SHINNYO-EN TIMELINE
1906: Itō Shinjō was born.
1912: Itō Tomoji was born.
1936: This year is the official foundation date of Shinnyo-en; Itō Shinjō began his clerical training at the Daigoji branch of Shingon Buddhism.
1936: Itō Shinjō and Tomoji’s eldest son Tomofumi (also called Chibun; born 1934, posthumous name Kyōdōin) died suddenly. After his death, he was believed to transfer people’s illnesses onto himself (bakku daiju)
1938: The temple Shinchōji was built in Tachikawa.
1942: Itō Shinjō and Tomoji’s daughter Masako was born, present leader of Shinnyo-en as Itō Shinsō.
1943: Itō Shinjō completed his Shingon Buddhist training at Daigoji and received the monastic consecration kontai ryōbu denbō kanjō.
1948: Makoto Kyōdan was founded.
1950: A former disciple accused Itō Shinjō of physical abuse. As a result of the trial, Shinjō was sentenced to a suspended three-year prison term (Makoto kyōdan jiken)
1951: The group’s name was changed to Shinnyo-en.
1952: Itō Shinjō and Tomoji’s son Yūichi (born 1937, posthumous name Shindōin) died from a bone degeneration disease in his hip joints. Like his brother, he was believed able to transfer people’s illnesses on to himself.
1953: Shinnyo-en acquired the legal status of a religious corporation.
1966: Shinnyo-en received and enshrined Buddha relics from the Buddhist temple Wat Paknam in Thailand.
1966: Itō Shinjō and Tomoji participated in the Japanese delegation to the Eighth International Congress of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Chiang Mai.
1967: On a tour through Europe, Itō Shinjō and Tomoji had a private audience with Pope Paul VI.1967: Itō Tomoji died (posthumous name, Shōjushin’in).
1968: The new head temple Oyasono in Tachikawa was completed.
1971: The first training centre overseas was founded in Hawaii, followed in 1973 by the first overseas temple in Honolulu.
1989: Itō Shinjō died (posthumous name, Shinnyo Kyōshu Kongōshin’in) and was succeeded by his daughter Itō Shinsō (official title, Shinnyo Enshu).
1990: The Universe Foundation (Yuniberu Zaidan) was established, a non-profit foundation for the promotion of care for the elderly.
1991: The ITO Foundation for International Education Exchange (Itō Kokusai Kyōiku Kōryū Zaidan) was established. It is a non-profit foundation that promotes international students’ exchange by granting scholarships to Japanese students studying abroad and to overseas students studying in Japan.
1994: The Shinnyo-en Foundation was established. It is part of Shinnyo-en USA and supports educational programs in cooperation with community-based educational institutions.
1998: The Izumi Foundation, which provides medical help in developing countries, was established.
1999: The first Lantern Floating Ceremony in Hawaii took place.
2004: The Nā Lei Aloha Foundation in Hawaii, which among others organizes the Lantern Floating Ceremony, was established.
2006: The new temple Ōgen’in was completed in Tachikawa.
2006-2008: An exhibition of Itō Shinjō’s art, “The Vision and Art of Itō Shinjō,” was held in Japan, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Milano, and Florence.
2012: The temple Yushin’in in Tokyo opened as a training centre and a place for academic and cultural events.
2013: An autumn equinox ritual was performed at St. Bartholomew in New York by Itō Shinsō, followed by a Lantern Floating Ceremony in Central Park the next day.
2013: Torikai Takashi (born 1953), deputy-director of the Department of Doctrinal Affairs, was announced to be Itō Shinsō’s successor designate.
2018: The public opening of the Hanzōmon Museum in Tokyo took place. There is a permanent display of Buddhist art owned by Shinnyo-en is complemented by special exhibitions of Buddhist art.
