the original Tenshin philosophy and ability development theory, she develops and teaches a calligraphy system that emphasises individuality and creativity, with a focus on Chinese calligraphy classics.
Holds the ‘Tian Zhen Calligraphy School Presentation’ every year.
Begins providing financial support for the education of Tibetan children.
Awarded the Silver Prize at the 3rd Japanese Exhibition of Drawing, Drawing and Print Competition organised by the European Art Club. Book: ‘Natural Body Free Mind’ (Shunju-sha).
2002.
(Established Tenshinkai Ltd.
Donated the work ‘Love, Prayer’ to the 28th Spanish Art Prize Exhibition organised by the European Art Club, in accordance with the wishes of the city of Santander, Spain.
The work was written by trumpeter Kondo Toshinori on stage at the World Sacred Music Festival (Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima).
2004.
Assistance with the construction of school buildings for the Miao ‘Japan-China Tianjin Zhouda Qiao Xin Primary School’ in a poor ethnic minority area in Yunnan Province, China.
Author of ‘Meditation for Luck’ (Seishun Publications).
2005
Established NPO Tenshinkai with Tenshinkai Secretary General Akiko Yoshida.
Renamed “3H Scholarship” to “Tenshin Scholarship”.
Held the ‘Tenshin Calligraphy School Taiwan Rinsho Exhibition’ at the Zhongzheng Memorial Hall in Taiwan.
DVD: Shintaido – The Glory of Ki (Quest Inc.).
Started a meditation college.
Wrote the inscription “Vexation is Bodhi” on the World Cultural Heritage Site “Hato Mara Tzu Shari Pagoda” at Caodang Temple, Xi’an, China.
Held the First Japan Tenshin Shojyuku Xi’an Stele Forest Calligraphy Exhibition at the Xi’an Stele Forest, a World Cultural Heritage Site in Xi’an, China.
Assistance with the construction of the Hefeidian Japan-China Friendship Overseas Chinese Heart Primary School for the Pei people in a poor minority area in Yunnan Province, China.
2007
Financial assistance for the construction of the Baiyun Primary School of the Yi ethnic group in an impoverished ethnic minority area in Yunnan, China.
Selected as one of four Japanese representatives in the calligraphy category at the 9th Asia Art Festival in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, and invited by the Chinese Government.
2008.
Invited as Honorary Professor of Jinan Private Chengjia Calligraphy School, Shandong Province, China.
Performed, wrote calligraphy and dedicated swordplay at the ‘Blow the Earth’ event organised by trumpet player Kondo Toshinori in front of the five-storey pagoda in Haguro, Dewa Sanzan.
Worked on the development of swordsmanship (kenjutsu) for modern people.
- With the basic system almost complete, the official name of the sword techniques was changed to ‘Kembu Tenshin Ryu’ and monthly training started. Dedication demonstration at ‘Tenkawa Benzaiten’.
- Foundation of the General Incorporated Association Tenshinkai.
Activities of the ‘NPO Tenshinkai’.