Hawayo Takata was one of the 13 students of Hayashi Chujiro. She was a first generation American to Japanese immigrant parents who lived in Hawaii. She married in 1930 and had two daughters before her husband tragically died in 1935.

Hayashi Chujiro a retired naval officer and surgeon was born in 1880. He was a Soto Zen practitioner , who included Shinto in his practice.

Hayashi began his studies with Usui Mikao in May 1925, only 10 months before Usui died. He continued with the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai until 1931.

‘Usui Sensei’s natural character was gentle and prudent, and he did not keep up appearances. His body was big and sturdy, and his face was always beaming with a smile. But when he faced the difficulties he went ahead with a definite will and yet persevered well, keeping extremely careful.’ ‘As his reputation got higher and higher, it was so often when he received an offer of engagement from everywhere throughout the nation. In accordance with these requests he travelled to Kure and Hiroshima, then entered Saga and reached Fukuyama. It was at the inn at which he stayed on his way that he caught a disease abruptly, and he passed away at the age of sixty two.’