Editing Ryuho Okawa (section)

==Career==
===Education===
In 1975, Okawa failed the entrance exam for Tokyo University. After studying for 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.<ref name=astley1995p345 /> He felt uncomfortable amongst the students who were uninterested in spirituality.<ref name=fukui2004p64 /> During his second year, a time he calls "the first stage in the 'awakening of wisdom{{'"}},<ref name=astley1995p345 /> he modeled his daily schedule after that of [[Immanuel Kant]], whom he respected deeply. At 3 pm, he would take 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.<ref name=astley1995p345 /> The philosophy he read included those of Plato and [[Kitaro Nishida]].<ref name=fukui2004p64 />

In April 1978, after his second year at university, he majored in politics and studied at 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.<ref name=astley1995p345 /> In his fourth and last year, his interests started to change from philosophy to metaphysics. He read the works of [[Shinji Takahashi (religious leader) |Shinji Takahashi]] of GLA and [[Masaharu Taniguchi]] of Seicho-no-Ie.<ref name=fukui2004p64 /> He accepted a job offer from {{ill|TOMEN Corporation|ja|トーメン}} (now [[Toyota Tsusho]]), a major Japanese trading company, because his grades were not sufficient for graduate school.<ref name=astley1995p345 /><ref name=fukui2004p66 /> After graduating in spring 1981, he took up his job. He was assigned to the foreign exchange department at the headquarters in Tokyo.<ref name=astley1995p345 />

===Spiritual contacts===
Okawa claims to have been contacted with a divine spirit. His official story as described in later books is as follows. On 23 March 1981, before graduating from university and working at TOMEN Corporation, Okawa experienced a "Buddha Enlightenment", a contact with a divine spirit.<ref name=astley1995p345 /><ref name=fukui2004p65>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=65}}</ref> He claims this spirit was that of [[Nikkō Shōnin]], who was one of [[Nichiren]]'s disciples.<ref name=fukui2004p65/> 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 [[Automatic writing|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 himself started contacting Okawa. They then communicated every day from March to July 1981, when he was still working at TOMEN. Okawa asked the spirit what mission he should pursue in life. The spirit replied "Love others, nurture others, and forgive others".<ref name=fukui2004p65 /> This message later became the basis of Okawa's teachings about love.<ref name=astley1995p346>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=346}}</ref>

In June 1981, the religious leader [[Shinji Takahashi (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, the spirits spoke through Okawa, including those of [[Kūkai]], [[Shinran]], [[Confucius]], [[Jesus Christ]], [[Moses]], and [[Nostradamus]]. Yoshikawa and Tomiyama taped the communications.<ref name=astley1995p346 /><ref name=fukui2004p66 />{{efn|The identity of Okawa's father and older brother were hidden; they were initially described as Okawa's friends under the names {{Nihongo|Yoshikawa Saburō|善川 三朗|Yoshikawa Saburō}} and {{Nihongo|Tomiyama Makoto|富山 誠|Tomiyama Makoto}} respectively. Their true identities were revealed through investigation by Japanese sources in 1991.<ref name=astley1995p377 />}} The tapes were interviews between the interviewing Yoshikawa and the spirits. Okawa acted as a spiritual medium and answered Yoshikawa's questions.<ref name=winter2013p427>{{Harvnb|Winter|2013|p=427}}</ref> The tapes were transcribed and adapted into publishable formats by Yoshikawa.<ref name=astley1995p346 /><ref name=fukui2004p66 /> Yoshikawa's help allowed Okawa to continue working as 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.<ref name=fukui2004p66 /> The spiritual messages were given to the publisher {{Nihongo||[[:ja:潮文社]]|Chōbunsha}} because they specialized in spiritual works.<ref name=fukui2004p67>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=67}}</ref>

