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147-504: The Happiness Realization Party ( 幸福実現党 , Kōfuku Jitsugen-tō ) , abbreviated as Kōfuku ( 幸福 ), is a Japanese political party founded by Ryuho Okawa on 23 May 2009. The HRP is the political wing of the conservative Happy Science religious movement. Okawa was the president of the party until his death on 2 March 2023. In 2009, the party had 345 candidates, placing it on the ballots of 99% of Japan's 300 constituencies. Many perennial candidates such as Yoshiro Nakamatsu joined

294-502: A New Left student movement. However, the movement proved unpopular with the broader public, and the JCP was able to use its image as a "peaceful" and "positive" force during the protests as a recruitment tool. Membership in the party soared during the course of the protests, doubling from 40,000 to 80,000, and most of the new recruits wound up supporting the Kōza Ha line. Over the remainder of

441-641: A cult . Adherents of the religion worship Okawa, who claimed to be the current incarnation of a god called “ El Cantare  [ ja ] ” and a number of other beings, including Hermes and Gautama Buddha . Ryuho Okawa was born Takashi Nakagawa on 7 July 1956 in Kawashima (now Yoshinogawa ), Tokushima Prefecture as the second son of Tadayoshi Nakagawa ( 中川 忠義 , Nakagawa Tadayoshi ) (1921 – 2003) (later known by his pen name Saburō Yoshikawa ( 善川 三朗 , Yoshikawa Saburō ) ) and Kimiko Nakagawa ( 中川 君子 , Nakagawa Kimiko ) . His older brother

588-513: A Christian socialist for much of his political life. The three former anarchists were reluctant to found the JCP, with Yamakawa shortly after arguing that Japan was not ready for a communist party and calling for work to be done solely within labor unions. Katayama's theoretical understanding of Marxism also remained low. In the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake , there was a campaign of rumors instigated by Japanese state authorities that incited widespread massacres of suspected enemies of

735-492: A Taiwanese classmate who spoke fluent English. Around this time, he said he experienced the "second stage in the 'awakening of wisdom'". His inferiority complex went away when he thought about the knowledge he obtained from the over three thousand books he read thus far. In 1983, he returned to Tokyo, and was assigned to work on negotiations with banks. In March 1984, he was sent to Nagoya. By summer of 1985, he had read over four thousand books. Thoughts "spewed forth like water from

882-406: A businessman at TOMEN Corporation. Without his help, Happy Science could possibly have started differently and at a later date, or even not have been founded at all. The spiritual messages were given to the publisher Chōbunsha  [ ja ] ( 潮文社 ) because they specialized in spiritual works. Okawa published a vast number of spiritual messages from various spirits in order to prove

1029-723: A communist in the late 1910s and was a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain . Sen Katayama left Japan for the United States in 1914, after serving a prison sentence for supporting a strike. He became a communist during his time in the country and was a founding member of the Communist Party USA . Katayama founded the Association of Japanese Socialists in America and served as chair of

1176-463: A doctrinal shift occurred. Old publications were revised to reflect the new concept of El Cantare. This included an updated version of the Trilogy of Salvation, which was called the "new" ( 新 , shin ) series. Each book in the trilogy had its subtitle revised, which now refers explicitly to El Cantare's name rather than the shaka as with the original versions. The revised version of The Laws of

1323-571: A joint candidate for governor or mayor so that all parties are assured of being part of the ruling coalition. If the JCP did not offer a candidate, there would be a walkover and Japanese voters would be offered a fait accompli without an electoral avenue of protest. Promoting women candidates in elections to win women's votes is another characteristic of the party. More women are elected under the communist label than other political parties in Japan." In 2008, foreign media recorded an increase in support for

1470-475: A lack of doctrinal knowledge. In 1991, when Happy Science was going through heavy criticism from the public, academic Hiromi Shimada  [ ja ] , a critic of Happy Science, appeared to favor Aum Shinrikyo over Happy Science. Shimada favored Asahara because he went through ascetic training and had familiar knowledge of the doctrine of Buddhism. Okawa was criticized for having little knowledge of his own teachings and having faked his spiritual messages. He

1617-605: A line from its platform which described China as a country "that is beginning a new quest for socialism". JCP members have stated that this was due to human rights conditions in China . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China denounced the accusations of the JCP as "groundless and biased". The party officially upholds democratic centralism . The party constitutions states decisions "shall be based on democratic discussion and finally decided by majority vote" and that "there shall be no factions or splinter groups". Along with Komeito ,

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1764-731: A lot and became the Prime Minister and came to New York to give a speech at the Assembly of the United Nations. It was based on just what I told him. So I am one of the kingmakers of Japan. I can choose a Japanese Prime Minister and I can have a Prime Minister quit in a month. It's a hidden secret of Japan ... Happy Science is the most influential power in Japan. So, if the American President cannot realize some diplomatic policy, he can just ask me and I can realize it in

1911-483: A major Japanese trading company, because his grades were not sufficient for graduate school. After graduating in spring 1981, he took up his job. He was assigned to the foreign exchange department at the headquarters in Tokyo. On 23 March 1981, before graduating from university and working at TOMEN Corporation, Okawa said he experienced his "Buddha Enlightenment", his first contact with a high divine spirit. This spirit

2058-538: A meeting of members of the Japanese Communist Party in Atami . According to a March 1933 article on the raid, the accused were not the "rag-tag-and-bobtail" of the people. Only a very small minority of the accused were laborers. Almost all the accused were of the "better classes". Among the accused were two judges, two professors of universities, lawyers, teachers, and students. Professor S.H Roberts of

2205-451: A member of the board of Happy Science. Happy Science has said that Sayaka would be the heir to the organization's leadership instead of Hiroshi. Masaki has been said to work for Happy Science since he was a student at university. He is serving as managing director and secretary general of science at Happy Science. On 7 July 2016, he married Mizuho Okawa ( 大川 瑞保 , Ōkawa Mizuho ) , née Mizuho Sato ( 佐藤 瑞保 , Satō Mizuho ) , who serves as

2352-483: A million copies. Okawa's main book The Laws of the Sun has sold the most copies, with ten million sold by January 2000. Happy Science said that by 1997, over 50 million copies of its titles were sold worldwide. Unlike traditional religious text, Okawa's writings are very easy to read, with some parts being almost poetic. Okawa does not use old-fashioned, technical or complex language and avoids difficult kanji. He opts for

2499-657: A prominent member on 18 March 1929. This resulted in mass arrests that left Yamamoto, who was sick in Moscow, as one of the few leaders not in prison. 81 high-ranking members of Zenkyō were arrested in April. The party was reconstituted by Seigen Tanaka, Zenshirō Zennō, and Hiroshi Sano in July. Many members wanted to dissolve the party as the Peace Preservation Law was amended to inflict the death penalty. Jōkichi Kazama

2646-461: A prophet's task is to listen to the voice and spread the word of God. He stated that the early years of Happy Science would consist of study. In June 1987, a new series of books, called the "law" ( 法 , hō ) series, launched. The first three books, The Laws of the Sun ( 太陽の法 , Taiyō no hō ) , The Golden Laws ( 黄金の法 , Ōgon no hō ) , and The Laws of Eternity ( 永遠の法 , Eien no hō ) , published from June to October, may be seen as

