臼井靈氣國際學會

Usui Reiki International Gakkai— Traditional Japanese Reiki Ryōhō

A community dedicated to preserving Usui Reiki Ryōhō through direct teacher–student transmission, twelve-week in-person study, and lifelong cultivation.

Two practitioners seated in a Japanese room for study, with the Gokai scroll and an open text between them.
師弟 — the way of teacher and student.

理念 · Rinen

Our Purpose

The Usui Reiki International Gakkai exists to preserve and transmit Usui Reiki Ryōhō through careful instruction and long-term study.

Where much contemporary education has grown compressed, we offer a slower, more deliberate path — one that gives room for reflection, integration, and steady development.

“One who studies diligently and cultivates body and mind in order to become a better person is called a person of great spirit.

— From the Usui Memorial Stone (1927)

系譜 · Keifu

A Living Tradition of Transmission

Our teachings have been transmitted through successive generations of dedicated teachers and students. Each generation receives the tradition through study, practice, and direct instruction before passing it forward with care.

Portrait of Mikao Usui, founder of Usui Reiki Ryōhō.

Mikao Usui (1865–1926), founder of Usui Reiki Ryōhō. The lineage presented here reflects the succession of teachers through whom the teachings of the Usui Reiki International Gakkai have been received.

  1. 01臼井 甕男

    Mikao Usui

    1865 – 1926

    Founder of Usui Reiki Ryōhō.

  2. 02武富 咸一

    Kanichi Taketomi

    1878 – 1960

    Recognized within the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai in Japan as its third president.

  3. 03小山 君子

    Kimiko Koyama

    1906 – 1999

    Recognized within the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai in Japan as its sixth president.

  4. 04土居 裕

    Doi Hiroshi

    b. 1935

    Founder of Gendai Reiki Hō; a respected teacher and researcher of traditional Japanese Reiki.

  5. 05

    Frans Stiene

    Present

    Co-founder of the International House of Reiki; teacher and researcher of the traditional Japanese Reiki teachings.

  6. 06

    Timothy Seaton

    Present

    Founder and teacher of the Usui Reiki International Gakkai.

Learn more about the individuals who have shaped this tradition through the essays in our Study Library.

稽古 · Keiko — twelve weeks of practice

Three In-Person Courses. One Long, Careful Path

Our curriculum unfolds over twelve weeks at each level, allowing time for study, reflection, guided practice, and meaningful integration.

Each course is taught in person over twelve weeks, allowing time for study, practice, reflection, and meaningful integration into daily life.

初伝

Level I

Shoden

First Teachings

The foundation. Twelve weeks devoted to daily self-practice, the traditional Japanese techniques (Hatsurei-hō, Byōsen), and offering treatment to friends and family with care and clarity.

Focus

  • Daily practice (Gassho, Hatsurei-hō)
  • Hand positions and Byōsen sensing
  • Self-healing as the ground of everything
奥伝

Level II

Okuden

Inner Teachings

The deepening. A slow entry into the shirushi (symbols) and jumon (mantras), cultivating Earth ki and Heavenly ki, and developing the ethical responsibility that considered practice asks of every student.

Focus

  • Three traditional shirushi and jumon
  • Earth ki, Heavenly ki, and their union
  • Distance practice and ethical foundations
神秘伝

Level III

Shinpiden

Mystery Teachings

The lifelong path. For committed practitioners and future teachers — a return to the great emptiness at the heart of the system, and to the personal work that never ends.

Focus

  • The master shirushi and its jumon
  • Reiju — the traditional attunement
  • Teaching, transmission, and one's own practice

Enrollment is by application. We meet each prospective student before their first course to ensure the path is right for them, and for us.

Begin an Inquiry

方針 · Hōshin

Our Approach

Four principles shape how we teach and how we study together.

稽古 · Keiko

Practice Before Certification

Understanding develops through sincere practice rather than simply completing a course.

指導 · Shidō

In-Person Instruction

Learning is strengthened through direct observation, shared experience, and personal guidance.

学会 · Gakkai

Community

Growth is sustained through practice alongside others committed to the same path.

修行 · Shugyō

Lifelong Study

Each stage opens the door to continued refinement rather than marking an endpoint.

図書館 · STUDY LIBRARY

Continue Your Study

The Study Library is a growing collection of essays exploring the philosophy, history, educational approach, and traditional practices of Usui Reiki Ryōhō. Rather than providing quick answers, these writings are intended to be read slowly, supporting continued reflection alongside the life of the Gakkai.

A quiet gathering of students and teacher around a low table in a traditional Japanese room, studying the teachings together.

学会 · Gakkai — community of practice

Belonging to a Community of Study

Participation in the Gakkai community extends beyond the classroom. Through regular gatherings, shared practice, discussion, and mutual support, students and graduates continue learning alongside one another in an environment rooted in respect, humility, and sincere study.

Membership in the Sangha continues long after formal courses conclude, supporting ongoing practice, friendship, and lifelong learning.

Monthly · In person
Reiju Gatherings
Traditional attunements offered to graduates of the Gakkai in the Japanese manner.
Weekly · Online
Online Sittings
Guided Hatsurei-hō and silent practice for current students and graduates — thirty quiet minutes together.
Seasonal · In person
Practice Retreats
Long weekends of silence, study, and shared meals in the countryside.
Ongoing
Student Mentorship
Direct contact with your teacher between courses, in keeping with the teacher–student relationship.

Reiki is understood not as a technique to master, but as a way of cultivating one’s character through daily practice.

申込み · Application

Course Inquiry
& Application

We ask a few considered questions before enrollment. This is the beginning of a conversation, not a purchase. We reply personally, generally within two to three business days.

There is no online checkout. Places are limited each term.

Before acceptance, each prospective student is invited to a brief video conversation with the teacher. This allows both parties to ask questions, discuss expectations, and determine whether the course is an appropriate fit.

We use the information you provide only to respond to your inquiry and administer the application process, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Applicants are encouraged to read our Student Policies before enrollment.

We personally review every inquiry and typically respond within a few days.

If we believe another teacher or educational path may better suit your interests or circumstances, we will gladly say so. Our goal is to help each prospective student make an informed decision.

Reflection

The Work Begins Quietly

A tradition is not preserved through grand declarations, but through ordinary practice, careful study, and sincere relationships.

Every generation receives something precious. Through patience, humility, and daily practice, each generation has the opportunity to care for it before passing it forward.

Whether your journey begins today or years from now, we invite you to begin where every student begins—with curiosity.