Mahikari means "true light" and is a new Japanese religion founded by a Japanese businessman in 1963 after he supposedly received revelations from a deity in 1959. Sukyo Mahikari is a nonprofit spiritual and community service organization with centers in more than 100 countries. The purpose of the organization is to help people understand and use divine light energy and certain "universal principles" in all aspects of life to eventually create peace in the world. New religious movements in Japan, such as this one, are called shinshukyo. Some of these new religious movements have been described as cults.
Takayama is surrounded by mountains and has an old world feel. It was a big supplier of timber during the Edo Period, the feudal period from the early 1600’s to mid 1800’s when the town was under shogunate control.
Takayama is located in the mountainous Hida region. The town often is referred to as Hida-Takayama to distinguish it from other places named Takayama.
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