2793-425: A reincarnation of Gautama Buddha but also the incarnation of a "Highest Spiritual Being" named El Cantare. Okawa claimed El Cantare was one of ten Highest Spiritual Beings. According to Okawa, this was revealed to him by the consciousness of Gautama Buddha himself. This revelation convinced him that his mission was to spread truth on earth. Okawa's life as a businessman went normally despite his communication with

2940-413: A result, its name was simplified to Kofuku-no-Kagaku ( 幸福の科学 , Kōfuku-no-Kagaku ) . The group's government recognition allowed it to gradually grow by taking on new members from the general Japanese public. In that year, Happy Science started large-scale festivities. One of these was Okawa's "Birthday Festival" ( 御生誕祭 , Goseitan-sai ) , held on 15 July 1991, just after Okawa's 35th birthday. In

3087-459: A sense of being guided and looked after." The organization's object of worship ( 御本尊 , gohonzon ) has a photo of Okawa as El Cantare. El Cantare is said to have chosen to be incarnated in Japan because both Eastern and Western civilizations are merged there. When the two civilizations coexist harmoniously, an element of the Utopia would be realized. Thus Japan is the ideal place for Okawa to run

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3234-544: A spiritual leader alongside Okawa since 1988. Kyoko is a graduate of the University of Tokyo, where she studied English literature. Of his marriage with Kyoko, Okawa said it provided his life "with a stable basis that enabled me to concentrate even more on my task", and that it was "instrumental in the development of [Happy Science]". Kyoko became the Presidential Assistant of Happy Science in 1988, and

3381-464: A spring", and his inferiority complex changed into a sense of superiority. Okawa earned a particular reputation at his work, where rumours about him spread. His former colleagues said he claimed to see spirits possessing people and offered to exorcise them. In June 1986, high spirits suggested he retire from work, leading him to dedicate his life to religion. On 15 July, he resigned from TOMEN Corporation and on October 6, founded Happy Science and adopted

3528-533: A strict home environment that was ordinary and not particularly rich nor poor. Yoshikawa is said to be one of the most important influences on Okawa's life. Okawa said, despite not having a spiritual or religious master, Yoshikawa had an important influence. Yoshikawa edited journals for the Japanese Communist Party and later worked as an agricultural advisor in local government. He was deeply interested in spirituality and religion. He studied in

3675-463: A training school for Korean revolutionaries was operated jointly by the JCP and several Korean organizations, including the Communist Party of Korea . In South Korea, the JCP is known as the only "pro-South Korea" political party in Japan. Although it is illegal to form a communist party in South Korea, Mindan maintains friendly relations with the JCP. In 2003, due to the consideration of

3822-436: A union affiliated with the JCP, had around 1.5 million members as overall Japanese union membership rose to 6 million in the post-war period. The JCP benefited from Japan's Korean population that was more favorable to communism due to discrimination and high unemployment rates. The JCP made dramatic gains in the 1949 general election , tripling its popular vote support and increasing its seat total from 4 to 35. Beginning in

3969-496: A utopian movement which will bring about a new age in the 21st century. Okawa said El Cantare has two roles: a Savior, like Amitabha Buddha, and Mahavairocana, the Buddha's essence which represents enlightenment. El Cantare is believed to be needed in this world because the world is in a crisis. Dark thoughts exist in the world, which cause disasters, including wars and other conflicts. In Happy Science's doctrine, like attracts like;

4116-442: A walk while writing poetry. At 5 pm, he would go to the local bathhouse and stay there for an hour thinking about his day. Going home, he would have a cheap meal, and buy two books at a local bookstore. From 8:30 to 9 pm, he would read, then drink tea, and then read philosophy. The philosophy he read included those of Plato and Kitaro Nishida . In April 1978, after his second year at university, he majored in politics and studied at

4263-513: A week or so. It's a hidden secret. In Japan, religion has more power than politics. A few months later, Okawa announced the founding of the Happiness Realization Party (HRP), the political wing of Happy Science. In April 2009, Okawa presented the party's Declaration ( 幸福実現党宣言 , Kōfuku Jitsugentō sengen ) . On 23 May 2009, the party was formally founded with Jikidō Aeba  [ ja ] as party leader. The party

4410-468: A year, he was accepted into the university's Liberal Arts Division. During his first year, he was not socially adjusted. He said he once wrote love letters to a girl, but was rejected. He felt uncomfortable amongst the students who were uninterested in spirituality. During his second year, a time he calls "the first stage in the 'awakening of wisdom'", he modeled his daily schedule after that of Immanuel Kant , whom he respected deeply. At 3 pm, he would take

4557-626: Is "the starting point of its salvation movement". The book also contains an account of Okawa's early life. The Golden Laws is dedicated to "time and history in relation to the Truth". The Laws of Eternity focuses on the structure of the spirit world, which The Laws of Sun also covers, but the book explains it in greater detail. Each book in the trilogy has a subtitle which mentions the shaka . The subtitles would be changed in future editions following changes in Happy Science's doctrine. At

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4704-753: Is an incarnation of the Creator. Okawa is believed to have many past incarnations. These include a king named La Mu on the continent Mu, a king named Thoth on the continent Atlantis, a king named Rient Arl Croud in the Inca Empire located in ancient South America, Ophealis in archaic Greece, Hermes in ancient Greece, and the Buddha in India. As El Cantare, Okawa is the main figure of worship in Happy Science. Members have faith in El Cantare. Their worship gives them "comfort, energy, courage, hope, steadiness, and

4851-467: Is believed by members of Happy Science to be the incarnation of the goddess Gaia . Japanese Communist Party The Japanese Communist Party ( 日本共産党 , Nihon Kyōsan-tō , abbr. JCP ) is a communist party in Japan . Founded in 1922, it is the oldest political party in the country . It has 250,000 members as of January 2024, making it one of the largest non-governing communist parties in

4998-481: Is believed to be that of Nikkō Shōnin , who was one of Nichiren 's disciples. On that day, he had a sudden feeling that a person was trying to communicate with him. He grabbed a pencil and a card. His hand started to move on its own, and wrote "良い知らせ、良い知らせ"　(good news, good news). Asking who the person is, his hand signed "日興", the name of Nikkō. A week later, the spirit of Nichiren started contacting Okawa. They then communicated every day from March to July 1981, when he

5145-700: Is known as the Buddha, both the Enlightened One and the reincarnation of Gautama Buddha, and the embodiment of El Cantare, the Grand Spirit of the Terrestrial Spirit Group, called Lord El Cantare within Happy Science. The name "El Cantare" means "beautiful land of light, Earth". El Cantare is also known as the "Eternal Buddha". This Buddha is related to the Creator God, known as the "Primordial Buddha". Many members believe Okawa

5292-539: Is known as the day of Shoten-bōrin ( 初転法輪 , Shoten-bōrin ) ("The First Turn of the Wheel of the Dharma"). In March 1987, Okawa gave what is known as his first official large public lecture, entitled "The Principles of Happiness", to an audience of about 400 people. In the lecture, he implied that he was a prophet, saying that while spiritual mediums and psychics cannot hear the voice of God, prophets can. He said that

