Jesus Christ is Buried in Japan?

Mahikari claims that this is the last resting place of Jesus Christ. They teach he died on the same day as Yoshikazu Okada (The founder of Mahikari and now considered by them to be the God of salvation for humankind) on June 23rd (May 4th of the lunar calendar), although around 2000 years apart.

In Mahikari - Thank God For The Answers At Last (1988) by Dr A. K. Tebecis (The current Mahikari Australia-Oceania Regional Director), we found the following (on page 355):

"....Gould published his views in full in an article entitled The Man from Isohara (Gould, 1978).

The "Kirisuto legend" (Kirisuto is the Japanese way of saying Christ) focuses on two ancient tomb-mounds in a remote Aomori Prefecture (northern Japan) village called Herai, the name of which has now been changed to Shingo. On the signpost on the main road to the mounds is the Star of David. The two mounds are a few metres apart at the top of a little hill surrounded by peaceful farmlands. On the top of each mound is a wooden cross. At the bottom are two signboards, one in Japanese and the other in English entitled "Jesus Christ's Tomb". The signboard explains that Christ first arrived in Japan at the age of 21 and after studying Ancient Shintoism for 10 years he evolved a doctrine and returned to Judea to teach it. The authorities opposed this and decided to crucify him. Jesus' brother, Isukiri, volunteered to die on Jesus' behalf . Christ returned to Japan at the age of 37 and ultimately settled in Japan, passing away at the age of 106. The remains of Isukiri were brought to Japan and entombed, accounting for the second grave."

The photo on the right taken from a Mahikari publication clearly shows Andris Tebecis (second from the left) participating in prayers at the grave site.

Tebecis goes on to say:

"I have visited the graves twice and have confirmed all that I had read about the area. What surprised me most was the relative complacency the Japanese seemed to show to the fact that Jesus had walked in their country." (pg 355)

"In kenshu Sukuinushisama (Okada) clearly taught that Jesus did not die on the cross, but his younger brother died in his place." (pg 360)

It is interesting to find that in a later publication of Mahikari - Thank God For The Answers At Last (1990), the chapter containing this information was removed.

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The wooden cross in the foreground is the Tomb of Isukiri/Iskiris as described above. Below the mounds is a small glass fronted enclosed museum. (left)

Objects from the local area which have a Middle Eastern flavour are displayed inside the museum. On the rear wall is a 'copy' of Jesus Christ's last will and testament (right).

Tebecis stated on a national TV program (The 7.30 Report, ABC TV, 28th October 1997) that he is "not sure" if Jesus is buried in Japan. He and his spokespeople are now claiming that there are no specific Mahikari teachings concerning Jesus' death in Japan.

Yet Yoshikazu Okada clearly states in his teachings in the Japanese Mahikari Journal No. 185 Feb 1978 (pg 15-16):

"As you know very well, Jesus didn't die, in fact, through the crucifixion historically....that's a lie".

Okada also refers to Jesus' last will and testament, saying: "Jesus called the God he worshipped Messiah, but the Bible does not explain why he called God, Messiah. In Jesus' last will and testament, Jesus calls Messiah by the Japanese name of Ametsuchi Mahitotsu Oh kamu. Jesus signed the will personally, therefore God, Messiah in the Bible, is Ametsuchi Mahitotsu Oh kamu sama and Jesus' last will is in Japan. (Japanese Mahikari Journal No. 263 Aug 1984 pages 37-38)

In the Secondary Kenshu (second level training) text book, the same Japanese name appears together with a list of other names, including Creator, as the God of the Seventh Dimension. (Mahikari Secondary (Intermediate) Kenshu text book, pg 15)

What is motivating Tebecis? Firstly the reprint of his book deletes the whole chapter on Christ, and now he says he is unsure of Okada's teachings, that he has taught and studied as a senior leader of Mahikari for many years. There are just too many people who have heard these teachings for us to believe his stance.

One wonders - if Mahikari can now deny a major foundation stone of its doctrine, which makes the sect "special" in the eyes of its members, what other doctrine, spiritual practice, and claims made by the sect are marked for disposal or change?

Could it be because the large area of land granted to Mahikari for a fraction of its commercial value by the Australian Capital Territory Government in Canberra, on which Mahikari plans to build an international headquarters and school, is sited right next to a major Fundamentalist Christian Church?

Perhaps Yoshikazu Okada's claims, that Jesus was of Japanese descent, trained in Japan, escaped the crucifixion, returned to Japan, and eventually died there, and that all Christians have to go to Japan to receive salvation, have become an embarrassment and a credibility problem.

Kumi muki sanji is a collection of teachings of Yoshikazu Okada - the name means 'Praise to facing God'. Mahikari claims that "to have this book and other Mahikari publications can lead to blessings which radiate from Yoshikazu Okada's 'golden words'." Mahikari members are not required to understand or even read these publications, as just to have them is a 'blessing'.