Okawa published a vast number of spiritual messages from various spirits in order to prove the existence of the Spirit World to the public.<ref name=fukui2004p67 /> His first thirteen books, published from 1985 to 1987, consisted of these spiritual messages;<ref name=fukui2004pp66-67>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|pp=66–67}}</ref> the first eight were published from 1985 to 1986<ref name=fukui2004p67 /> under Yoshikawa's pen name to avoid Okawa's authorship being found out by his employers.<ref name=astley1995p347>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=347}}</ref><ref name=winter2013p425 /> The first book, {{Nihongo|''The Spiritual Messages of Nichiren''|日蓮の霊言|Nichiren no reigen}},{{efn|Originally {{Nihongo|''Nichiren Shōnin no reigen''|日蓮聖人の霊言|Nichiren Shōnin-no-reigen}}<ref name=hotaka2012p144>{{Harvnb|Hotaka|2012|p=144}}</ref>}} was published on 15 August 1985.<ref name=astley1995p347 /><ref name=fukui2004p67 /> The last two spiritual messages were published in early 1991: {{Nihongo|''The Great Warning of Allah''|アラーの大警|Arā no dai-keikoku}} (January 1991) and {{Nihongo|''The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus''|ノストラダムス戦慄の啓示|Nosutoradamusu senritsu no keiji}} (February 1991).<ref name=fukui2004p67 /><ref name=astley1995p350>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=350}}</ref> Both became best-sellers in Japan in 1991. After 1991, almost all spiritual message books were discontinued aside from the messages of Buddha.<ref name=fukui2004p67 />

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.<ref name=winter2013p427 />

Okawa told his readers to not let foreigners read the spiritual messages and not translate the messages into English, Chinese, or Korean. He says that foreigners should not know about the messages "until the time is ripe"<ref name=astley1995p377/> and that propagating them overseas would "only heighten the fear."<ref name=astley1995p377 /> 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.<ref name=astley1995p377 />

Okawa not only claimed to be 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.<ref name=fukui2004p65 /> 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.{{efn|According to Happy Science's doctrine, a person has six souls. Each one is alternately reincarnated throughout time. Each soul's experience can be shared with the other five. For example, Gautama Buddha, Hermes, and Okawa are believed to be three different incarnations of the same person. Because of this, both Hermes and Gautama, who are past incarnations of Okawa, have different personalities and can individually talk to Okawa. Thus the Buddha can communicate with his reincarnation Okawa.<ref name=fukui2004p66 />}}<ref name=fukui2004p66 />

===Business career===
Okawa's life as a businessman went normally despite his alleged communication with the spirits, which he later claimed continued throughout his business career.<ref name=fukui2004p66 /> In August 1982, Okawa was sent to the company's US headquarters at the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]] for training.<ref name=astley1995p346 /><ref name=fukui2004p66 /> He took an English course at [[Berlitz Corporation|Berlitz Language School]], and studied international finance at the [[City University of New York]].<ref name=ENRM2004p467>{{Harvnb|ENRM|2004|p=467}}</ref><ref name=profile/>{{efn|Astley (1995) says Okawa studied at [[New York University]].<ref name=astley1995p346 />}} He dropped out of university after experiencing an intensified [[inferiority complex]] from seeing a Taiwanese classmate speaking fluent English. Around this time, he said he experienced the "second stage in the 'awakening of wisdom{{'"}}.<ref name=astley1995p346 /> In 1983, he returned to Tokyo, and was assigned to work on negotiations with banks. In March 1984, he was sent to Nagoya. He claimed that by the summer of 1985, he had read over four thousand books, which he claimed made him superior to everyone else.<ref name=astley1995p346 /> 

Okawa claimed he got a reputation in his company for talking about spirits and calling people possessed. In June 1986, he left his business career. He attributed this to be on the advice of high spirits telling him to start a his own religion. On 15 July, he resigned from TOMEN Corporation and on October 6, founded Happy Science and adopted the name "Ryuho Okawa".<ref name=astley1995p347 /><ref name=winter2013p422 />

===Happy Science===
{{Main|Happy Science}}

====Study group====
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 {{Nihongo|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, the organization disguised itself as a "study group on human happiness"<ref name=baffelli2007p86>{{Harvnb|Baffelli|2007|p=86}}</ref> and consisted of readers and sympathizers of Okawa's spiritual works, who were friends and acquaintances of Okawa.<ref name=fukui2004p68>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=68}}</ref><ref name=baffelli2007p86 /><ref name=leto2014p195>{{Harvnb|Leto|2014|p=195}}</ref> However, the organization may have intended to be known as a religious body later.<ref name=fukui2004pp68-69>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|pp=68–69}}</ref>

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 is known as the day of {{Nihongo|Shoten-bōrin|初転法輪|Shoten-bōrin}} ("The First Turn of the Wheel of the Dharma").<ref name=fukui2004p69>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=69}}</ref>{{efn|The name refers to the day that the "Wheel of Law" ({{Nihongo|hōrin|法輪|hōrin}}) started to "turn for the first time" ({{Nihongo|shoten|初転|shoten}}). It is a Buddhist expression, where the "Law" refers to teachings, in this case those of Okawa. The "turn" refers to the introduction of the teachings to the world.<ref name=fukui2004p69 />}}

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.<ref name=fukui2004p70>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=70}}</ref>{{efn|Okawa may have thought of God as "High Divine Spirits" as well as the Creator God. Fukui (2004) says this is so because Okawa mentions Archangel Gabriel, who sent messages to Prophet Mohammed, and the spirit of Nichiren who spoke to him, both of which are known as high divine spirits.<ref name=fukui2004p70 />}} He said that 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.<ref name=fukui2004p70 /> 

In June 1987, a new series of books, called the {{Nihongo|"law"|法|hō}} series, launched.<ref name=winter2013pp427-428>{{Harvnb|Winter|2013|pp=427-428}}</ref> The first three books, {{Nihongo|''The Laws of the Sun''|太陽の法|Taiyō no hō}}, {{Nihongo|''The Golden Laws''|黄金の法|Ōgon no hō}}, and {{Nihongo|''The Laws of Eternity''|永遠の法|Eien no hō}}, published from June to October, may be seen as the fundamental doctrinal text of Happy Science.<ref name=winter2013p428>{{Harvnb|Winter|2013|p=428}}</ref> The three books are collectively called {{Nihongo|"The Trilogy of Salvation"|救世の三部作|Kyūsei no Sambu-saku}}.<ref name=fukui2004p102>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=102}}</ref> They were originally presented as the final revelations of the Buddha.<ref name=winter2013p428/> ''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 is "the starting point of its salvation movement".<ref name=fukui2004p56>{{Nihongo|Fukui|2004|p=56}}</ref> The book also contains an account of Okawa's early life.<ref name=fukui2004p63/> ''The Golden Laws'' is dedicated to "time and history in relation to the Truth".<ref name=fukui2004p102/> ''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.<ref name=fukui2004p56/> 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.<ref name=winter2013p429/>

At the end of 1989, with the publication of ''The Rebirth of the Buddha'',{{efn|Originally {{Nihongo|''Buddha Saitan''|仏陀再誕|Budda saitan}}<ref name=fukui2004p72>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|pp=72}}</ref>}} 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.<ref name=winter2013p428/>

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.<ref name=fukui2004p70 /> The organization grew rapidly. In December 1989, the headquarters was moved to one of the most expensive business buildings in Tokyo in [[Kioichō, Chiyoda, Tokyo|Kioichō, Chiyoda]], next to Tokyo's main business and political area. The rent was known to be ¥25 million per month.<ref name=fukui2004pp70-71>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|pp=70–71}}</ref>

====Religious organization====
On 7 March 1991, Happy Science obtained legal status as a {{Nihongo|"religious juridical person"|宗教法人|shūkyō-hōjin}} through the Religious Corporations Law by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.<ref name=baffelli2007p86 /><ref name=leto2014p195 /><ref name=fukui2004p73>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=73}}</ref> As a result, its name was simplified to {{Nihongo|Kofuku-no-Kagaku|幸福の科学|Kōfuku-no-Kagaku}}.<ref name=fukui2004p69 />{{efn|An alternative name {{Nihongo|Shūkyō Hōjin Kofuku no Kagaku|宗教法人 幸福の科学|Shūkyō Hōjin Kōfuku no Kagaku}} ("Religious Corporation – Kofuku-no-Kagaku") was also used.<ref name=fukui2004p69 />}} The group's government recognition allowed it to gradually grow by taking on new members from the general Japanese public.<ref name=leto2014p195 /> In that year, Happy Science started large-scale festivities. One of these was Okawa's {{Nihongo|"Birthday Festival"|御生誕祭|Goseitan-sai}}, held on 15 July 1991, just after Okawa's 35th birthday. In 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]]".<ref name=fukui2004p73 /> El Cantare was revealed to have several reincarnations prior to the Buddha and Okawa.<ref name=winter2013p429>{{Harvnb|Winter|2013|p=429}}</ref>