5439-477: Is named Tsutomu Nakagawa ( 中川 力 , Nakagawa Tsutomu ) (born 1952) (later known as Makoto Tomiyama ( 富山 誠 , Tomiyama Makoto ) ). Okawa said his family was religious; both of his parents believed in God and the Buddha, and Okawa believed in the existence of spirits and souls, and a world after death in childhood. Despite his beliefs, Okawa was not active in religious practice. Okawa and Tomiyama were raised in

5586-557: The 1928 election , but a crackdown on 15 March resulted in 1,200 people, including Communist leaders, being arrested and the Japanese government dissolved Hyōgikai and Labour-Farmer Party. Sano, Watanabe, Shoichi Ichikawa , Kenzō Yamamoto, and Hideo Namba avoided arrest as they were serving as representatives to the 6th World Congress of the Communist International and reorganized the party. The Labour-Farmer Party

5733-548: The Allied military occupation of Japan . The first issue of Shimbun Akahata after the end of the war thanked the Allied occupation for the "democratic revolution" that was occurring and called for the recreation of a communist political party. A national conference was held on 8 November 1945, and the 4th Party Congress was held from 1 to 2 December. Nosaka returned to Japan after fourteen years in exile on 10 January 1946. Under

5880-734: The National Diet . By the mid-1960s, the United States Department of State estimated party membership to be approximately 120,000 (0.2% of the working-age population), Miyamoto reported a membership above 100,000 in 1964, and the party had acquired around 300,000 members by 1970. The JCP's vote totals in the prefectural assemblies doubled between the 1959 and 1963 elections and their seats rose from 12 to 22 despite running 200 fewer candidates. The JCP's vote totals and seats in city council elections rose from 509,069 to 880,991 votes and 218 to 369 seats. Their vote totals in

6027-552: The Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Reiwa Shinsengumi . The JCP has maintained a friendly relationship with the Japanese feminist camp since its inception, and is still the most active in women's rights issues among Japan's major political parties. The JCP was the first party to call for universal suffrage for women . The party supports eliminating the wage gap between men and women and has called for

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6174-579: The United Nations Charter . The JCP took a neutral stance during the Sino-Soviet split and Miyamoto believed that it was unnecessary for the JCP to take a side. A pro-Chinese faction under the leadership of Hakamada Satomi and pro-Soviet faction under the leadership of Yoshio Shiga and Shigeo Kamiyama existed within the JCP. However, both groups were in the minority compared to the neutral faction. Another pro-Soviet faction of

6321-582: The University of Sydney reported in a 1934 newspaper that "all Japan was stirred when it was realized that only a minority of prisoners were laborers." In addition, the arrested were also accused of being connected to the Omori Bank Robbery . Kazama and other leaders were arrested in fall 1932. The party was reformed by Masami Yamamoto, who was also sent from Moscow, in January 1933, but he

6468-526: The dissolution of the Soviet Union , the JCP released a press statement titled "We welcome the end of a party which embodied the historical evil of great power chauvinism and hegemonism ". The party also criticized the Eastern Bloc countries which abandoned socialism, describing their decisions as a "reversal of history". Consequently, the party did not suffer an internal crisis as a result of

6615-413: The left–right political spectrum . The JCP strives to change the nation's economic policy of what it views as serving the interests of large corporations and banks to one of "defending the interests of the people". It advocates establishing "democratic rules" that will check the activities of large corporations and "protect the lives and basic rights of the people". Regarding the international economy ,

6762-518: The national anthem , both of which the party views as relics of Japan's militarist past. The JCP has been one of the political parties to vocally back LGBTQ+ rights in the country ; communist lawmakers have been working to win the passage of same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws in parliament. The JCP jointly supports the passing of an LGBT equality law with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP),

6909-486: The 1930s, while the JCP was still illegal, it was the only political party to vocally oppose Japan's war with China . The JCP supports Japanese territorial claims over the Kuril and Senkaku Islands and Liancourt Rocks . Furthermore, the JCP has condemned North Korea's nuclear-weapons testing, calling for effective sanctions, but opposing the prospect of a military response. The JCP's leading politicians are known to be

7056-471: The 1960s, the Kōza Ha was able to purge many members from the Rōnō Ha faction, and others, dissatisfied with JCP policies, quit the party of their own accord. Miyamoto was able to cement his control over the party and reigned as party chairman all the way until 1982. Meanwhile, the party's membership continued to grow rapidly, and the party began to make steady gains at the ballot box, winning more and more seats in

7203-560: The 2009 Sendai mayoral election. Kyoko stepped down as party leader and became head of the party's publicity department on 29 July before resigning from the party on 15 August. Okawa resigned as president on 12 September and a turnover of top party officials occurred. In May 2010, the party gained its first seat in the House of Councillors when Yasuhiro Oe left the Democratic Party of Japan and joined HRP. On 21 April, Okawa

7350-559: The 2014 elections, receiving 7,040,130 votes (13.3%) in the constituency section and 6,062,962 (11.37%) in the party lists. During the nomination period of the July 2016 House of Councillors election , the party signed an agreement with the Democratic , Social Democratic and People's Life parties to field a jointly endorsed candidate in each of the 32 districts in which only one seat was contested, uniting in an attempt to take control of

7497-479: The 300 constituencies in Japan. This number of candidates was rivalled only by the two major parties at the time, the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party . However, the party did not win any seats. It claimed to have just over one million votes, which is 1.4% of all votes cast, despite Happy Science having about ten million members. The party also unsuccessfully ran for

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7644-796: The American right, having attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2012, and bringing with them members of the Tokyo Tea Party, supporting low tax. In 2022, the party has expressed sympathy for Russia's position following the Invasion of Ukraine , criticizing the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . Jay Aeba, also known as Jikido Aeba (饗庭直道, あえば直道 , Aeba Jikido), was, of May 2012, advisor of

7791-481: The Bible and The Gateless Barrier , as well as secular topics like Kantian philosophy and Marxism during elementary school, although Okawa was not successful in school. Okawa wanted to be a scholar or a diplomat. He wanted to spread his ideas in academia, or broaden his view on life by experiencing different cultures as a diplomat. Because of this prospect, he started studying until late at night and became amongst

7938-564: The Christian Church as a teenager, as well as in a new religion called Seicho-no-Ie after World War II. He later became a follower of Shinji Takahashi , leader of the religious organization God Light Association  [ ja ] (GLA). He would also later serve as Happy Science's official adviser in its first few years. Yoshikawa was demanding on Okawa's success. Yoshikawa gave him and Tomiyama hour-long lectures after dinner at home. The lectures included religious topics like

8085-505: The Faculty of Law. After his third year, he paused his studies for a year. At the end of the break, he failed a judicial exam and the exam for higher-level civil servants. In his fourth and last year, his interests started to change from philosophy to metaphysics. He read the works of Shinji Takahashi of GLA and Masaharu Taniguchi of Seicho-no-Ie. He accepted a job offer from TOMEN Corporation  [ ja ] (now Toyota Tsusho ),

