Editing Ryuho Okawa (section)

===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 />