Hikari no Wa: A new religion recovering from disaster

Abstract

In March 2007 Jōyū Fumihiro, ex-spokesperson of Aum Shinrikyō and exrepresentative of Aleph, set up a new religious organization called Hikari no Wa (literally "Circle of Light") with around two hundred members. Hikari no Wa strongly and publicly rejects Asahara's authority, and the image the group is trying to construct and promote is centered on its desire to separate itself from Aum. Furthermore, the group seems interested in exploring different religious practices (including practices related to the Shinto tradition) in order to project itself as a "new group" and not be accused of being a "new Aum." This article draws on fieldwork and interviews with Hikari no Wa's members in order to explore the tension in Hikari no Wa between its attempt to create a "new religion," distancing itself completely from the previous leader and practices, and, at the same time, its need to deal with the legacy of Aum Shinrikyo and the consequences of the tragic event of 1995. © 2012 Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture.