Nagasawa Katsutate

(September 14, 1858 – October 10, 1940) was a Japanese Shinto priest and spiritual teacher. He was the spiritual teacher of Deguchi Onisaburo, Tomokiyo Yoshisane, and Nakano Yonosuke, all of whom were founders of notable Japanese new religions.

Biography Early life Nagasawa Katsutate was born on September 14, 1858 (old lunar calendar date: August 8 of the year Ansei 5) in Fujimi Village 不二見村, Abe 安倍 district (now part of the city of Shimizu, Shizuoka). His father was Nagasawa Shinzaemon (新左工門), and his mother was Nagasawa Toyoko (新左豊子).

As Shinto priest During Nagasawa's teenage years, he attended the , located at in Shizuoka city.

Disciples In 1885, Nagasawa met Honda Chikaatsu and became one of Honda's most capable disciples.

On April 28, 1898, Deguchi Onisaburo, the founder of the Oomoto religion, traveled from his hometown in Anao, Kameoka to Shimizu to become Nagasawa's disciple, forming the start of a lifelong friendship. Just two weeks earlier on April 15, Deguchi had also been appointed of Nagasawa's at Yamanashi Shrine by Mitsuya Kiemon (三矢喜右衛門), a member of the confraternity who went to Anao to invite Deguchi to join. According to Oomoto's historical narratives, Nagasawa's mother Toyoko (豊子) gave three books from Honda Chikaatsu to Deguchi, which were Shinden hisho (神伝秘書; also known as Reigakushō 霊学抄), Michi no taigen (道之大原), and Shintō montai (真道問対). Upon reading the books, Deguchi said that they contained the same teachings that the kami Kotodamahiko (異霊彦) had taught him while he had performed his ascetic training on Mount Takakuma in March 1898. As a result, Deguchi identified Kotodamahiko as the spirit of Honda Chikaatsu. He practiced chinkon kishin with Nagasawa, with Deguchi serving as kannushi (possessed person) while Nagasawa served as saniwa (spirit mediator). Deguchi also received a and stone flute from Nagasawa Toyoko.

Death and legacy Nagasawa died on October 10, 1940 and was buried at . Upon Nagasawa's death, Nakano Yonosuke became Nagasawa's successor. Nakano went on to found the Ananaikyo religion on April 4, 1949, which he saw as fulfilling Nagasawa's 1899 prophecy that a world religion would be founded after 50 years. consists of published selections of an opinion that Nagasawa and provided on March 10, 1927 for the second trial that was held after the First Oomoto Incident (1921). is a shorthand record of an interview between 3 Oomoto lawyers and Nagasawa from September 15–16, 1940 (the interview on September 17, 1940 was not recorded). It consists of 130 pages.