Our founder, Mokichi Okada, was a Japanese man who lived from 1882-1955. Okada was an artist, poet, and philosopher. As a humanitarian and spiritual teacher, he believed in the transforming quality of art as a means to awaken the inherent beauty within each individual.
In his lifetime, Okada built and inspired the creation of magnificent art museums, filled with inspirational art pieces that he collected. He believed that all art of a higher inspiration or vibration was to be shared with everyone and not just cloistered within the collections of the privileged few. He designed exquisite gardens and structures that he envisioned as prototypes of an ideal community.
Johrei was introduced to America in 1953, and Johrei Fellowship centers presently exist throughout the United States. Okada’s inspired writings are practical, simple teachings of common sense that offer guidance in order to achieve health, spiritual development, and happiness. Many of Okada’s books are translated into English, Portuguese and Spanish, and can be purchased at Johrei Fellowship centers here in the United States.
Okada's flower arrangements expressed his great love of nature in their simplicity and naturalness. His style of arranging, preserved in a series of color photographs, formed the basis of the School and serves as the model for Korinka -- the advanced level and essence of Sangetsu.
His vision was to create a world of peace, health, and prosperity for us all — a paradise on earth.
A quote from our founder on the importance of flowers:
We believe it is vitally important to raise the consciousness of everyone through beauty. We wish to encourage people to cultivate flowers and to distribute them as the best method for the popularization of beauty. This begins with decorating the rooms in our individual homes and in other buildings. It is true that we see flowers placed in many middle- and upper-class homes, but we feel this is not enough. Our aim is to encourage everyone to place arrangements in every place of every kind, so wherever people go they will see flowers and enjoy them.
I don't have to tell you what a refreshing atmosphere it would add to an office or study to have a single flower displayed in a vase. Ideally speaking, I would also like to see arrangements placed in every jail and in each prison cell. I believe the good effect these would have on the inmates’ consciousness would be immeasurable. In this way, when the time comes that wherever there are people there are flowers, the negativities of today's world will be considerably alleviated.