In May 1994, a doctrinal shift occurred.<ref name=fukui2004p108>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=108}}</ref> 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 {{Nihongo|"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.<ref name=winter2013p429/> The revised version of ''The Laws of the Sun'' contains a different account of Okawa's early life compared to the original version. It is unclear which, if either of these contradictory accounts is the most truthful.<ref name=fukui2004p69/> The new edition also contains a list of El Cantare's claimed previous reincarnations.<ref name=winter2013p429/>

Since the founding of Happy Science, Okawa has reportedly published over 500 books,<ref name="jt20090804" /> most of which are transcripts of his video recorded lectures.<ref name="Saint-Guily">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/my-afternoon-with-a-failed-japanese-cult/|title=Happy Science Is the Laziest Cult Ever|last=Saint-Guily|first=Sylla|date=3 October 2012|magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127162701/https://www.vice.com/read/my-afternoon-with-a-failed-japanese-cult |archive-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> 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 the Universe]]'', ''I'm Fine My Angel'', ''The World We Live In'', and ''Daybreak''.<ref name="profile"/>

====Organization====
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 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, [[Charismatic authority#Routinizing charisma|routinization]], or dissenting leaders.<ref name=fukui2004p96>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=96}}</ref>

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 was {{Nihongo|"Coordinator" or "Chairman"|主宰|Shusai}}, with followers referring to Okawa as {{Nihongo|"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 {{Nihongo|"President"|総裁|Sōsai}} and Okawa is called {{Nihongo|"Master President"|総裁先生|Sōsai Sensei}} by members. Under Okawa, a Board of Directors, which manages Happy Science, and the Heads of Divisions exist. {{Nihongo|Branch offices|支部|shibu}} exist in and outside of Japan, with each office run by a {{Nihongo|branch manager|支部長|shibu-chō}}.<ref name=fukui2004p96/> 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."<ref name=fukui2004p97>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=97}}</ref> 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 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."<ref name=fukui2004p97 /> Although the employees are {{Nihongo|''shukke-sha''|出家者|shukke-sha}} (i.e. "renouncers who have left their secular lives"),<ref name=fukui2004p97 /> they spent a considerable amount of time working in the office.<ref name=fukui2004p97 />

Happy Science has been widely criticised as a [[cult]].<ref name=Musasizi /><ref name=thejakartapost /><ref name=Donnelly />

====Role as Buddha and El Cantare====
In Happy Science, Okawa 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.<ref name=fukui2004p118>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=118}}</ref><ref name=fukui2004p65 /> The name "El Cantare" means "beautiful land of light, Earth".<ref name=fukui2004p65 /> El Cantare is also known as the "Eternal Buddha". This Buddha is related to the Creator God, known as the "[[Adi-Buddha|Primordial Buddha]]". Many members believe Okawa is an incarnation of the Creator.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> Okawa is believed to have many past incarnations. These include a king named La Mu on the continent [[Mu (mythical lost 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 and [[Hermes]] in ancient Greece, and the Buddha in India.<ref name=fukui2004p65 /><ref name=winter2013p429/>

As El Cantare, Okawa is the main figure of worship in Happy Science. Members have faith in El Cantare.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> Their worship gives them "comfort, energy, courage, hope, steadiness, and a sense of being guided and looked after."<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> The organization's {{Nihongo|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 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 [[Vairocana|Mahavairocana]], the Buddha's essence which represents enlightenment.<ref name=fukui2004p118 />

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.<ref name=fukui2004p118 /> In Happy Science's doctrine, like attracts like; 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.<ref name=fukui2004p119>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=119}}</ref>

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: 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."<ref name=fukui2004p118 />

