Ryuho Okawa[a] (大川 隆法; Ōkawa Ryūhō; born Takashi Nakagawa (中川 隆; Nakagawa Takashi), 7 July 1956 – 2 March 2023) was a Japanese religious and political leader who was the CEO and founder of the Happy Science and the Happiness Realization Party.

Yoshikawa edited journals for the Japanese Communist Party and later worked as an agricultural advisor in local government.

He later became a follower of Shinji Takahashi, leader of the religious organization God Light Association [ja] (GLA).

[15] He wanted to spread his ideas in academia, or broaden his view on life by experiencing different cultures as a diplomat.

[16] During his second year, a time he calls "the first stage in the 'awakening of wisdom'",[15] he modeled his daily schedule after that of Immanuel Kant, whom he respected deeply.

[16] He accepted a job offer from TOMEN Corporation [ja] (now Toyota Tsusho), a major Japanese trading company, because his grades were not sufficient for graduate school.

[15] On 23 March 1981, before graduating from university and working at TOMEN Corporation, Okawa said he experienced his "Buddha Enlightenment", his first contact with a high divine spirit.

[18] In June 1981, the religious leader Shinji Takahashi's spirit told Okawa his destiny to found a new religion.

The next month, the spirits spoke through Okawa, including those of Kūkai, Shinran, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Moses, and Nostradamus.

[22][20] The last two spiritual messages were published in early 1991: The Great Warning of Allah (アラーの大警, Arā no dai-keikoku) (January 1991) and The Terrifying Revelations of Nostradamus (ノストラダムス戦慄の啓示, Nosutoradamusu senritsu no keiji) (February 1991).

[20] The books of spiritual messages were replaced with newer versions when Okawa started publishing under his own name after the foundation of Happy Science.

[25][3][f] He dropped out of university after experiencing an intensified inferiority complex from seeing a Taiwanese classmate who spoke fluent English.

On 15 July, he resigned from TOMEN Corporation and on October 6, founded Happy Science and adopted the name "Ryuho Okawa".

[31][g] In March 1987, Okawa gave what is known as his first official large public lecture, entitled "The Principles of Happiness", to an audience of about 400 people.

[31][j] The group's government recognition allowed it to gradually grow by taking on new members from the general Japanese public.

Each book in the trilogy had its subtitle revised, which now refers explicitly to El Cantare's name rather than the shaka as with the original versions.

[37] Since the founding of Happy Science, Okawa has reportedly published over 500 books,[42] most of which are transcripts of his video recorded lectures.

[3] Fukui (2004) notes that Okawa's leadership is consistent with sociologist Max Weber's theory about charismatic authority.

Fukui (2004) says, citing Wallis (1983), that rapid change allows a charismatic leader to stay in power.

Fukui (2004) says "apart from the presence of the gohonzon (the religious icon of worship) within the office of each division, it felt as though I was visiting a major trading house.

[46] Their worship gives them "comfort, energy, courage, hope, steadiness, and a sense of being guided and looked after.

Dark thoughts currently outweigh the Light in the world, creating the need for a Utopia which reverses the situation.

Okawa plays the exemplary role as the Buddha by embodying the correct way of living and by guiding people to enlightenment.

Okawa said they all have the purpose of learning Happy Science's fundamental scripture, "The Dharma of the Right Mind" (正心法語, Shōshin Hōgo).

Others are published under the name of Happy Science or its Public Relations Department, which include books, magazines, comics, and textbooks.

[49] Unlike traditional religious text, Okawa's writings are very easy to read, with some parts being almost poetic.

After the book's publication, Happy Science and Aum Shinrikyo were invited to a live television debate, but Okawa declined to participate.

[7][58][59] Aum members attempted to kill Okawa by putting the nerve agent VX in the air conditioning system of his car.

Of his marriage with Kyoko, Okawa said it provided his life "with a stable basis that enabled me to concentrate even more on my task",[32] and that it was "instrumental in the development of [Happy Science]".

[32] Like her husband, Kyoko has also published books for Happy Science, which mainly targeted the female audience.