View source for Happy Science

{{short description|New religious movement founded in Japan by Ryuho Okawa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = RO symbol of HS.svg
| caption = Happy Science logo
| formation = {{start date and age|1986|10|6|df=y}}
| type = [[Japanese new religion|Japanese new religious movement]]
| purpose =
| headquarters =  1-2-38 Higashi Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan
| leader_title = [[spiritual leader|Master]]
| leader_name = [[Ryuho Okawa]]
| leader_title2 = El Cantare
| leader_name2  =
| leader_name3  =
| leader_title3 = 
| budget =
| remarks =
| size = 120px
| name = Happy Science{{pb}} 幸福の科学
| founders = [[Ryuho Okawa]]
| membership    = {{ubl|11{{nbsp}}million (self-claimed)<ref name="fumika" />|38,000 (JGSS survey estimate)<ref name="Agora">{{Cite news|trans-title=What is the true number of believers in each religion such as Soka Gakkai and the former Unification Church? |script-title=ja:創価学会や旧統一教会など各宗教の本当の信者数は？ |lang=ja |url=https://agora-web.jp/archives/221120211705.html|author=Kazuo Yawata|newspaper=[[Agora (Media)|Agora]]|date=21 November 2022|access-date = 18 April 2024}}</ref>|30,000 (Kyoko Okawa's estimate)|13,000 (Hirohiro Okawa's estimate)}}
| num_staff =
| num_volunteers =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| former name  = The Institute for Research in Human Happiness (until 2008){{efn|name=name|The Institute for Research in Human Happiness was the official English name until 2008, while the Japanese name was, and continues to be, {{nihongo3|"Happy Science"|幸福の科学}}. The English name was abbreviated IRH or IRHH.<ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of UFO Religions |date=March 8, 2021 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004435537 |page=491 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tkswEAAAQBAJ |access-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>}}
}}
[[File:Master Ryuho Okawa, Feb. 15, 2015.jpg|thumb|Ryuho Okawa, 15 February 2015]]
{{Nihongo|'''Happy Science'''|幸福の科学|Kōfuku-no-Kagaku}}, formerly known as '''the Institute for Research in Human Happiness''',{{efn|name=name}} is a [[new religious movement|new religious]] movement founded in Japan on 6 October 1986 by former Wall Street trader [[Ryuho Okawa]], whose followers regarded him as the incarnation of a supreme being from Venus.<ref>{{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 | newspaper=The New York Times | date=16 April 2020 | last1=Kestenbaum | first1=Sam }}</ref> Happy Science has been described as a [[cult]].

The Happy Science group includes a publication division called IRH Press, schools such as Happy Science Academy and Happy Science University, a political party called the [[Happiness Realization Party]], and three media entertainment divisions, which are called New Star Production, ARI Production and HS Pictures Studio.

==History==
On 15 July 1986, Ryuho Okawa resigned from his position at {{ill|TOMEN Corporation|ja|トーメン}} (now [[Toyota Tsusho]]) to found his own organization on October 6, which he dubbed Happy Science;<ref>{{Harvnb|Astley|1995|p=347}}</ref> the Japanese government did not certify it as a religious organization until 7 March 1991. According to Ryuho Okawa, its aim is "to bring happiness to humanity by spreading truth". Before its foundation, Ryuho Okawa had published various books of "spiritual messages" that claim to channel the words spoken by religious and historical figures such as [[Jesus Christ]], [[Confucius]] and [[Nichiren]]. In 1987, he printed ''The Laws of the Sun'', ''The Golden Laws'', and ''The Laws of Eternity'', forming the core textbooks of Happy Science, along with its fundamental [[sutra]] ''The Dharma of the Right Mind''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shimazono|first=Susumu|title=From Salvation to Spirituality: Popular Religious Movements in Modern Japan|date=2004|publisher=Trans Pacific|location=Melbourne, Vic.|isbn=1876843128|page=267|edition=English}}</ref>

