| Name | Sukyo Mahikari |
|---|---|
| Headquarters address | 2-596-1 Kamiokamoto-machi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
| Contact number | (81) 577-34-7008 |
| The first oshienushi | Kōtama Okada |
| The second oshienushi | Keishu Okada |
| The third oshienushi | Kōō Okada |
| Membership | Approximately one million members across seventy-five countries |
| Sukyo Mahikari centers | Approximately 1,000 (Japan) and approximately 300 (Overseas) |
Kōtama Okada was born on February 27, 1901. Following in his father's footsteps, he entered the military academy and spent a part of his adult life as a military officer. Serving as a regimental standard bearer, he fell from his horse and injured his spine during practice for an equestrian display. He later suffered from caries of the vertebrae. Told that he only had three more years to live, he decided to dedicate the rest of his life in service to God and others. During air raids in 1945, he lost all his assets, including four companies, one of which was an aircraft manufacturing company. Although faced with enormous debts, he was miraculously able to repay them in a relatively short period of time. He felt obligated to repay the blessings he had received. It was around this time that he received a revelation: "Rise. Your name shall be Kōtama. Raise your hand. Severe times are approaching." At the age of 58, he set out to spread the teachings of the universal principles and raise his hand to radiate Light to people who were suffering. Thus, the foundation for Sukyo Mahikari was established.
Keishu Okada is the daughter of the founder, Kōtama Okada. She became his first disciple and served as his main assistant once the organization was established. On June 13, 1974, ten days before he passed away, the founder received a revelation referring to the succession of his missions and the spiritual leadership of the organization. Immediately following her succession to her father's missions, Keishu Okada commenced preparations for the construction of Suza—a shrine for the Creator. The special inauguration ceremony of Suza was held in November 1984, fulfilling a covenant between the Creator and the founder, Kōtama Okada. Furthermore, Keishu Okada oversaw the construction of Hikaru Shinden (a shrine dedicated to the founder), the Hikaru Museum, and the Sukyo Mahikari Youth Center. The construction of these four holy sites established a spiritual foundation for realizing a better world.
Kōō Okada was born in Tokyo in 1947 and became a practitioner of the Light at sixteen years of age. As a university student, he was closely involved in the formation of the Mahikari Youth Group, in which he would later play a leading role. In 1970, he was admitted to the inaugural class of the Staff Training Institute, becoming a disciple of the founder, Kōtama Okada. Kōō Okada has also trained under the direct guidance of the second oshienushi, Keishu Okada. After serving as the assistant oshienushi, he was appointed as the acting oshienushi in 2002. In 2009, he was appointed as the third oshienushi of the organization. During the current "third stage" of development in the organization, he has been actively engaged in service activities across the world. In particular, he has been involved in initiatives to address environmental problems, constructing environmentally sustainable small-scale hydroelectric power stations in the forested area of Takayama City, Japan. He has also been closely involved in youth education, heading projects such as building a primary school, and providing assistance for orphanages. In 2013, both the city and the state of São Paulo, Brazil, announced the designation of February 27 as "Sukyo Mahikari Day."
| February 1959 | Kōtama Okada receives a revelation regarding the establishment of the organization. |
| August 1959 | L.H. Yokoshi no Tomo organization established. |
| August 1960 | The First Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| August 1964 | The Fifth Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| September 1964 | Youth group activities commence. |
| April 1966 | Mahikari Youth Groups are formed. |
| August 1969 | The Tenth Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| From 1970 | The Light starts to spread abroad, starting with Paris and countries throughout Europe and Africa. |
| March 1971 | The declaration of the official establishment of a united national Mahikari Youth Group. |
| September 1971 | The first primary course in Paris. |
| September 1973 | Kōtama Okada travels to Europe. From this time onwards the Light rapidly spreads to North America, South America, Australia, and Asia. |
| June 1974 | Keishu Okada succeeds Kōtama Okada as the second oshienushi. |
| June 1974 | The founder passes away. |
| July 1979 | Construction of the World Shrine commences. |
| October 1984 | Construction of the Inner Shrine, Okumiya, completed. |
| November 1984 | The Special Grand Ceremony to inaugurate the World Shrine. The (nine) ceremonies were attended by a total of approximately one hundred thousand representatives from around the world. |
| May 1986 | Keishu Okada travels to Latin America. |
| October 1986 | The first Yoko Civilization International Conference. |
| October 1989 | The second Yoko Civilization International Conference. |
| November 1989 | The Thirtieth Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| November 1989 | The Yoko Health Clinic is established. |
| November 1990 | The twentieth anniversary of the official formation of the Mahikari Youth Group is commemorated by a grand procession of Light. Ten thousand Mahikari Youth Group members participate in the marching procession. |
| June 1992 | Hikaru Shinden inauguration. |
| May 1993 | Keishu Okada travels to Europe and Africa. |
| April 1999 | The opening of the Hikaru Museum. |
| August 1999 | The third Yoko Civilization International Conference. |
| November 1999 | The Fortieth Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| September 2000 | Keishu Okada travels to the Australia-Oceania Region. |
| November 2000 | The thirtieth anniversary of the official formation of the Mahikari Youth Group is commemorated by a grand procession of Light. |
| February 2001 | The centennial celebration commemorating the birth of the founder. |
| August 2002 | The opening of the Sukyo Mahikari Youth Center. |
| October 2002 | Kōya Okada (later known as Kōō Okada) appointed as the acting oshienushi. |
| February 2004 | Keishu Okada and Kōya Okada travel to the Asia Region. |
| August 2004 | Kōya Okada travels to the Europe Region. |
| August 2005 | The Convention for the Practitioners of Divine Principles held at the World Shrine. |
| September 2005 | The fourth Yoko Civilization International Conference. |
| November 2005 | Kōya Okada travels to the Africa Region. |
| November 2006 | The Annual General Assembly of the Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan is held at the World Shrine. |
| November 2006 | Kōya Okada travels to the North America Region. |
| June 2008 | Kōya Okada travels to the Latin America Region. |
| August 2008 | The Second Convention for the Practitioners of Divine Principles is held at the World Shrine. |
| June 2009 | The ceremony reporting the succession of the spiritual lineage of Light is carried out at Hidama Motomitamaza, Atami, Japan. |
| August 2009 | Established two companies—L. H. Yoko Noen (Yōkō Farm) and the Tanebito (Seed People's) Club to distribute yōkō rice across Japan. |
| November 2009 | The appointment of the third oshienushi. Official announcement of Kōya Okada's new name, Kōō. |
| November 2009 | The Fiftieth Anniversary Grand Ceremony. |
| November 2010 | The fortieth anniversary of the official formation of the Mahikari Youth Group is commemorated by a grand procession of Light. |
| August 2013 | The city and the state of São Paulo, Brazil, designate February 27 as Sukyo Mahikari Day. |
| September 2014 | The city of Campo Grande in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, designates February 27 as Sukyo Mahikari Day. |
| October 2014 | Toward pioneering an environmental revolution—construction of a small-scale hydroelectric power plant is completed. |
| October 2014 | The city and the state of Rio de Janeiro and the city of Vitória, Brazil, designate February 27 as Sukyo Mahikari Day. |
August 2016 |
The cities of Campinas and Santos in the state of São Paulo, the state of Paraná, and the city of Curitiba in the state of Paraná, designate February 27 as Sukyo Mahikari Day. Sukyo Mahikari Day has now been designated in over twenty locations throughout Brazil. |
| September 2016 | The second oshienushi, Keishu Okada, passes away. |