8232-827: The Far Eastern People's Congress. In 1921, Katayama was informed by the Communist International (Comintern) that the First Congress of the Toiler of the Far East would be held on 21 January 1922 in Irkutsk. Three men from his organization (Watanabe Haruo, Taguchi Unzo, and Maniwa Suekichi) served as delegates. The Japanese Communist Party was founded in Tokyo on 15 July 1922, at a meeting where Kyuichi Tokuda discussed sessions held between

8379-493: The HRP. Despite fielding a total of more than 1 million votes, the party did not win any seats in the election. In 2012, the party again failed to gain any seats. As of April 2018, the party had 21 elected local councilors. According to its manifesto, the group's goal is to more than double Japan's population to 300 million through making child-rearing easier for mothers and accepting foreigners as workforce. It also aims to change

8526-519: The Head of Happy Science's women's group, called the "Society of Aphrodite" (Aphrodite-kai ( アフロディーテ会 , Afurodiite-kai ) ). Like her husband, Kyoko has also published books for Happy Science, which mainly targeted the female audience. She also wrote an essay for each issue of Happy Science's monthly journal Happy Science Monthly ( 月刊 幸福の科学 , Gekkan Kōfuku-no-Kagaku ) , which started in April 1987; she would address topics ranging from education to

8673-638: The Heads of Divisions exist. Branch offices ( 支部 , shibu ) exist in and outside of Japan, with each office run by a branch manager ( 支部長 , shibu-chō ) . Fukui (2004) says, when visiting the headquarters' offices in Tokyo, it was difficult to "tell the difference between [Happy Science]'s offices and those of a business corporation." Most staff members were wearing business suits and doing paperwork at their desks. The usual office equipment are seen as well, such as telephones, fax machines, filing cabinets, photocopiers, and computers. Fukui (2004) says "apart from

8820-599: The House from the LDP–Komeito coalition. JCP leaders expressed willingness to enter into a coalition with the Democratic Party, a notion which was rejected by then-Democratic Party President Katsuya Okada as being "impossible" in the near future due to what he viewed as some of the "extreme leftist policies" promoted by the JCP. The party had three Councillors up for re-election and fielded a total of 56 candidates in

8967-456: The JCP argued that the main enemy was American imperialism, and along with affiliated groups, focused its protests around the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Accordingly, JCP-linked groups were the driving force behind the " Hagerty Incident " in which the car carrying U.S. President Eisenhower 's press secretary James Hagerty was mobbed outside of Tokyo's Haneda Airport on 10 June 1960, provoking a major international incident and helping to precipitate

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9114-422: The JCP became a more traditional democratic socialist party after modifying its policies in the 1990s. This analysis is supported by the Japanese political scientist Kōji Nakakita  [ ja ] , who is often cited as a specialist on the JCP. The JCP follows a Marxist ideology, stating that the theory of Marx and Engels is the foundation of their program. The party sits on the left to far-left of

9261-460: The JCP from the Eastern Bloc in the 1960s. The party maintained a neutral stance during the Sino-Soviet split , declared its support for multi-party democracy in opposition to the one-party politics of China and the Soviet Union, and purged pro-Soviet or Chinese members. His efforts to regain electoral support were particularly successful in urban areas such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, and

9408-420: The JCP gradually began to pull back from its militant line, a process facilitated by the death of Stalin in 1953. At the 6th Party Congress in 1955, the JCP renounced the militant line completely, returning to its old "peaceful line" of gradually pursuing socialist revolution through peaceful, democratic means. Shigeo Shida  [ ja ] and Ritsu Itō  [ ko ] were informally controlling

9555-417: The JCP has advocated establishing a new international democratic economic order on the basis of respect for each country's economic sovereignty . The party strongly opposed Japan's consideration of the failed Trans-Pacific Partnership . The JCP views the United States, transnational corporations, and international financial capital as the main pushers of globalization , which it asserts is negatively affecting

9702-481: The JCP in the early 1950s. Tokuda's death in 1953 created a power vacuum in the party. Shida won and Itō was expelled from the party, having been accused of being a spy. Shida's influence waned in the late 1950s as Miyamoto, who became General Secretary in 1958, gained power. Members of Shida's faction later broke away to from a new JCP in September 1965. This group performed poorly in elections despite support from

9849-500: The JCP to respond with a violent revolution; the consequent internal debate fractured the party into several factions. The dominant faction, backed by the Soviets, waged an unsuccessful guerrilla campaign in Japan's rural areas, which undercut the party's public support. In 1958, Kenji Miyamoto became the JCP's leader and moderated the party's policies, abandoning the previous line of violent revolution. Miyamoto also began distancing

9996-533: The JCP worked with the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) in the 1970s to elect a number of progressive mayors and governors. By 1979, the JCP held about 10% of the seats in the National Diet . The party saw a brief electoral resurgence after the collapse of the JSP in 1996; however, the party has generally been in decline since in terms of electoral results and party membership. The party at present advocates

10143-639: The Japanese delegation and Comintern officials. Two delegates were sent to the 4th World Congress of the Communist International and a general meeting of the party was held in Ichikawa, Chiba , on 4 February 1923. The party's early leadership was drawn from the anarcho-syndicalist and Christian socialist movements that developed around the turn of the century. From the former came Yamakawa Hitoshi , Sakai Toshihiko , and Kanson Arahata , who had all been supporters of Kōtoku Shūsui , an anarchist executed in 1911. Katayama, another early party leader, had been

10290-430: The Kōza Ha (Lecture Faction), which dated back to the prewar era. Among other disagreements, the two factions disagreed over which stage of Marxist development Japan was currently in; the Rōnō Ha believed that Japan had already achieved full capitalism, which meant that an immediate socialist revolution was possible, whereas the Kōza Ha argued that Japan's transition to capitalism was not yet complete and that therefore what

10437-1204: The Republican National Committee of the United States in charge of Asia, with Yuki Oikawa as one of the officials of HRP. Defunct Defunct According to The Japan Times , "for many, the Happies smell suspiciously like a cult". The party has released promotional videos that claim North Korea and China are plotting to invade and colonize Japan after first subduing it through nuclear warfare. The party has been accused of expressing anti-Korean sentiment , although they deny this. However, they deny that Koreans were forced to labor in World War II , and deny that comfort women (many of whom were Korean) were forced to perform their work. To this end, Okawa once said that: Those Koreans who presented sob stories decades later were plucked from weepy funerals and "bribed" to blacken Japan’s name, such lies now being firmly "embedded in Korean culture". Ryuho Okawa His organization has been widely criticised as

10584-673: The Soviet Union and China. A purge of pro-Chinese elements in the JCP, including Tokuda's son Nishizawa Ryūji from the Central Committee, was conducted in 1966. In 1976, mentions of "Marxism–Leninism" in the party program were changed to " scientific socialism ". In 2020, the JCP revised its platform for the first time since 2004. The new platform criticized the Chinese Communist Party , denouncing China's "great-power chauvinism and hegemonism" as "an adverse current to world peace and progress". The JCP also removed

10731-463: The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, nor did it consider disbanding or changing its name. However, owing to a significant loss in electoral support, the party revised its policies in the 1990s and became a more traditional democratic socialist party. Lam Peng Er argued in the Pacific Affairs in 1996 that "the JCP's viability is crucial to the health of Japanese democracy" because "[i]t is

