Yamato Breath School

A place to restore body and mind through ancient Yamato wisdom, and to learn the Breath of Harmony.

Yamato Breath School is a place of practice rooted in the wisdom of ancient Yamato and classical Shinto teachings. We train in Yamato Breathing, a discipline that integrates breath, awareness, and the chakra system.
It opens the inner gateway of light and cultivates a harmonizing breath that resonates with heaven and earth.
Through this path we align body, mind, and spirit, returning to our innate purity and vital energy.

What is “Yamato”?

Historically, Yamato (倭) was a name used by China for Japan, but we recognize a renewed meaning in it today.
It evokes the image of a woman giving thanks for nature’s blessings and offering prayer to the heavens.
In the character’s old form, the elements for “person” (亻), “grain/rice” (禾), and “woman” (女) overlap—reflecting fertility and gratitude through rice cultivation and women’s prayer.

Ancient records described a polity centered on prayer, led by a queen who governs through ritual, which Chinese historians called “kido” (鬼道).
Here, “oni” (鬼) originally meant spirits of the dead or the unseen, not monsters.
Later in Japan, “oni” came to mean vengeful spirits or demons, which led to the mistaken notion that “oni = base” and therefore “Yamato = base.”

Yamato is not base. Yamato is the name of a practice of prayer and harmony.

Yamato Breath School revives this original meaning for the present age, providing a place to refine body and spirit through breath, mindful movement, sacred words, and prayer, expanding inner harmony.

FAQ｜Frequently Asked Questions

▽ Q1. Isn’t “Yamato” a derogatory term?

Historically, “Yamato” was used by China as an external name for Japan, and in later eras some pejorative readings appeared.
At Yamato Breath School we redefine Yamato = a practice of prayer and harmony, and we use it in a context that does not promote derogatory meaning.

⇨ Q2. Why do you use “Yamato” instead of “Wa”?

Because it is a quiet effort to correct prejudice and to restore a meaning that was nearly lost.
We do not discard the past; we reread it properly—that is our way.

⇨ Q3. What is “kido”? It sounds frightening.

In ancient Chinese records, “oni” (鬼) referred to spirits of the dead or unseen beings, not monsters.
The governance of a praying queen (shamanic rulership) was described as “kido.”
Later in Japan, the concept of “oni” shifted toward vengeful spirits or monsters, which caused misunderstanding.

⇨ Q4. Is Yamato Breath School a religious organization?

No. We never impose beliefs.
This is a place for adjusting body and mind through breath, mindful movement, sacred words, and prayer, and for learning about history and culture.

⇨ Q5. How do you distinguish historical facts from spiritual practice?

Historical sources and scholarly views are presented as academic information, while prayer and personal experiences are shared as individual practice.
We do not mix the two and we respect the value of both.

⇨ Q6. Who is this for? Can beginners join?

It is open to those who wish to “restore the body,” “clear the heart,” or “experience the core of Japanese culture.”
First-time visitors can see our Beginner Guide.

Beginner Guide

Session Flow (about 60–75 minutes)

Check-in & brief health check (5 min)
Redefining “Yamato” & basics of breathing (10 min)
Foundational forms & posture alignment (15 min)
Breath work (15 min): clearing the five senses & how to place awareness
Mini-prayer (5 min): using sacred words (kotodama) to settle the space
Q&A & next steps (10–15 min)

Time, Outfit, What to Bring

Duration: 60–75 minutes (late arrivals shorten the session time)
Outfit: Comfortable everyday clothing (skirts and stiff belts are not recommended)
Bring: Water, a small towel, and knee pads if needed

Participation Conditions

No medical restrictions on movement (consult us in advance if unsure)
No imposition of beliefs (this is a place of study and practice)
If filming occurs, we will ask permission in advance

Requests for the Day

Please arrive 10 minutes early (to ensure calm before breath work)
Avoid strong perfume or hair products (smell is part of the training)
Please refrain from joining after drinking alcohol

Beginner Q&A

⇨ I’m in pain—can I still join?

We proceed within a comfortable range. If you have sharp pain or medical instructions, please consult us in advance. We will suggest alternative postures.

⇨ Is this a religion?

No. It is a place for body–mind adjustment through breath, movement, sacred words, and prayer, along with learning about history and culture.

⇨ Which course should I start with?

