To understand Reiki, it is essential to first understand the “cradle” in which it was born.

Mikao Usui did not emerge in isolation; he was the product of a Japan undergoing the greatest transformation in its history.

The Meiji Era Revolution (1868–1912)

Usui grew up during the Meiji Restoration. Imagine a country that, in just 40 years, moved from a feudal samurai society to an industrialized nation.

Economy:
Japan opened its ports to the West. Capitalism replaced the traditional rice-based economy, creating an urban middle class that was often stressed and anxious — the ideal environment for a method focused on balance.

Religion:
The government attempted to separate Buddhism from Shinto to strengthen State Shinto. This created a spiritual identity crisis, and Usui lived in the midst of this transformation, studying both traditions deeply.

The Man: Samurai Heritage and Modern Mind

Mikao Usui belonged to the Chiba lineage, a high-ranking samurai family.

Education:
Due to his status, he received an elite education. He studied medicine, psychology, and theology. He was an intellectual who spoke languages and read Western works — something rare at the time.

Career:
Before Reiki, he worked as a journalist, businessman, and secretary to the influential politician Shimpei Goto. These connections helped establish Reiki with a certain level of credibility within governmental circles.

Society and Cultural Conflict

Japan during Usui’s time was torn between:

• Tradition: martial discipline and Zen meditation
• Modernity: Western medicine and scientific progress

Reiki emerged as Usui’s pedagogical solution to unify these worlds — a spiritual technique presented as a practical and modern method of health and balance.

The “Family Man”

Usui was married to Sadako Suzuki and had two children.

Contrary to many myths, he was not an isolated monk, but a man who faced everyday challenges such as financial struggles and business setbacks. This makes his system of inner peace — later expressed in the Gokai — even more authentic.

His Social Circle

Many of his close associates were officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

This military influence contributed to the structured system of levels in Reiki — Shoden, Okuden, and Shinpiden — resembling the hierarchy found in martial arts and military training.

About the Author

Ruy Fernando Morelli is a Reiki Master and founder of Mundo Reiki, a platform dedicated to the structured study of the Usui System. His work integrates history, method, ethics, and practice, promoting a deep and technical understanding of Reiki in the modern world.