10878-403: The Soviet Union. In 1960, the JCP played a central role in organizing the massive Anpo protests against the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty , which were the largest protests in Japanese history. The JCP took a different line than the Japan Socialist Party , Sohyo labor federation, and other groups who argued that the main target of the protest movement was Japanese monopoly capitalism. Instead,

11025-536: The Soviet-led Cominform , at the behest of Soviet premier Joseph Stalin , issued a blistering criticism of the JCP's peaceful line as "opportunism" and "glorifying American imperialism". It also demanded that the JCP carry out an immediate violent revolution along Maoist lines. This devastating "Cominform Criticism" led rival JCP factions to compete for the Cominform's approval, and ultimately led to

11172-588: The Sun contains a different account of Okawa's early life compared to the original version. The new edition also contains a list of El Cantare's previous reincarnations. Since the founding of Happy Science, Okawa has reportedly published over 500 books, most of which are transcripts of his video recorded lectures. There are 15 films based on his teachings: The Laws of the Sun , The Laws of Eternity , The Golden Laws , The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus , Hermes - Winds of Love , The Rebirth of Buddha , The Mystical Laws , The Final Judgement , The Laws of

11319-514: The Universe , I'm Fine My Angel , The World We Live In , and Daybreak . Fukui (2004) notes that Okawa's leadership is consistent with sociologist Max Weber 's theory about charismatic authority . Okawa's leadership comes from belief in his supernatural traits, as he identifies as the Buddha and El Cantare. Under his authority, Happy Science has undergone rapid changes, including changes in its projects, doctrine, and staff, who do not remain in

11466-543: The bills. It was the first time the party had called for such cooperation with other parties. The JCP is generally regarded as the most progressive party in Japanese politics. The JCP has traditionally been opposed to the existence of the Imperial House since its inception. However, the party changed its stance in 2004 by acknowledging the Emperor as Japan's head of state. The JCP has stated that it supports

11613-415: The chief of the president's office at Happy Science. Yuta works as director of Happy Science, general manager of the governor's office and staff officer for the promotion of the headquarters' government affairs. He has also published books for Happy Science. On 19 December 2012, Okawa married Shio Okawa ( 大川 紫央 , Ōkawa Shio ) , née Shio Kondo ( 近藤 紫央 , Kondō Shio ) , born on 22 September 1985. She

11760-524: The cultivation of the Light of Buddha attracts more light, and the cultivation of dark thoughts attracts more dark thoughts. Dark thoughts currently outweigh the Light in the world, creating the need for a Utopia which reverses the situation. This Utopia is to be realized by El Cantare and his followers. Because Okawa identifies as both the Buddha and El Cantare, Fukui (2004) believes that he fits both types of prophet which sociologist Max Weber believes exist:

11907-482: The delegates. The Anpo protests greatly strengthened the hand of the Kōza Ha faction. During the protest, the JCP, still scarred by the backlash to its violent line in the 1950s, consistently advocated peaceful, orderly, and restrained protests. This stance was highly unpopular with the radical student activists of the Zengakuren student federation, who broke decisively with the JCP as a result and began to build

12054-520: The downfall of the Nobusuke Kishi cabinet. The Anpo protests were a turning point in the JCP's ongoing attempts to revive its political fortunes after the disastrous turn toward violent revolution in the early 1950s. Although the Maoists had been purged from the party following the earlier disaster, the JCP was still riven by the age-old rivalry between the Rōnō Ha (Worker-Farmer Faction) and

12201-615: The economy". It accepts the current constitutional position of the emperor but opposes the involvement of the Imperial House in politics. A staunchly anti-militarist party, the JCP firmly supports Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and seeks to dissolve the Japan Self-Defense Forces . It opposes Japan's military alliance with the United States as an unequal relationship and infringement of Japan's national sovereignty . Sanzō Nosaka became

12348-452: The election, down from 63 candidates in the 2013 election, but still the second-highest number after the LDP. However, only 14 of those candidates contested single- and multi-member districts, while 42 contested the 48-seat national proportional representation block. Councillor Tomoko Tamura was appointed as the party's first chairwoman on 18 January 2024, replacing Kazuo Shii who had occupied

12495-520: The end of 1989, with the publication of The Rebirth of the Buddha , Okawa officially claimed that he was an incarnation of Buddha and his is teachings were re-interpreted in light of this revelation. The doctrine of Happy Science was interpreted to be fundamentally Buddhist, according to his own followers. Okawa's audience at his lectures grew larger as Happy Science gained new members. The initial audience of 400 at his lecture in 1987 grew to 10,000 by 1990. The organization grew rapidly. In December 1989,

12642-406: The establishment of a democratic republic, but also that "[the monarchy's] continuation or discontinuation should be decided by the will of the majority of the people in future, when the time is ripe to do so". In 2000, the party opposed legislation which reintroduced two symbolic practices to secondary school graduation ceremonies in Japan, namely the raising of the national flag and the singing of

12789-413: The establishment of a democratic society based on pacificism . It believes that this objective can be achieved by working within an electoral framework while carrying out an extra-parliamentary struggle against " imperialism and its subordinate ally, monopoly capital ". As such, the JCP does not advocate violent revolution but rather a "democratic revolution" to achieve "democratic change in politics and

12936-446: The exemplary type who leads people to salvation through exemplary living and the emissary type who declares their demands to the world. Okawa plays the exemplary role as the Buddha by embodying the correct way of living and by guiding people to enlightenment. Okawa fulfills the emissary role as El Cantare by providing "hopes of salvation." A vast amount of literature has been dedicated to Happy Science's doctrine. Okawa said they all have

13083-863: The existence of the Spirit World to the public. His first thirteen books, published from 1985 to 1987, consisted of these spiritual messages; the first eight were published from 1985 to 1986 under Yoshikawa's pen name to avoid Okawa's authorship being found out by his employers. The first book, The Spiritual Messages of Nichiren ( 日蓮の霊言 , Nichiren no reigen ) , was published on 15 August 1985. The last two spiritual messages were published in early 1991: The Great Warning of Allah ( アラーの大警 , Arā no dai-keikoku ) (January 1991) and The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus ( ノストラダムス戦慄の啓示 , Nosutoradamusu senritsu no keiji ) (February 1991). Both became best-sellers in Japan in 1991. After 1991, almost all spiritual message books were discontinued aside from

13230-412: The fall of 1949, in reaction to the JCP's electoral success and as part of the " Reverse Course " in Allied occupation policy amid rising Cold War tensions, the Allied occupation authorities and the Japanese government carried out a sweeping Red Purge , firing tens of thousands of communists and suspected communists from government posts, teaching positions at schools, and private corporations. The purge

13377-653: The family. Her essays were compiled into books. She was the joint president of the Happiness Realization party along with Okawa and later became the leader of the party. Okawa said that he and Kyoko were together in some of their past lives. The Society of Aphrodite and one of its subdivisions, "The Society of Florence" ( フローレンスの会 , Furōrensu-no-Kai ) , are named after the Greek goddess and Florence Nightingale respectively because they are believed to be previous incarnations of Kyoko. In February 2011, it