====Publications====
A vast amount of literature has been dedicated to Happy Science's doctrine. Okawa said they all have the purpose of learning Happy Science's fundamental scripture, {{Nihongo|"The Dharma of the Right Mind"|正心法語|Shōshin Hōgo}}.<ref name=fukui2004p121>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=121}}</ref> Okawa's publications come in three different types.<ref name=fukui2004p120/> One are the books containing spiritual messages from Okawa's communication with various spirits.<ref name=fukui2004p120/> The second type are transcriptions of Okawa's lectures and seminar-talks. The third are Okawa's writings.<ref name=fukui2004p120/> Other authors have contributed as well. Okawa's wife, Kyoko, published books, mainly for 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.<ref name=fukui2004p120>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=120}}</ref>

Okawa was a prolific writer.<ref name=shields2009p50>{{Harvnb|Shields|2009|p=50}}</ref> By the early 1990s, he published about 20 to 30 books per year.<ref name=hotaka2012p144>{{Harvnb|Hotaka|2012|p=144}}</ref> He is said to have published over 300 books by 2004.<ref name=fukui2004p119/>

Many of Okawa's publications became best-sellers. This may have been influenced by a practice of adherents purchasing copies and giving them out for free to attempt to convert new members. A practice of placing new copies of Okawa's publications in street libraries has also been reported. {{efn|His 1991 books ''The Great Warning of Allah'' and ''The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus'' became best-sellers in that same year.<ref name=fukui2004p67 /> His 1999 books {{Nihongo|''The Laws of Prosperity''|繁栄の法|Han-ei no hō}} and {{Nihongo|''The Syndrome of the Unhappy''|幸福になれない症候群|Kōfuku-ni-Narenai Shōkō-gun}} reached fourth and twelfth respectively in that year's best-seller list.<ref name=fukui2004p125>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|p=125}}</ref> The release of the film ''The Laws of the Sun'' in 2000, based on the book with the same name, caused the book version to become a best-seller that same year.<ref name=fukui2004p121/> In 2001, {{Nihongo|''The Laws of Miracles''|奇蹟の法|Kiseki no Hō}} and {{Nihongo|''The Origin of Love''|愛の原点|Ai no Genten}} became the top ten best-sellers. In 2002, {{Nihongo|''The Laws of Triumph''|常勝の法|Jōshō no Hō}} was also a top ten best-seller.<ref name=fukui2004p125/>}} Some of Okawa's books sold over a million copies.<ref name=fukui2004p119/> Okawa's main book ''The Laws of the Sun'' has "sold" the most copies, with ten million reported sold by January 2000.<ref name=fukui2004pp119-120>{{Harvnb|Fukui|2004|pp=119–120}}</ref> Happy Science said that by 1997, over 50 million copies of its titles were reported sold worldwide.<ref name=fukui2004p120 />

Unlike traditional religious text, Okawa's writings are simple and written in casual language, like a generic self-help book.  This simplicity may have helped make the books easier to sell..<ref name=fukui2004p120 />

====Rivalry with Aum Shinrikyo====
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]].<ref name=astley1995pp343-344>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|pp=343–344}}</ref> 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 a lack of doctrinal knowledge.<ref name=astley1995p373>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=373}}</ref> In 1991, when Happy Science was going through heavy criticism from the public, academic {{ill|Hiromi Shimada|ja|島田裕巳}}, a critic of Happy Science, appeared to favor Aum Shinrikyo over Happy Science.<ref name=astley1995p368>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=368}}</ref> Shimada favored Asahara because he went through ascetic training and had familiar knowledge of the doctrine of Buddhism.<ref name=astley1995pp368-369>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|pp=368–369}}</ref> Okawa was criticized for having little knowledge of his own teachings and having faked his spiritual messages. He 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.<ref name=astley1995p369>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=369}}</ref> The hostility between the two groups culminated in an assassination attempt on Okawa by Aum Shinrikyo in February 1995.<ref name="nytimes2020">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/happy-science-japan-coronavirus-cure.html | title=Inside the Fringe Japanese Religion That Claims It Can Cure Covid-19 | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=16 April 2020 | access-date=12 April 2021 | author=Kestenbaum, Sam | archive-date=15 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315215500/https://www.nytimes.com/article/happy-science-japan-coronavirus-cure.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=chronology>{{cite web|url=http://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aum_chrn.pdf|title=Chronology of Aum Shinrikyo's CBQ Activities|date=June 2016|publisher=Monterey Institute of International Studies|access-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411091246/https://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/aum_chrn.pdf|archive-date=11 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="astley1995p=373">{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=373}}</ref> Aum members attempted to kill Okawa by putting the nerve agent [[VX (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.<ref name=chronology />

===Happiness Realization Party===
{{Main|Happiness Realization Party}}
[[File:Ryuho Okawa 2009.jpg|thumb|Okawa delivering a policy speech during the [[2009 Japanese general election]], August 2009.]]

