Japan 2003

Since becoming a Reiki Master, my clients and Reiki students would ask the same question “Have you ever been to Japan”?  Would you like to go? I had never thought about it.

I took first degree Reiki and started to treat myself every day. One year later in 1992 I took second degree and shortly after that I opened a public practice. Reiki is my daily practice starting with self treatment and knowing that wherever I am in the world, Reiki will always be with me.

How I got to Japan

In 1998 I met Minako Takata after I gave a Reiki talk to the Japanese/Irish Society.

September 2008 I had lunch with Minako. Minako, had lived in Ireland for eleven years, decided that it was time to return to Japan. As we talked about our lives and the wonders of Reiki, out of nowhere I heard her say “Would you like to come to Japan and visit my family? I think they would love to meet you and have some Reiki treatments”.

In that moment I felt a lump come into my chest and in a very squeaky voice I said “yes”.

I did not think that this would happen; I thought it was something said in the spur of the moment. Then a few days later I got an email from Minako and we began to organise the trip.

At the end of September I was teaching a Reiki class organised by Angela Boohig. When she heard that I planned to go to Japan, her eyes opened wide and the words came right out, “I have always wanted to go to Japan! My nephew lives in Kyoto and is constantly asking me to come and visit.” When I told Minako this she also got excited. She had visited Kyoto many times,  and since taking Reiki wanted to go back and visit mount Kurama.

25 - 02 – ’03 Leaving Ireland

I sat in my mother’s house ready to put the last few bits into my suitcase and head for the airport. My mother who aged eighty-nine, was a little concerned about me travelling with all the talk of war. Earlier that morning as I sat and dried my hair, I spotted a small bottle of Lourdes water sitting on top of my suitcase – mother’s blessing.

26 - 02 - ‘03

The journey went like a dream, I met Angela in Heathrow as planned and the long flight seemed to pass in seconds. We arrived in Nagoya, on time and we collected our baggage, I saw Minako smiling and waving.

We stayed with Minako's parents in their beautiful home in Suzuka. Her father met us at the station.

When we arrived at her home, I asked how will we address her parents. Minako said to call her father Otosan and her mother Okasan - Otosan means father and Okasan is mother. Her mother met us with a big smile on her face as she said shyly in English “welcome to our home”  (I found out later that she had been studying English for the past year and was good but a bit shy speaking it.) She then handed us a new pair of slippers to put on. From that moment on we were treated like two princesses.

Minako’s father is retired and his hobby is cooking the best Japanese food I have ever tasted. What a joy to come down every morning to a traditional Japanese breakfast of Miso soup, rice and Nori seaweed to roll the rice in. When it came to our evening meals Otosan cooked like a top class chef and was so happy that we both loved Japanese food.

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Minako took us to the city of Tsu where we experienced our very first shrine and in the gardens saw the cherry blossom that had just begun to appear. I felt so grateful to be in this beautiful place.

What has all this to do with Reiki?  Well seeing how grateful everyone in Japan seemed to be - all we heard everywhere we went was “Arigato gozaimasu” which means thank you very much.

We offered to give Otosan, Okasan and Minako four days of Reiki treatments and they were delighted. Her parents had no idea that Reiki originated in Japan and were very surprised when Minako told them the story of Reiki as we know it. For me it felt so special to give Reiki treatments to Japanese people in Japan and they were so grateful.

04 - 03 - ‘03

Minako, Angela and I decided it was time to go to Kyoto. Again the journey was smooth. Maurice Angela’s nephew met us at the train and we were on a new adventure.

Maurice is studying for his Masters in the Japanese language, so he and Minako jumped from Japanese to English in what sounded like music. We listened in awe.

Angela and I decided that we would like to go to a Reiki clinic to have some treatments. Minako found one in a natural healing book and also an article on Reiki. What a surprise to discover it was written by Mr. Tadao Yamaguchi son of Mrs. Chiyoko Yamaguchi who was initiated into Reiki by Dr. Hayashi in 1938.  We tried the first day to find the clinic and failed I asked Minako to phone and see if we could get an appointment for a Reiki treatment. She spoke to Mr.Yamaguchi and he said that they were in the process of moving clinic and at that moment were unable to offer treatments. He did invite us to a Reiki talk in his home on Thursday evening at 6.30 p.m. We accepted his invitation.

