The Beginning of Shumei’s Sao Paulo Center

The story of Shumei’s Sao Paulo Center began when one woman, Suka Kawabata, returned to Brazil after living in Japan so that she could make a living after her husband had passed away.

Before returning to Brazil, Suka had lived in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, with her son and daughter-in-law, Roseli. Roseli was a member of Shumei. When a tumor was found in one of Roseli’s ovary, Suka watched as day after day Shumei members came to give her daughter-in-law Jyorei and when Roseli went to the hospital for surgery it was discovered that the tumor had completely disappeared. This motivated Suka to study Shumei’s practices and she became a member in 1994.

Suka was sad after returning to Brazil. She missed Shumei. Continuing to read and practice the teachings of Meishusama, she decided to share Jyorei with her sister who suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was not able to walk properly.

In June of 1998, Sensei Eugene Imai, Director of Shumei America, visited Sao Paulo and gave Suka’s sister Jyorei. From that day forward her sister’s condition began to slowly but steadily improve. In November of that year, Suka’s sister and her daughter, Mariko, visited Japan to receive their Ohikaris and join the Shumei family.

On March 8,1999, the eleventh anniversary of Suka’s husband’s passing, Suka received a Scroll of Light and on March 23 of the same year the Scroll was enshrined in her small apartment in San Paulo—the first Scroll of Light in Brazil. This was the joyful beginning of Shumei Brazil. Suka was 70 years old at the time.

Yasu Hirakawa, a Shumei full-time employee, arrived in Sao Paulo in February of 2000 and a Scroll of Light was enshrined at his home in Sao Paulo on September 15, 2002.  This was the opening of the Sao Paulo Center, the first Shumei Center in South America.