Introduction
Mikao Usui is widely recognized as the founder of Reiki, a healing practice that has spread globally. For many years, much of what was known about Usui came from oral traditions and limited written sources. However, new historical research from Japanese archives has provided clearer and more detailed information about his life, education, and travels.
Early Life and Family Background
Mikao Usui was born on August 15, 1865, in Taniai Village, Gifu Prefecture. His family claimed samurai descent, linking their ancestry to Chiba Tsunetane, a well-known feudal lord from the 12th century. His father, Uzaemon Usui (formal name Taneuji), and his mother, from the Kawai family, raised him in a disciplined environment.
Usui's childhood is not extensively recorded, but he was described as a highly studious youth. He was noted for excelling in scholarship, often surpassing his peers. This early dedication to learning set the tone for the rest of his life.
Later, Usui adopted the spiritual name "Gyōhō," reflecting his ongoing engagement with spiritual practices and studies.
Education and Early Career
Usui's pursuit of education took him beyond his rural hometown. As a teenager, he left to study and work, eventually enrolling at Gifu Prefectural School. He completed the middle division of the school in March 1885.
In 1889, he moved to Tokyo, where he studied English at a private academy in the Kanda district. Between 1889 and 1891, he deepened his knowledge of Western languages and ideas. In 1893, he graduated from the Kanda Shibun Gakkai with a specialization in literature. During this time, he also studied psychology under Professor Yūjirō Motora, one of Japan’s early figures in the field.
Usui further expanded his academic pursuits by enrolling in Nihon Law School (which later became Nihon University) in 1893. He remained there until midway through his third year. His educational background shows that he was far more academically accomplished than often previously portrayed. He was knowledgeable in Chinese classics, Western sciences, religious studies, psychology, and legal studies.
He was not limited to traditional studies. Memorials note that Usui read extensively across a range of topics including medicine, history, biography, divination, and esoteric arts.
International Travel and Broader Learning
New archival evidence reveals that Mikao Usui traveled abroad, spending about a year in the United States between 1895 and 1896. He attended lectures on psychology and philosophy at an institution known in Japanese records as the “Hokin School.” Although the exact identity of this school remains uncertain, it was likely located in Chicago.
This overseas experience exposed Usui to Western thought at a formative time. It contributed significantly to the development of the philosophies he later integrated into his healing practices.
His language skills were also strengthened during this period. In addition to Japanese, he was fluent in English and may have had knowledge of other languages, enabling him to access a wide variety of global texts.
Personal Development and the Path to Reiki
After returning to Japan, Usui continued his deep studies in religion and healing methods. He combined traditional Japanese knowledge with new insights gained through his education and travels.
Historical records describe Usui as someone who voraciously consumed information. He read Buddhist sutras, Christian scriptures, historical accounts, and medical texts. This wide-ranging study laid the groundwork for the development of Reiki, which he formalized later in life.
Rather than being an isolated spiritual figure, Usui's work was the product of a life spent studying, traveling, and synthesizing a wide range of disciplines.
Conclusion
The latest research into Mikao Usui’s life paints a picture of a well-educated, widely traveled, and deeply thoughtful individual. Understanding his real background helps clarify the roots of Reiki and honors the dedication Usui brought to his studies and his life’s work.
New sources allow us to see him not only as a spiritual teacher but also as a scholar and seeker who bridged cultures and disciplines to create a healing method that continues to impact people around the world today.
For those interested in reading the full historical report, you can find it in my Usui Reiki course here.
New Recreated Photo of Mikao Usui is © by Ole Gabrielsen.