13524-449: The female audience. Some high-ranked disciples have produced titles. Others are published under the name of Happy Science or its Public Relations Department, which include books, magazines, comics, and textbooks. Okawa is a prolific writer. By the early 1990s, he published about 20 to 30 books per year. He is said to have published over 300 books by 2004. Many of Okawa's publications became best-sellers. Some of Okawa's books sold over

13671-467: The festival, Okawa was in front of an audience of 50,000 people, which included the mass media, in Tokyo Dome . He declared that he now had at least 1.5 million followers and that his real identity is "El Cantare", the Grand Spirit of the Terrestrial Spirit Group, also known as the "Buddha of Mahayana". El Cantare was revealed to have several reincarnations prior to the Buddha and Okawa. In May 1994,

13818-507: The fundamental doctrinal text of Happy Science. The three books are collectively called "The Trilogy of Salvation" ( 救世の三部作 , Kyūsei no Sambu-saku ) . They were originally presented as the final revelations of the Buddha. The Laws of the Sun is the first book in which Okawa explained his own point of view and his teachings. While Okawa had published books before, they were all spiritual messages that came from spirits, not Okawa. The book contains "the core of [Happy Science]'s doctrine" and

13965-513: The global economy by further widening the North–South economic divide and creating irrevocable environmental problems. The JCP advocates the "democratic regulation of activities by transnational corporations and international financial capital on an international scale". In September 2015, after the passage of the 2015 Japanese military legislation , the JCP called for cooperation from other opposition parties to form an interim government to abolish

14112-432: The guidance of Nosaka, the party pursued a policy of portraying itself as "lovable". Nosaka's strategy involved avoiding open calls for violent revolution and taking advantage of the seemingly pro-labor stance of the Allied occupation to organize the urban working classes and win power at the ballot box and through propaganda. In particular, the party was successful in winning acceptance of the notion that communists had been

14259-623: The headquarters was moved to one of the most expensive business buildings in Tokyo in Kioichō, Chiyoda , next to Tokyo's main business and political area. The rent was known to be ¥25 million per month. On 7 March 1991, Happy Science obtained legal status as a "religious juridical person" ( 宗教法人 , shūkyō-hōjin ) through the Religious Corporations Law by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. As

14406-584: The idea that Japan, as an Asian country, must not allow its relationship with the United States and the G8 to define its foreign relations and should put its East Asian neighbors at the center of its diplomatic efforts. It supports establishing an "independent foreign policy in the interests of the Japanese people" and rejects "uncritically following any foreign power". The JCP advocates that Japan issue further apologies for its actions during World War II and has condemned prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine . In

14553-465: The imperial regime's expansionist policy in Asia . Following the outbreak of the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria , the Japanese Communist Party had infiltrated the military, including in Tokyo, and Osaka. They would distribute leaflets, and newspapers opposing the war. On 4 October 1945, all political prisoners, including communists that had been imprisoned for decades, were ordered to be released by

14700-505: The long term, international situation permitting. The JCP opposes the possession of nuclear weapons by any country, military blocs, and attempts to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution , which says that "never again   ... [will Japan] be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government". Regarding the resolution of disputes, it argues that priority must be given to peaceful means through negotiations, not to military solutions. The JCP says that Japan must adhere to

14847-442: The messages of Buddha. The books of spiritual messages were replaced with newer versions when Okawa started publishing under his own name after the foundation of Happy Science. The new books were akin to collected and revised versions of the originals. They are presented as religious tractates which are divided into chapters, rather than interviews between Yoshikawa and the spirits. Okawa told his readers to not let foreigners read

14994-426: The militant "1951 Platform" ( 51年綱領 ) which declared that "it would be a serious mistake to think that Japan's liberation can be achieved through peaceful, democratic means" and called for an immediate violent revolution. This thesis was a combination of late Stalinist and Maoist thought. The result was a campaign of violence in which JCP activists threw Molotov cocktails at police boxes and cadres were sent up into

15141-445: The modern language, even using English loanwords. This simplicity may have helped give his books a popular appeal. Happy Science came into a bitter rivalry with the cult Aum Shinrikyo dating back to 1990, when Happy Science criticized the cult and its leader Shoko Asahara . Okawa called Asahara a frog, referring to Asahara's aquatic yogic acts. In response, Asahara criticized Okawa for not having undergone ascetic training and having

15288-459: The most active opponents of anti-Korean racism and xenophobia in Japan. Contemporary JCP politicians criticize mainstream Japanese politicians for instigating contempt towards Korea, and oppose historical revisionism in regard to Korean history and Japanese war crimes. The JCP was one of the few Japanese parties which supported the Korean independence movement . In the latter half of the 1940s,

15435-459: The mountains with instructions to organize ostensibly oppressed farmers into " mountain guerrilla squads ". The backlash to the JCP's new militant line was swift and severe. Militants were rounded up, tried, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, and in the 1952 general election, Japanese voters vented their ire at the JCP by stripping the party of every single one of its 35 Diet seats, a blow from which it would take two decades to recover. Stunned,

15582-583: The name "Ryuho Okawa". On 6 October 1986, Okawa opened the first office for Happy Science in Suginami , Tokyo, with four staff members. Happy Science's initial name was Jinsei no Daigaku-in: Kofuku-no-Kagaku ( 人生の大学院 幸福の科学 ) ("Happy Science, The Postgraduate School of Human Life"). The name "幸福の科学" originates from inspiration that Okawa said he received from Nichiren's spirit; the details were published in Okawa's first book Nichiren no reigen in 1985. At first,

15729-529: The nerve agent VX in the air conditioning system of his car. The perpetrators did this by injecting the agent into the car's ventilation system with a needle-less syringe. The attempt failed for unknown reasons. In September 2008, Okawa lectured at the New York branch of Happy Science, in which he talked about the political soft power of Happy Science: Happy Science is the most powerful and famous religion in Japan. I needed only 20 years to accomplish this. I

15876-424: The only established party in parliament that has not been coopted by the conservative parties. It performs the watchdog role against the ruling parties without fear or favor. More importantly, the JCP often offers the only opposition candidate in prefectural governorship, city mayoral and other local elections. Despite the ostensible differences between the non-communist parties at the national level, they often support

16023-461: The only ones to resist Japanese wartime militarism . This propaganda effort won the party thousands of new members and an even larger number of sympathizers, especially among artists and intellectuals. Party membership, which never exceeded 1,000 in the pre-war period, rose from 1,180 in December 1945, to 7,500 by February 1946, 70,000 by December 1947, and over 100,000 by April 1950. Sanbetsu ,

16170-446: The organization presented itself as a "study group on human happiness" and consisted of readers and sympathizers of Okawa's spiritual works, who were friends and acquaintances of Okawa. However, the organization may have intended to be known as a religious body later. On 23 November 1986, Okawa gave his first sermon to about 80 followers in Tokyo. This date is now known as one of the most important dates in Happy Science's history. It

16317-592: The pacifist Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution in order to increase Japan's economic and military power. The group identifies itself as " conservative " and is generally considered a right-wing, or a radical right party. The party advocates a nuclear deterrent for Japan, denies that the Nanjing Massacre occurred and has called for China to be expelled from the United Nations Security Council . The party has formed links to