==Teachings==
The basic teachings of Happy Science are "Exploration of the Right Mind", "The Fourfold Path", and El Cantare belief. According to Okawa, in order to obtain happiness one must practice the Principles of Happiness known as "The Fourfold Path": love that gives, wisdom, self-reflection, and progress. The only requirement to join Happy Science is that applicants must have "the aspiration and discipline to seek the truth and actively contribute to the realization of love, peace and happiness on Earth".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Happy Science - About Us|url = http://www.happyscience.com.sg/index.cfm?GPID=3|website = Happy Science Singapore|access-date = 2015-12-13|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111248/http://www.happyscience.com.sg/index.cfm?GPID=3|archive-date = 4 March 2016}}</ref> Among other teachings, they believe in the existence of reincarnation, angels, demons, heaven and hell, and aliens.<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=18 April 2020 | 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> Members of Happy Science attend training courses ({{nihongo||研修会|kenshūkai}}) and {{nihongo|"qualification seminars"|資格セミナー|shikaku seminā}} in order to increase their level within the group's hierarchy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Baffelli |first=Erica |date=24 June 2017 |title=Contested Positioning: "New Religions" and Secular Spheres |url=https://nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=pages_view_main&active_action=repository_view_main_item_detail&item_id=6755&item_no=1&page_id=15&block_id=22 |journal=Journal of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies |publisher=Japan Review |volume=30 |pages=140–141 |via=Nichibunken Open Access}}</ref>

At the same time, the organization's political wing, the [[Happiness Realization Party]], promotes political views that include support for Japanese military expansion, support for the use of nuclear deterrence,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.hr-party.jp/blog/381.html |title=The Happiness Realization Party |publisher=En.hr-party.jp |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413190128/http://en.hr-party.jp/blog/381.html |archive-date=13 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and denial of historical events such as the [[Nanjing Massacre]] in [[China]] and the [[comfort women]] issue in [[South Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Liberty Web|url = http://eng.the-liberty.com/|access-date = 2015-12-13|language = ja|archive-date = 29 May 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130529050229/http://eng.the-liberty.com/|url-status = live}}</ref> Some other stances include support of infrastructure spending, natural disaster prevention, urban development, and dam construction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.hr-party.jp/proposal|title=Happiness Realization Party|website=Happiness Realization Party|access-date=2016-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403145828/http://en.hr-party.jp/proposal|archive-date=3 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> They also advocate fiscal conservatism, strengthening the US-Japan alliance, and a virtue-based leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.hr-party.jp/position|title=Happiness Realization Party|website=Happiness Realization Party|access-date=2016-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612015800/http://en.hr-party.jp/position|archive-date=12 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2018}}, the Happiness Realization Party had 21 local councilors.<ref>{{cite book|title=About Japanese 50 new region|date=2017-04-19|publisher=Takarajima|isbn=978-4800270443|edition=Japanese}}</ref>

===Object of worship===
Happy Science worships a deity named El Cantare who they believe is the "Highest God of Earth, the Lord of all gods". They believe that the being was first born on Earth 330{{nbsp}}million years ago and that it is the same entity that has been worshipped at different times as [[Elohim]], [[Odin]], [[Thoth]], Ophealis ([[Osiris]]), [[Hermes]] and [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], with Okawa himself as the current incarnation.<ref name="nytimes2020" /><ref name="vice" />

==Facilities==
[[File:Tokyo Shoshinkan 1.jpg|thumb|Tokyo {{transliteration|ja|Shoshinkan}} in Sengakuji]]
General headquarters, worship facilities, and missionary sites are located in Japan and other countries. Worship facilities are called {{transliteration|ja|Shoja}} ({{lang|ja|精舎}} or {{IAST|[[vihara]]}} in [[Sanskrit]]) or {{transliteration|ja|Shoshinkan}} ({{lang|ja|正心館}}). In 1994, the first overseas branch, "Happiness Science USA" was established in New York.<ref>『「幸福の科学」教団史2008 法輪、転ずべし』p57</ref><ref>「月刊 幸福の科学」1994年2月号p50</ref> The organisation has branches in several countries including South Korea, Brazil, Uganda, the UK, Australia, India and Singapore. In addition to places of worship, Happy Science also operates two boarding schools in [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]] and [[Ōtsu]], Japan.<ref name=":0" />

