is a Tenrikyo-based shinshūkyō (Japanese new religion) that was organized by its founder, , as a successor organization of Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho.Yumiyama "… Yamada Umejirō (1875-1941) … had founded an organization together with a religious center, the Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho … After Yamada Umejirō's death in 1941, his associates sought to establish an independent religious movement, and one of them, Egami Toshitane (1904-71) … [f]orming a new group called Ichiretsukai …" It is currently based in Nasu District, Tochigi Prefecture.
History Ōkanmichi was formed after a hiatus of the disbandment of the previous religious sect, Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho, in 1939 and upon the death of the founder of the said previous religious sect, , in 1941.Yumiyama "… and on December 23, 1937, after just one year of activities, he [Yamada Umejirō] had founded an organization together with a religious center, the Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho (lit., "place of origin of the god of Tenri [principle of heaven]") … . The next year, however, associates of his were arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order Act (Chian ijihō) and in 1939 the organization was forcibly dissolved. After Yamada Umejirō's death in 1941, …" Egami Toshitane was one of Yamada Umejirō's followers and re-established Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho as a tenkeisha (天啓者, divine revelator), just like Yamada Umejirō, with the title, .Matsui (page 72) "ところがこれらの諸教団の中で明確に自己が天啓者であることを主張しているのは，おうかんみちの江上寿胤(「ひょうたんの木甘露台」)だけであり，むしろ例外的とさえ言えるのである。それどころか甘露台霊理斯道会のように天啓者の存在を明確に否定する教団も誕生している。" [However, among the (Tenri Kami no Kuchiake Basho-derived) sects, only (Hyōtan no Ki Kanrodai) Egami Toshitane of Ōkanmichi claims that he was a tenkeisha (天啓者, divine revelator), making it arguably an exception. Even a sect like Kanrodai Reiri Shidōkai clearly does not recognize the existence of a tenkeisha.] Egami Toshitane initially started proselytising in Tokyo right after the end of the Pacific War and eventually moved the headquarters to Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture in 1973.Yumiyama "Forming a new group called Ichiretsukai, he [Egami Toshitane] began proselytising activities in Tokyo. Within the movement, this incident is known as the Ri no seshū ("inheritance of the principle of heaven," namely, inheritance of the mantle of authority to Tenrikyō). Since then, the name of the movement has changed numerous times, until it became fixed on its present name in 1960. The group registered as a legal religious corporation in 1952. Its sacred center was established at Nasu, and in 1973 its head offices were also moved there."
Before its headquarters moved to a new location, there were numerous name changes of his organization until it became Ōkanmichi in 1960. The organization's historical name changes are listed below:
in 1947 in 1948 in 1955 in 1957 in 1960
Ōkanmichi means broad path, a term from the Ofudesaki numerously mentioned by the founder of Tenrikyo, Nakayama Miki.Ofudesaki Part 2 Verse 1 "これからハをくハんみちをつけかける／せかいの心みないさめるで" [From now, I shall begin to open a broad path. / I shall make all minds in the world spirited.], Part 3 Verse 36 "いまの事なにもゆうでハないほどに／さきのをふくハんみちがみへるで" [Do not complain about your present situation. / A broad path will appear ahead of you.], Part 4 Verse 2 "このさきハをふくハんみちがみへてある／もふあこにあるこゝいきたなり" [I already see a broad path ahead. / You are saying that it is over there, but it is already before you.], and Part 5 Verse 57 "みへるのもなにの事やらしれまいな／高い山からをふくハんのみち" [Perhaps you cannot foresee what is going to appear. / From the high mountains, a broad path will open.]
Egami Toshitane died in 1971 and was interred in within the headquarters.
Successor organizations , founded by in 1952 , founded by in 1975
Publications by Egami Toshitane
Notes
Further reading
References
External links