06 - 03 - ’03 Kurama and Yamaguchi

Thursday was the day that we planned to make our pilgrimage to Mount Kurama, where Dr. Usui fasted and meditated for 21 days. We were up bright and early. The weather forecast was for rain and very cold, so we put on thermal underwear (purchased at the market in Kyoto) hats, gloves and mountain boots and off we went on the ever-efficient trains. What a surprise as the train started up the foot of the mountain to see snow everywhere.  When we arrived, we decided we needed to empty our bladders before the climb. Lo and behold, we were pointed in the direction of the traditional Japanese loo, a ceramic hole in the ground!!!     

My years of yoga came in handy after all!!!!

The climb—talk about “just for today” and “one step at a time“! Step after step after step and on and on we went, Eventually we found ourselves at Kurama Temple. Oh it was so beautiful. The smell of the cedar tree incense, which is made by the monks and sold in the temple, was so beautiful that I got carried away. I bought what seemed like half the mountain in incense, as I thought of all my Reiki friends and wanted them to share in this experience.

 We continued our search perhaps to find some sign or mark of Dr. Usui on the mountain. Minako asked some of the office staff if they knew about Reiki and Dr. Usui. They said that they had many inquiries but there was nothing on the mountain to indicate that Dr Usui spent time there. They did direct us to a special shrine where they felt the Reiki was very strong. When we came to it, the energy was so still and magical that we sat and spent time sitting in the shrine.

At bottom of the mountain we saw another little shrine with healing water so we were off again climbing. Returning to the foot of the mountain, we stopped to eat. We were wet and hungry and we knew the restaurants were open by the red rugs on the benches outside. We picked one, and the staff made a place for us by an oil stove so we could hang our wet jackets and shoes. They were so nice and kind and grateful for our business.

The day was not over yet! We went back to Kyoto and the Reiki talk with Mr. Yamaguchi. Well, the night started with some misunderstanding. Mr Yamaguchi thought we were there to hear about the “original Reiki” as he called it, and to get some free Reiki from his students who were having a Reiki sharing. I told him all we wanted was to make an appointment to pay for and receive a Reiki treatment.

Mrs Yamaguchi came into the room and you could see the Reiki shine from her eyes. She sat in her chair and listened as Minako started to translate the conversation between Mr. Yamaguchi and me. After a little time he realised that we were very happy with the Reiki that we received through Mrs. Takata - Phyllis Furumoto, our linage.

When Mrs Yamaguchi heard this, she asked could she ask me about my Reiki practice, case histories and classes. We had very similar stories and she said “That was how Dr. Hayashi treated”, she seemed very happy about that. They asked if we would like to have a photo to remember our visit and asked us back again and said if ever we wanted to visit Dr Usui’s grave and memorial stone in Tokyo that Mr Yamaguchi would get a friend to take us there.

When it was time to leave, all the Reiki sharing group lined up to leave in front of us and to say goodbye to Mrs. Yamaguchi. When I came to her, she stood up and gave me a big hug and then one to Angela and Maurice. I smiled and asked Minako if she hugged her, Minako said it is not our custom to hug. What an amazing event!

After our visit, Minako translated the article in the health magazine. I felt sad. I had the feeling from the article that Mr. Yamaguchi feels they hold the original Reiki. I would love to go back and talk some more with Mr. Yamaguchi. But, for now, more to do and see.

08 - 03 - ‘03 Prayers

Minako went to visit family, Maurice was  meeting his girlfriend, so Angela and I decided to climb Mount Kurama again and this time for some reason the trek was easy for me. Another early start and we were on our own with no local to guide us. It was such fun.  We had many encounters with people - it was Saturday and the mountain was very busy with local people climbing to pray and meditate. It reminded me of Crough Patrick. (Croagh Patrick is renowned for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint. The tradition of pilgrimage to this holy mountain stretches back over 5,000 years.)

The shrines reminded me of the side alters in Catholic Churches in Ireland, with fresh flowers and a little spot to light a candle for your intentions. I felt at one with the people as they prayed their own prayers and knew it is all the same.

09 - 03 - ‘03

Back to being princess again as we return to Otosan and Okasan, their smiling faces, warm welcome and a few more days of being spoiled.

12 - 03 - ‘03

Now it was time to pack our bags and say our sad goodbyes. Tears were shed, hugs were shared.  I will go back.