First-timers: trial session → Beginner course. During the trial we’ll check your condition and suggest the best next step.

Contact (Pre-Consultation)

Trial / Apply

What Is Yamato Breathing (Essence)

Yamato Breathing is a practice that unites energy (ki), breath, and consciousness, sharpening the five senses and opening into the sixth, seventh, and eighth senses.

Here, activation does not mean muscle contest.
It rests on the simple, fermentation-rich diet and honest way of living that supported Edo-period resilience,
combined with modern ethics (balance of public/private; sustainability) and clarity of mind (scientific literacy; discernment),
to restore circulation across body–mind and space.
We reconnect the strengths of the past with the wisdom of the present to awaken the body’s innate intelligence.

Bridging Worldviews: Takamagahara & the Quantum Field / Light & Dragon Deities

In classical Shinto, Takamagahara is the unseen field from which all phenomena arise.
Modern physics describes a comparable framework as the quantum field.
We do not claim identity, but treat them as two perspectives describing one underlying reality.

Within this field, light illuminates, and dragon deities carry the circulation of energy across dimensions,
weaving connections among people, land, and eras, and assisting inviting, calming, and elevating spirits.
If the sacred pillar is the axis joining heaven and earth, the dragon is the flow moving around it.
Together they settle the space.

Tenko Kotodama Shōkon Prayer Method (Core)

After embodying Yamato Breathing, I received the Tenko Kotodama Shōkon Prayer Method and learned in depth that its essence is inviting, calming, and elevating spirits through practice.

The resonance of sacred words (kotodama) clears the space, invites wandering souls, calms them, and guides them toward light—
this is the core of our prayer.

Three Pillars of Study

Food: Water, simplicity, fermentation, seasonality, whole foods. Grounding the body through “uncomplicated eating” inspired by Edo wisdom.
Breath: Yamato breathing forms align the autonomic nervous system, posture, and awareness, opening from the five senses toward the eighth.
Prayer: Kotodama and calming-the-spirit practices to clear the “field” and harmonize the flows (dragons).

Curriculum Structure: Light Practice (Beginner to Special)

Beginner｜Awakening the Five to Six Senses

Sharpen sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch / open the inner gateway of light / sprout intuition, analysis, and insight / posture & breath foundations

Intermediate｜Harmonizing the Seventh Sense

Develop resonance and attunement / read the atmosphere of a place / basics of kotodama practice

Advanced｜Integrating the Eighth Sense

Integrate perception with the laws of the universe / Akashic reading

Special (Inner Transmission)｜Training Prayer Practitioners

Methods: kotodama, radiant light, boundary-setting, divine healing, distance work, liturgical recitation
Mastering the Tenko Kotodama Shōkon Prayer Method (inviting, calming, elevating spirits)

*For details (duration, requirements, tuition, schedule), see the “Light Practice (Beginner–Special)” page.

Learning at Yamato Breath School (Extending into Daily Life)

Alongside breathwork, we study quieting and restoring the heart, addressing negative influences from past entanglements or stagnant energy, and regaining inner peace.
This is not passive; it cultivates the power to act. Its gentle ripples extend to family and community.

My Path

From childhood I felt close to the presence of the kami (deities), growing up surrounded by prayer and nature.
My father was deeply devoted to Shinto, and by around age four I could recite the Heart Sutra.

In 2015 I received the message “Pacify the land.” Guided by it, I established more than 500 sites of Ame-no-Mihashira (pillars of light) across Japan, journeying to help calm earthquakes, awaken sealed deities and dragon spirits, and serve in land purification, spirit elevation, and the release of bindings or curses tied to mountains, rivers, and seas.

Many named and unnamed people were buried in the shadows of history. I bring light to fear-bound thoughts, returning the fundamental chains on the soul back into harmony. That is my starting point.

My Aim (Declaration)

I believe that as each of us awakens—living with smiles, health, abundance, and peace—we contribute directly to the world’s great harmony.

After embodying Yamato Breathing and receiving the Tenko Kotodama Shōkon Prayer Method, I organized this understanding into Light Practice: Beginner to Special.
Let it begin with the simple things: one breath, one sacred word, one nourishing meal.
May we awaken the Yamato spirit within and train together in a breath that harmonizes with heaven and earth.
— Masayoshi Kawase 😊✨

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