Access Restrictions
Use Restrictions
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Related Archival Materials
Title: Hawayo Takata papers
Identifier/Call Number: ARC Mss 86
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Creator:
Takata, Hawayo Kawamuri, 1900-1980
Physical Description:
27.11 linear feet
(2 cartons, 8 document boxes, 3 half-size document boxes, 16 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1935-2011
Date (bulk): 1938-1980
Abstract: The collection includes the personal papers and belongings of Hawayo Takata, Reiki master, as well as material on Reiki practices
throughout the 1930s to 1980s.
Language of Material: Materials are in English and Japanese.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
No reproductions permitted for certificates.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donation, 2017
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Hawayo Takata papers. ARC Mss 86. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library,
University of California, Santa Barbara.
Biographical Note
In her diary, Hawayo Takata describes Reiki as an "unseen spiritual power that vibrates and all other powers fade into insignificance
beside it." This power or force is believed to be within all of us, but those who study and apply it correctly can use it
to heal. Dr. Mikao Usui introduced Reiki in Japan in 1922. Since that time, Reiki has become a popular alternative to medicine
and a technique for stress reduction and relaxation. Practitioners practice healing mild and chronic, physical or mental ailments
with energy transferred through their hands.
In 1935, when Takata was 35 years old, she suffered from several illnesses and traveled to Japan for care. She entered a hospital
in Tokyo for an operation and while there, she heard about Reiki and decided to try the therapy. While under the care of Reiki
master Chujiro Hayashi for four months, Mrs. Takata recovered. She was so grateful that she asked to be taught the practice
of Reiki. In February 1938, Hayashi Sensei initiated Hawayo Takata as a Reiki Master. She took everything that she had learned
to Hawaii and would go on to train twenty-two masters. During the years of practicing Reiki in Hawaii, she acquired international
and well-known clients, including Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke, and traveled to the United States mainland and other parts
of the world teaching and giving treatments.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of personal belongings, Hawayo Takata's personal writings, publications on Reiki, certificates, correspondence,
and photographs relating to the life of Hawayo Takata and Reiki practices.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into six series: Biographical materials, Correspondence, Certificates, Reiki writings, Photographs,
and Memorabilia and artifacts.
Related Archival Materials
American Religions Collection, ARC Mss 1, Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Cult Awareness Network (CAN) Collection. ARC Mss 19. Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of
California, Santa Barbara.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Reiki (Healing system)
Spiritual care (Medical care)
Spiritual healing
Certificates
Correspondence
Photographs
Writings (documents)
Takata, Hawayo Kawamuri, 1900-1980 -- Archives