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:<ref name=dessi2013p109>{{Harvnb|Dessì|2013|p=109}}</ref><blockquote>Happy Science is the most powerful and famous religion in Japan. I needed only 20 years to accomplish this. I was first asked for advice by Prime Minister [[Yasuhiro Nakasone|Nakasone]] in 1988. Then we had Prime Minister [[Kiichi Miyazawa|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. [[Tarō Asō|Aso]], visited Happy Science recently ... I gave him a strategy to become Japan's Prime Minister. He learned 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 a week or so. It's a hidden secret. In Japan, religion has more power than politics.<ref name=dessi2013pp109-110>{{Harvnb|Dessì|2013|pp=109–110}}</ref></blockquote>

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 {{Nihongo|Declaration|幸福実現党宣言|Kōfuku Jitsugentō sengen}}. On 23 May 2009, the party was formally founded with {{ill|Jikidō Aeba|ja|あえば浩明}} as party leader.<ref name=dessi2013p110>{{Harvnb|Dessì|2013|p=110}}</ref><ref name=shields2009p52>{{Harvnb|Shields|2009|p=52}}</ref> The party was founded in anticipation of the [[2009 Japanese general election]] on 30 August 2009.<ref name=shields2009p52/> The party is religious, conservative, and populist.<ref name=shields2009p56>{{Harvnb|Shields|2009|p=56}}</ref> The party does not make direct reference to the religious ideas of Happy Science.<ref name=shields2009p60>{{Harvnb|Shields|2009|p=60}}</ref>

Okawa's wife Kyoko became party leader on 4 June 2009.<ref name=dessi2013p110/> On 22 July, Okawa was appointed as president of the party.<ref>{{cite web |title=「幸福の科学」大川隆法氏、衆院選比例東京から立候補へ |url=https://www.asahi.com/senkyo2009/news/TKY200907220376.html |website=asahi.com |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606161509/https://www.asahi.com/senkyo2009/news/TKY200907220376.html |archive-date=6 June 2021 |language=ja |date=22 July 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> In that year's general election, the party fielded 337 candidates, including 75 women, in 288 out of 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 (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]].<ref name=shields2009p52 /> 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.<ref name=shields2009p52 /><ref name=shields2009p53>{{Harvnb|Shields|2009|p=53}}</ref>{{efn|This discrepancy may be because many, if not most Happy Science members, are only loosely connected to the party.<ref name=shields2009p53 />}} The party also unsuccessfully ran for the 2009 [[Sendai]] mayoral election.<ref name=dessi2013p110/> 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.<ref name=tsukada2010p46>{{Harvnb|Tsukada|2010|p=46}}</ref> Okawa resigned as president on 12 September and a turnover of top party officials occurred.<ref name=dessi2013p110/>

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.<ref name=dessi2013p110/> On 21 April, Okawa was appointed honorary president of the party.<ref>{{cite web |title=『幸福実現党』幸福の科学グループ 大川隆法総裁の党名誉総裁就任、並びに党首交代についての発表 |url=https://info.hr-party.jp/press-release/2010/53/ |website=幸福実現党 |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214042/https://info.hr-party.jp/press-release/2010/53/ |archive-date=2 June 2021 |language=ja |date=23 April 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> A House of Councillors election was held in July, where no HRP candidates won. In December, Oe left HRP.<ref name=dessi2013p110/><ref name=tsukada2010p46/>

On 27 December 2012, Okawa was reappointed as president of the party.<ref>{{cite web |title=幸福実現党の総裁人事・党首交代等について |url=https://info.hr-party.jp/press-release/2012/955/ |website=幸福実現党 |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815163447/https://info.hr-party.jp/press-release/2012/955/ |archive-date=15 August 2022 |language=ja |date=28 December 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>