<gallery>
File:Happy Science - panoramio.jpg|Brazil {{transliteration|ja|Shoshinkan}}
File:(1)Happy Science Sydney.jpg|Sydney Local Branch
File:Happy Science Sohonzan Shoshinkan.jpg|Sohonzan {{transliteration|ja|Shoshinkan}}
File:Happy science chiba temple ceiling.jpg|Chiba {{transliteration|ja|Shoshinkan}} ceiling
File:Happy Science University 01.JPG|Happy Science University
</gallery>

==Controversy==
Happy Science is widely regarded as a cult<ref name="vice">{{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><ref name="jt20090804">{{Citation| last = McNeill| first = David| title = Party offers a third way: happiness| newspaper = [[The Japan Times]]| date = 4 August 2009| url = https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2009/08/04/community/party-offers-a-third-way-happiness/| access-date = 6 August 2009| archive-date = 7 November 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131107191435/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2009/08/04/community/party-offers-a-third-way-happiness/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Trump's 'stop the steal' message finds an international audience among conspiracy theorists and suspected cults|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/01/07/trump-qanon-stop-the-steal-japan/|access-date=2021-09-14|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=Musasizi>{{cite news |url=http://www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=19408:clerics-call-for-probe-into-happy-science |title=Clerics call for probe into Happy Science |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092033/http://www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=19408:clerics-call-for-probe-into-happy-science |archive-date=22 December 2015 |last=Musasizi |first=Simon |newspaper=[[The Observer (Uganda)|The Observer]] |date=21 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=thejakartapost>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/07/22/happy-science-a-new-cult-offers-celebrity-guide-heaven.html |title=Happy Science, a new cult offers celebrity guide to heaven |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825072332/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/07/22/happy-science-a-new-cult-offers-celebrity-guide-heaven.html |newspaper=[[The Jakarta Post]] |date=22 July 2012 |archive-date=25 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=Donnelly>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/blooming--happy-science-cult-channels-disney-ghandi-jesus-and-thatcher-20151028-gkkzow.html |title=Blooming 'Happy Science' religion channels Disney, Gandhi, Jesus and Thatcher |last=Donnelly |first=Beau |newspaper=[[The Age]] |date=2 November 2015 |access-date=4 January 2016 |archive-date=5 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205191100/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/blooming--happy-science-cult-channels-disney-ghandi-jesus-and-thatcher-20151028-gkkzow.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-09|title=Japanese cult representative is speaking for the 10th year in a row at CPAC|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-japanese-cult-leader-hrioaki-jay-aeb-b1808229.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-japanese-cult-leader-hrioaki-jay-aeb-b1808229.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-14|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gilbert|first=David|date=2021-02-25|title=A Japanese Cult That Believes Its Leader Is an Alien From Venus Is Speaking at CPAC|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-japanese-cult-that-believes-its-leader-is-an-alien-from-venus-is-speaking-at-cpac/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=Vice.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Adelstein|first=Jake|date=2021-02-26|title=Speaking at CPAC: Former Leader of Magical Cult That Channels Ghost of Trump|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-leader-of-magical-cult-that-channels-ghost-of-trump-speaking-at-cpac|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>{{excessive citations inline|date=July 2024}} and one of many controversial [[Japanese new religions]] ({{transliteration|ja|shinshūkyō}}).<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/contentious-religion-from-japan-succeeds-in-uganda_n_1661559.html|work = [[The Huffington Post]]|title = Happy Science, Controversial Religion From Japan, Succeeds in Uganda|last = Muhumuza|first = Rodney|date = 10 July 2012|agency = Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712112146/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/contentious-religion-from-japan-succeeds-in-uganda_n_1661559.html |archive-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> Through the 1990s the group had a bitter rivalry with doomsday cult [[Aum Shinrikyo]], culminating in a failed assassination attempt on leader Ryuho Okawa using the nerve agent [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] injected into the air conditioning system of Okawa's car. It was one of many VX attacks by Aum members leading up to the [[Tokyo subway sarin attack|1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack]], which killed 14 and injured more than 5,000 people.