16464-637: The participation of more women in Japanese politics and political life. One of the JCP's main objectives is terminating the Japan–United States military alliance and the dismantling of all American military bases in Japan , with a goal to make Japan a non-aligned and neutral country , in accordance with its principles of self-determination and national sovereignty . There are about 130 American military bases and related facilities in Japan, with Okinawa Prefecture alone hosting more than half of United States Forces Japan personnel. The JCP adheres to

16611-493: The party due to the effect of the global financial crisis on Japanese workers. However, the party failed to increase its number of seats in the 2009 general election . Subsequently, the projected decline of the party was halted, with the JCP becoming the third-largest party in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly and making gains in the House of Councillors, going from six to 11 seats. The party surged in

16758-625: The party for voting in favor of the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. Shiga and Suzuki were praised in Soviet publications, including Pravda . The publication of Shimbun Akahata faced restrictions in the Soviet Union while Shiga's Voice of Japan did not. The JCP supported China during the Sino-Indian War . Miyamoto announced the JCP's opposition to the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia . At

16905-566: The party was under the leadership of Shōjirō Kasuga . Kasuga's faction formed the Preparatory Commission for a Socialist Reform Movement on 9 October 1961. This group broke away on 3 May 1962, and formed the Unified Socialist League with 600 members. Relations between the Soviet Union and JCP soured as the Soviets attempted to court the JSP. Shiga and Ichizo Suzuki  [ jp ] were expelled from

17052-718: The party, except those in rural areas or outside the country, were arrested. A group of Japanese communists, including Arahata, assembled in Vladivostok in August, and decided to create a proletarian party . Those members arrested in 1923, and released in 1924 believed that the conditions for a communist party were not present and decided to dissolve the party at the Morigasaki Conference in March. However, Grigori Voitinsky rejected this and ordered them to reestablish

17199-461: The party. In August, a committee with Tokuda as chair was formed to reestablish the party. Masanosuke Watanabe and Sano held positions in this committee and Arahata was an organizer in the Kansai region . The JCP was formally reestablished on 4 December 1926. Fukumoto Kazuo , a rising figure in Japanese communism, was a member and his ideology, Fukumotoism, was a main part of the platform. The JCP

17346-429: The presence of the gohonzon (the religious icon of worship) within the office of each division, it felt as though I was visiting a major trading house." Although the employees are shukke-sha ( 出家者 , shukke-sha ) (i.e. "renouncers who have left their secular lives"), they spent a considerable amount of time working in the office. Happy Science has been widely criticised as a cult . In Happy Science, Okawa

17493-578: The purpose of learning Happy Science's fundamental scripture, "The Dharma of the Right Mind" ( 正心法語 , Shōshin Hōgo ) . Okawa's publications come in three different types. One are the books containing spiritual messages from Okawa's communication with various spirits. The second type are transcriptions of Okawa's lectures and seminar-talks. The third are Okawa's writings. Other authors have contributed as well. Okawa's wife, Kyoko, published books, mainly for

17640-474: The reason is because at the end of January 2017, he felt pressured by his father to marry the actress Fumika Shimizu , who became a member of Happy Science in February. On 18 November, when he refused the marriage, his father became furious, and after that day, Hiroshi left Happy Science. Happy Science has denied the accusation of Okawa pressuring Hiroshi to marry Fumika, saying that it was Hiroshi himself who

17787-499: The role for over 23 years. The JCP is one of the largest non-governing communist parties in the world; it is, however, politically moderate and advocates a peaceful transition to communism. Marxism–Leninism , which former party chairman Tetsuzo Fuwa had worked for years to make acceptable to the electorate, was abandoned in favor of scientific socialism in 1976. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica ,

17934-445: The same post for a long time. Fukui (2004) says, citing Wallis (1983), that rapid change allows a charismatic leader to stay in power. Rapid change protects the leader from vulnerability stemming from disbelief in their supernatural claims, routinization , or dissenting leaders. Since its founding, Happy Science has been organized like a secular company. This is reflected in titles of positions, which are secular. Okawa's original title

18081-416: The same time, the party had distanced itself from Mao and Maoism, which allowed it to avoid being associated with China's Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution once they started coming more fully to light in the 1970s. In July 1969, the JCP declared that if it ever came to power, it would permit the free functioning of opposition parties, in an effort to distinguish itself from the one-party states in

18228-463: The spirits spoke through Okawa, including those of Kūkai , Shinran , Confucius , Jesus Christ , Moses , and Nostradamus . Yoshikawa and Tomiyama taped the communications. The tapes were interviews between the interviewing Yoshikawa and the spirits. Okawa acted as a spiritual medium and answered Yoshikawa's questions. The tapes were transcribed and adapted into publishable formats by Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa's help allowed Okawa to continue working as

18375-540: The spirits, which continued throughout his business career. In August 1982, Okawa was sent to the company's US headquarters at the World Trade Center in New York for training. He took an English course at Berlitz Language School and he studied international finance at the City University of New York . He dropped out of university after experiencing an intensified inferiority complex from seeing

18522-445: The spiritual messages and to not translate the messages into English, Chinese, or Korean. He says that foreigners should not know about the messages "until the time is ripe" and that propagating them overseas would "only heighten the fear." Astley (1995) says the real reason Okawa discouraged readers from spreading the messages abroad may be because the messages seem to contain a large amount of plagiarism. Okawa not only claimed to be

18669-404: The state by military, police, and vigilante forces. Military and police officials assassinated key leftist leaders under the cover of martial law, including Ōsugi Sakae . In May 1923, a roster of the JCP's membership was found by police at Manabu Sano's quarters at Waseda University . A series of protests were occurring at the university about military training. On 5 June, almost every member of

18816-521: The then liberal South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun , formal exchanges between the JCP and the South Korean government began. The JCP has traditionally championed pacifism . With regards to the Japan Self-Defense Forces (Japan's armed forces), the JCP's current policy is that it is not principally opposed to its existence (in 2000 the party stated that it would agree to its use should Japan ever be attacked), but that it will seek to abolish it in

18963-426: The top of his class. He became particularly good at English. He was obese, weighing 60 kg when he was 143 cm tall. During secondary school, Okawa was an active student. He fished, played tennis, and practiced kendo. He was involved in school activities; he was president of the student union and editor of the school newspaper. In 1975, Okawa failed the entrance exam for Tokyo University. After studying for

19110-482: The town council elections doubled and their seats rose from 168 to 314. In the 1972 general election , the JCP won an astonishing 38 seats in the Diet, surpassing its 1949 high of 35 and signaling the party's full recovery from the disastrous militant line of the early 1950s. Party membership continued to grow in the 1970s, albeit at a slower rate than in the 1960s, reaching approximately 500,000 members by 1980. After

19257-526: The world. The party is chaired by Tomoko Tamura , who replaced longtime leader Kazuo Shii in January 2024. The JCP was repressed by the Japanese government in the three decades immediately following its founding. The Allied occupation of Japan legalized the JCP after World War II , but the party's unexpected success in the 1949 general election led to the " Red Purge ", in which the Japanese government removed tens of thousands of actual and suspected communists from their jobs. The Soviet Union encouraged

