Yoshikazu Okada, Japanese religious leader (d. 1974)
Yoshikazu Okada (岡田 良一), born February 27, 1901 in the Aoyama area of Tokyo's Minato Ward, also known as Kōtama Okada, (岡田 光玉) was the founder of a new religious movement in Japan (Shinshūkyō) generally referred to as Mahikari.
Yoshikazu Okada was born into a wealthy family as the son of Inasaburo, a major general in the Imperial Japanese Army. Okada, who studied with Prince Chichibu (Yasuhito) and others who came from prominent Japanese families, graduated from the Japanese Army Officer Training School in 1922 and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Japanese Imperial Guard. After serving in military campaigns in China and Indochina, Okada retired from the army in 1941 due to a back injury with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Yoshikazu Okada established L. H. Yokoshi no Tomo in 1959, and in 1963, registered a religious organisation under the name "Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan." He assumed the name of "Kōtama" ("Sphere of Light") in accordance with a divine revelation.
In 1974, with Okada's passing, there were court hearings held over eight years. After an amicable settlement was reached (wakai), Sakae Sekiguchi assumed the leadership of Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan, and Keishu Okada established Sukyo Mahikari.
1902Feb, 27
Yoshikazu Okada
Choose Another Date
Events on 1902
- 28Jan
Andrew Carnegie
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. - 27Feb
Breaker Morant
Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes. - 17May
Antikythera mechanism
Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer. - 14Jul
Piazza San Marco
The Campanile in St Mark's Square, Venice collapses, also demolishing the loggetta. - 9Aug
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.