Much of the early history of Reiki (pronounced Ray-Kee) is not documented. Like many spiritual traditions, it was taught orally with few written records. Over the years, teachers sometimes embellished or altered details, so multiple versions of Reiki’s story exist. Thanks to the combined efforts of researchers, Reiki organizations, and practitioners, we now have a clearer picture of its roots in Japan and its journey to the wider world.

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Reiki as we know it today began with Mikao Usui (1865–1926). Usui studied Buddhist philosophy, martial arts, and spiritual practices, and he was particularly devoted to the Tendai Buddhist path. In 1922, during a 21-day meditation and fasting retreat on Mount Kurama, Usui experienced a profound awakening. He described this as becoming one with the energy of the universe, and from that point on, he found he could channel this universal life force to support healing. Soon after, he founded the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Method Society) in Tokyo, where he began teaching students. By the time of his death, Usui had taught Reiki to more than two thousand people.

One of his students, Chujiro Hayashi, was a retired naval officer and medical doctor. Hayashi helped systematize Reiki into a more clinical form, emphasizing standardized hand positions and operating a healing clinic in Tokyo. His efforts preserved Reiki during a time of social and political upheaval in Japan and created a structure that could be passed on more broadly.

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In the 1930s, Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii, traveled to Japan for healing and was treated at Hayashi’s clinic. Deeply moved by her recovery, she asked to be trained in Reiki. Hayashi initiated her as a practitioner and later as a Reiki Master. Returning to Hawaii, Takata became the first person to bring Reiki to the West. She practiced and taught Reiki for decades, eventually training twenty-two Masters before her passing in 1980. Through them, Reiki spread throughout North America and beyond.

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It is important to acknowledge that both Hayashi and Takata made changes to Reiki. Hayashi emphasized procedure over intuition, while Takata simplified hand positions and adapted the practice to be more culturally acceptable in mid-20th century America, sometimes altering Usui’s story to appeal to Western audiences. While these changes distanced Reiki from some of its original Japanese context, they also ensured its survival and accessibility in a world that might not otherwise have been open to it.

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Today, Reiki exists in many lineages and styles—Usui Reiki, Holy Fire Reiki, Karuna Reiki®, and others. Some preserve the meditative and spiritual depth of Usui’s original teachings, while others emphasize practical application. Yet at its core, Reiki remains what Usui discovered on Mount Kurama: a path of healing, compassion, and alignment with universal life force.

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For those who wish to dive deeper into Reiki’s history and philosophy, I recommend exploring reliable sources:

• The International Center for Reiki Training’s overview of Reiki’s history: What Is the History of Reiki?

• Reiki for Life by Penelope Quest — especially the U.K. edition, which includes expanded material on the Japanese tradition.

• The Inner Heart of Reiki: Rediscovering Your True Self by Frans Stiene, which highlights the spiritual depth and meditative roots of the practice.

Reiki is not reserved for a chosen few—it is accessible to anyone with an open mind and open heart. Whether practiced in its traditional Japanese form or in its Western adaptations, Reiki continues to serve as a powerful gift of healing for all.