19404-426: Was "Coordinator" or "Chairman" ( 主宰 , Shusai ) , with followers referring to Okawa as "Master Coordinator" ( 主宰先生 , Shusai Sensei ) . In January 1997, with the inception of the "New Hope Project", Okawa's title was changed to "President" ( 総裁 , Sōsai ) and Okawa is called "Master President" ( 総裁先生 , Sōsai Sensei ) by members. Under Okawa, a Board of Directors, which manages Happy Science, and

19551-408: Was appointed honorary president of the party. A House of Councillors election was held in July, where no HRP candidates won. In December, Oe left HRP. On 27 December 2012, Okawa was reappointed as president of the party. On 10 April 1988, Okawa married Kyoko Okawa ( 大川 きょう子 , Ōkawa Kyōko ) , née Kyoko Kimura ( 木村 恭子 , Kimura Kyōko ) , born on 22 August 1965. Kyoko had played a role as

19698-448: Was arrested in May. Manabu Sano, Kazama, Tanaka, and other imprisoned Communist leaders denounced communism starting in May. The leadership of the party's central committee passed from Eitaro Noro to Kenji Miyamoto to Hakamada Satomi as a result of each person's arrests. The party lost its organization after Satomi's arrested in 1935. The JCP campaigned against the invasion of China and

19845-434: Was challenged to prove his supernatural powers. Asahara published a book mocking Okawa's superficial knowledge of Buddhism. After the book's publication, Happy Science and Aum Shinrikyo were invited to a live television debate, but Okawa declined to participate. The hostility between the two groups culminated in an assassination attempt on Okawa by Aum Shinrikyo in February 1995. Aum members attempted to kill Okawa by putting

19992-408: Was first asked for advice by Prime Minister Nakasone in 1988. Then we had Prime Minister Miyazawa who was a member of Happy Science, and after that, we produced a lot of Prime Ministers and Ministers. So I became one of the most influential kingmakers of Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Aso , visited Happy Science recently ... I gave him a strategy to become Japan's Prime Minister. He learned

20139-442: Was founded in anticipation of the 2009 Japanese general election on 30 August 2009. The party is religious, conservative, and populist. The party does not make direct reference to the religious ideas of Happy Science. Okawa's wife Kyoko became party leader on 4 June 2009. On 22 July, Okawa was appointed as president of the party. In that year's general election, the party fielded 337 candidates, including 75 women, in 288 out of

20286-593: Was further intensified in response to the outbreak of the Korean War . Douglas MacArthur considered banning the JCP on 3 May 1950. Twenty-four members of the party's central committee were removed from office on 6 June and its newspaper, Shimbun Akahata , was suspended on 27 June. A total of 11,000 workers and 1,200 government workers were fired from 1949 to 1950. Union divisions and attacks on communist influence in labor led to Sanbetsu's membership falling to 400,000 by 1949. Against this backdrop in January 1950,

20433-580: Was interested in marrying her. He has since renounced his father, stating "I believe what my father does is complete nonsense." He said that from an early age, he was taught that his father is a god. However, Hiroshi said he never thought of Okawa as a god and that he never wanted to follow in his father's footsteps nor has he ever wanted to do religious work. Sayaka is said to be the managing director and general manager of Happy Science. On 1 September 2015, she married Naoki Okawa ( 大川 直樹 , Ōkawa Naoki ) , né Naoki Ishihara ( 石原直樹 , Ishihara Naoki ) ,

20580-446: Was needed was a "two-stage" revolution—first a "democratic revolution" that would overthrow American imperialism and establish true democracy, and then a "socialist revolution" that would establish communism. Although the "mainstream" of the JCP, led by Kenji Miyamoto , favored the Kōza Ha interpretation, as late as the 7th Party Congress in 1958 the "anti-mainstream" Rōnō Ha faction, led by Shōjirō Kasuga , still controlled around 40% of

20727-541: Was not competent enough for the job. He then worked at a construction company for three years before returning to Happy Science in December 2015. Since January 2016, he was president of Happy Science's entertainment agency. He was involved in film production and music, working as an actor and a singer. He was intended to be Okawa's successor as leader of Happy Science. On 1 October 2018, he declared that he broke up with Happy Science on his personal YouTube channel. In an interview with Shūkan Bunshun on 28 February 2019, he said

20874-676: Was outlawed in 1925 with the passage of the Peace Preservation Law , the JCP was subjected to repression and persecution by the Special Higher Police ( Tokkō ), nicknamed the "Thought Police". JCP members and sympathizers were imprisoned and pressured to " convert " ( tenkō suru ) to anti-communist nationalism. Many of those who refused to convert remained imprisoned for the duration of the Pacific War . The Japanese Communist Party member Hotsumi Ozaki , who

21021-728: Was part of the Richard Sorge spy ring for the Kremlin , was the only Japanese person hanged for treason under the Peace Preservation Law. Police also widely used methods of torture against arrested communists. One of the JCP members killed by police torture in this period was the writer Kobayashi Takiji . Hyōgikai was formed on 25 May 1925, and this union served as a vehicle for the communist party. Other proletariat parties ( Japan Farmers Party , Japan Labour-Farmer Party , Social Democratic Party , and Labour-Farmer Party ) were formed during this period. These parties won seven seats in

21168-660: Was reconstituted, with opposition from the Comintern-affiliated communists, into the Proletarian Masses Party with Mosaburō Suzuki as Secretary General. An attempt to reform Hyōgikai resulted in arrests so a new organization, the National Council of Japanese Labor Unions (Zenkyō), was formed as an underground group with 5,500 members on 25 December 1928. Police found a chart of the JCP's district organization in Tokyo after arresting

21315-826: Was reported that Okawa and Kyoko were preparing for divorce. Happy Science announced that she had been permanently expelled for allegedly causing great personal and administrative damage to the organization, libeling the organization in various newspapers, and besmirching the name of Lord El Cantare. Okawa and Kyoko had five children: eldest son Hiroshi  [ ja ] ( 宏洋 , Hiroshi ) (born 24 February 1989), eldest daughter Sayaka ( 咲也加 , Sayaka ) (born 16 February 1991), second son Masaki ( 真輝 , Masaki ) (born 12 May 1993), third son Yuta ( 裕太 , Yūta ) (born 21 September 1995), and second daughter Arisa ( 愛理沙 , Arisa ) (born 26 September 1997). Hiroshi worked for Happy Science after graduating from university. However, he stopped working there because he felt he

21462-523: Was sent from Moscow to rebuild the party in December 1930. He and Noboru Matsumura wrote the 1931 Draft Thesis, but the Comintern was displeased with it. A new document supported by the Comintern, the 1932 Draft Thesis, was written by Nosaka and served as the JCP's main document until 1946. This document stated that a bourgeois revolution to eliminate feudalism and the emperor must occur before the proletariat revolution. In 1932, Japanese authorities raided

21609-449: Was working at TOMEN. Okawa asked the spirit what mission he should pursue in life. The spirit replied "Love others, nurture others, and forgive others". This message later became the basis of Okawa's teachings about love. In June 1981, the religious leader Shinji Takahashi 's spirit told Okawa his destiny to found a new religion. His father Yoshikawa, upon hearing of this, went to Tokyo, later becoming one of his followers. The next month,

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