Happy Science has also released promotional videos claiming, without evidence, that [[North Korea]] and the [[People's Republic of China]] are plotting the nuclear destruction of Japan.<ref name="jt20090804"/> The group has sold "spiritual vaccines", falsely claiming that they prevent and cure [[COVID-19]], advertised virus-related blessings at rates from US$100 to over US$400, and sold coronavirus-themed DVDs and CDs of Okawa lecturing, which make false claims of supposedly boosting immunity, {{asof|lc=yes|April 2020}}. After initially defying [[physical distancing]] measures, it later closed its New York temple, announcing that it had administered their fraudulent "vaccines" remotely.<ref name="nytimes2020" />

In February 2017, actress [[Fumika Shimizu]] abruptly retired from her former entertainment production agency amidst multiple filming projects for a full-time role in Happy Science, declaring she had been a member of the group since childhood, under the influence of her parents, both of whom were longtime believers in Happy Science.<ref name="fumika">{{Cite news|title=Fumika Shimizu Retires From Acting to Join Happy Science Religious Organization|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-13/fumika-shimizu-retires-from-acting-to-join-happy-science-religious-organization/.112162|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=2019-03-13|date=February 2017|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331140424/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-02-13/fumika-shimizu-retires-from-acting-to-join-happy-science-religious-organization/.112162|url-status=live}}</ref>

Okawa's son and potential successor, Hiroshi Okawa, left the movement and is now one of its outspoken critics. In an article in ''[[The New York Times]]'', he commented, "I believe what my father does is complete nonsense".<ref name="nytimes2020" /> His father has denounced Hiroshi as "demonic" and possessed by devils and the group has sued him for defamation.<ref name="nytimes2020" /><ref name="false gods">{{Cite episode |title=Japan's Strangest Cult? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIS-RE3gO64  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/XIS-RE3gO64 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=15 September 2021 |series=False Gods |series-link= |first= |last= |network=[[Vice Media]] |station= |date=28 March 2021 |time=7:10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a 2022 interview with [[The World (radio program)|The World]], Hiroshi described Happy Science as a "cult". Regarding Ryuho Okawa's [[Mediumship|spiritual channeling]] sessions, Hiroshi said "It's just a performance". Hiroshi also estimated the number of Happy Science members to be around 13,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winn |first=Patrick |date=November 30, 2022 |title=Japan's infamous 'happy' cult sets sights on the United States |url=https://theworld.org/stories/2022-11-30/japan-s-infamous-happy-cult-sets-sights-united-states |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=The World}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
On February 10, 2022, the fifth chapter of [[anthology]] [[manga]] {{transliteration|ja|"Kami-sama" no Iru Ie de Sodachimashita ~Shūkyō 2-Sei na Watashi-tachi~}} ('A Home Life With God ~We Children Born Into Religion~'), written by Mariko Kikuchi as a criticism of Happy Science and other fringe religious organizations, was removed by the publisher, [[Shueisha]] following backlash from Happy Science. The other chapters were removed on March 17, 2022. It was later reported by the Weekly Flash magazine in April.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shueisha Removes Web Manga About Children Born Into Religion Following Alleged Backlash From Happy Science |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-04-11/shueisha-removes-web-manga-about-children-born-into-religion-following-alleged-backlash-from-happy-/.184438 |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref>

Happy Science has produced several theatrical animated movies, often made by mainstream [[anime]] studios,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/japanese-cult-happy-science-anime/|title=The Japanese Cult Behind These Obscure Anime|date=6 September 2022 |access-date=2024-04-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-03/happy-science-founder-anime-producer-ryuho-okawa-passes-away/|title=Happy Science Founder, Anime Producer Ryuho Okawa Passes Away}}</ref> live action films and documentaries promoting their beliefs. These include:

*Anime:
**1991: {{transliteration|ja|[[Shiawasette Naani]]}} (short film)
**1997: ''[[Hermes: Winds of Love]]''
**2000: ''[[The Laws of the Sun]]''
**2003: ''[[The Golden Laws]]''
**2006: ''[[The Laws of Eternity]]''
**2009: ''[[The Rebirth of Buddha]]''
**2012: ''[[The Mystical Laws]]''
**2015–2021: ''[[The Laws of the Universe]]'' (Three part film series)
**2025: ''[[Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World]]''
*Live action:
**1994: ''[[Revelations of Nostradamus]]''
**2012: ''[[The Final Judgement (2012 film)|The Final Judgement]]''
**2016: ''[[Tenshi ni I'm Fine]]''
**2017: {{transliteration|ja|[[Kimi no manazashi]]}}
**2018: {{transliteration|ja|[[Saraba seishun, saredo seishun]]}}
**2019: ''[[Immortal Hero]]''
**2019–2021: {{transliteration|ja|[[Kokoro ni yorisou]]}} (three part documentary)
**2019: ''[[The Last White Witch]]''
**2020: ''[[The Real Exorcist]]''
**2020: ''[[Twinceborn]]''
**2021: ''[[Beautiful Lure]]''
**2021: ''[[Into The Dream and Horror Experiences]]''
**2022: ''[[The Cherry Bushido]]''
**2022: ''[[The Divine Protector: Master Salt Begins]]''
**2023: ''[[Let It Be - Fear Never Ends]]'' (sequel to ''Into The Dream and Horror Experiences'')
**2023: ''[[Before the Sunset]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Astley |first1=Trevor |title=The Transformation of a Recent Japanese New Religion: Ōkawa Ryūhō and Kōfuku no Kagaku |journal=Japanese Journal of Religious Studies |date=1995 |volume=22 |issue=3–4 |doi=10.18874/jjrs.22.3-4.1995.343-380 |url=https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/2580 |access-date=11 August 2022|doi-access=free }}
* Baffelli, E; Reader, Ian (2011). Competing for the apocalypse: religious rivalry and millennial transformations in a Japanese new religion. International Journal for the Study of New Religions 2 (1), 5-28
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070103061500/http://uk.geocities.com/peterbernardclarke/  Clarke, Peter B.] (ed.) (1999), 'Kofuku-no-Kagaku: The Institute for Research in Human Happiness' in ''A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements: With Annotations'', Surrey, UK, Japan Library (Curzon), {{ISBN|1-873410-80-8}}, pp.&nbsp;149–67
* Pokorny, Lukas; Winter, Franz (2012). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140303141220/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffpages/uploads/dhp028/Creating_Utopia.pdf Creating Utopia': The History of Kofuku no Kagaku in Austria], 1989–2012, with an Introduction to Its General History and Doctrine. In: Hödl, Hans Gerald and Lukas Pokorny, ed. Studies on Religion in Austria. Volume 1, Vienna: Praesens, pp.&nbsp;31–79
* {{cite journal |last=Saaler |first=Sven |year=2016 |title=Nationalism and History in Contemporary Japan |journal=The Asia-Pacific Journal |volume=14 |issue=20 |pages=number 7 |url=https://apjjf.org/2016/20/Saaler.html}}
*{{Cite journal|last1=Storm|first1=Jason Ānanda Josephson|last2=Shoffstall|first2=Grant W.|date=2021-11-01|title=Beyond Disenchantment: Science, Technology, and New Religious Movements|journal=Nova Religio|volume=25|issue=2|pages=5–11|doi=10.1525/nr.2021.25.2.5|s2cid=244987429 |issn=1092-6690|doi-access=free}}
* Yamashita, Akiko (1998), 'The "Eschatology" of Japanese new and new new religions: from Tenrikyo to Kofuku-no-Kagaku', ''Japanese Religions'' 23, 125–42

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kōfuku no Kagaku}}
* {{official website}}

{{Japanese new religions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Japanese new religions]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1986]]
[[Category:Religious organizations based in Japan]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:COVID-19 misinformation]]
[[Category:Nanjing Massacre deniers]]
[[Category:Comfort women denial]]
[[Category:Historical negationism in Japan]]