# Honmichi

Honmichi (ほんみち) (also 本道 or 天理本道, lit. 'The True Way [of Tenri]') is a Tenrikyo-based shinshūkyō (Japanese new religion) that became formally independent in 1925 under its founder, Ōnishi Aijirō (大西愛治郎), with the title, Kanrodainin no Ri (甘露台人の理, The Principle of the Living Kanrodai). Despite the religion being derived from Tenrikyo with a different interpretation of doctrines such as Sanken Mimune (三軒三棟),$^{:133}$ Honmichi's religious structure still maintains the same basic overall characteristics as Tenrikyo. It was reorganized from the earlier Tenri Kenkyūkai (天理研究会, Tenrikyo Research Group).$^{:3}$ It had 319,031 followers in 2022 according to the Reiwa 4 (2022) Religion Almanac published by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

## Scriptures and practices

Devout Honmichi members are called "people of the way" (みち人, michibito) rather than yōboku ようぼく as in Tenrikyo.
The main scriptures used in Honmichi are two of the three main scriptures from Tenrikyo: Ofudesaki and Mikagura-uta. The only main Tenrikyo scripture that is not accepted by the establishment is Osashizu written by the second spiritual leader of the original establishment, Iburi Izō.
The Kyogi Ichiban (教義一斑), written by Ōnishi Aijirō, is also used.
The mantra "Namo Kanrodai" (南無甘露台, Namu Kanrodai) is frequently chanted by adherents of Honmichi. Honmichi utilizes the gagaku in its service.

## History

Honmichi began as a religion on July 15, 1913 in Yamaguchi when its founder Ōnishi Aijirō received a divine revelation, during which God told him that he was the living kanrodai. At the time, he was a Tenrikyo missionary in Yamaguchi Prefecture. In January 1925, Ōnishi Aijirō officially established the Tenri Study Association (天理研究会, Tenri Kenkyūkai), which was later renamed as Tenri Honmichi (天理本道) in 1937, and finally as Honmichi in 1950.
Honmichi was a noticeable Japanese religion before World War II due to its leader's active defiance against the Emperor of Japan. There were government crackdowns in 1928 and again in 1938. It quickly re-established itself during the US Occupation of Japan.
In 1958, Ōnishi Aijirō died. Aijirō's grandson, Ōnishi Yasuhiko (大西泰彦), took over as the leader in 1960 and was viewed as Aijirō's reincarnation, and hence as the new kanrodai.
In 1962, Honbushin (ほんぶしん), led by Aijirō's daughter Ōnishi Tama (大西玉; 1916–1969) (whom Aijirō and Honbushin followers claim was the reincarnation of Nakayama Miki), separated from Honmichi. It was incorporated as a religious organization in 1966. Originally, it was headquartered in Takaishi, Osaka, but then moved to Shiojiri, Nagano. In 1969, Honbushin moved to Okayama, where it set up its kanrodai on a mountaintop southeast of the Okayama city center.

## Locations

Honmichi is currently headquartered in Takaishi, Osaka. However, the main worship hall is located in Sennan, Osaka.
Apart from the headquarters, there are several other locations, including two main offices (支部, shibu):
* Uda office 宇陀支部
* Sennan office 泉南支部. Honmichi's largest building, the Sennan Temple (泉南神殿, Sennan Shinden), is located in Sennan.
There are five branches (出張所, shutchōjo), including one in the United States:
* Central (Chūbu) branch 中部出張所 in Okazaki, Aichi (near Motojuku Station 本宿駅)
* Western (Seibu) branch 西部出張所 in Yamaguchi (near Nihozu Station 仁保津駅)
* Akashi branch 明石出張所 in Akashi, Hyōgo (near Nishi-Akashi Station 西明石駅)
* Kantō branch 関東出張所 in Noda, Chiba
* Hon-Michi Congregation of LA on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, United States
* Honmichi headquarters in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture
* Honmichi Central (Chūbu) branch in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture
* Central (Chūbu) branch in Okazaki as seen from a train
* Hon-Michi Congregation of Los Angeles
There are also facilities in Katsuragi, Nara (竹之内廟所) and Izumi, Osaka (信太山作業所), as well as a training center (花瀬山修道場) near Fudo Waterfall 不動滝 in Takigawa Valley 滝川渓谷 in Totsukawa, Nara Prefecture (located just to the southwest of Mount Shakka).

## Schisms

The following religious movements and organizations are founded by former Honmichi members.
* Honbushin (ほんぶしん), founded by Ōnishi Tama in 1962
* Tenri Sanrinkō (天理三輪講), founded by Katsu Hisano (勝ヒサノ), originally a Honmichi follower, in 1933
** Kami Ichijōkyō (神一条教), founded by Yonetani Kuni (米谷クニ) (1889–1974; originally a follower of Tenri Sanrinkō 天理三輪講) in 1942. Upon her death in 1974, her son (米谷千恵子) took over until his death in 1985. The current leader is Nishi Yoshio (西義男). Kami Ichijōkyō is headquartered in Higashiōsaka, near Fuse Station and Shuntokumichi Station.
* Sekai Shindokyo (世界心道教), founded by Aida Hide (会田ヒデ), originally a Honmichi follower, in 1948