Yoshisane Tomokiyo

The spirit of Tomokiyo Yoshisane is deified as Okitamahiko no Mikoto (氣玉顏命) at Banzan Jinja (磐山神社) on Mount Iwaki.

, also known as or , was a Japanese religious leader known for founding the Shintō Tenkōkyo religion in 1920.

Biography Tomokiyo was born on October 9, 1888 in Sayama (佐山), now part of the city of Yamaguchi. He was the second son of a tailor and dyer and was given the name Kugo (九吾). As a child who suffered from poor health, he took an interest in philosophy and literature. His father died in 1895 when he was about 11 years old. At around the same time, he experienced . During the 1910s, Tomokiyo often engaged in mountain retreats in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture to study divination, meditation, and martial arts. He was also active in politics in Tokyo and Shimonoseki during the start of the Taisho era. Tomokiyo also became familiar with Shugendō and Shingon Buddhism teachings and practices during his time spent on Mount Hiko in Kyushu during the 1910s.

Later years and death After resigning as the leader of Shintō Tenkōkyo in 1931, Tomokiyo relocated to Miyaichi (宮市), now part of the city of Hōfu in Yamaguchi Prefecture. There, he lived a secluded life studying and writing at his residence. He died on February 15, 1952. Shortly afterwards on May 25, 1952, Banzan Jinja (磐山神社), a massha shrine, was officially erected on Mount Iwaki to enshrine his deified spirit, the kami Okitamahiko no Mikoto (氣玉顏命). Upon his death, his wife Tomokiyo Misao (友清操; 1899–1990, born Akahori Misao 赤堀操) became the leader of Shinto Tenkokyo. In April 1952, Shintō Tenkōkyo was officially incorporated as a religious organization. of which there are three different editions.

Family Tomokiyo Yoshisane was married to Tomokiyo Misao (友清操; 1899–1990), who was born Akahori Misao (赤堀操). She became the leader of Shintō Tenkōkyo after her husband died in 1952.