Who was Eguchi Echiro (江口俊博)?
Eguchi Echiro—also known as Toshihiro—was another direct student of Mikao Usui. Following Usui’s passing and due to differences regarding how the Gakkai was managed, he decided in 1927 to part ways and establish his own method, which he named Palm Therapy (手のひら療治 – Te no Hira Ryōji).
This summary of his life is primarily drawn from one of his books, Talking about Palm Therapy, a compilation of posthumous writings collected and published by the Palm Therapy Research Society in 1954.
Early Years and Education
Eguchi was born on April 11, 1873, in Tsuboi, Hotaku District, Kumamoto Prefecture. His childhood was shaped by his father’s military career and frequent family relocations.
From adolescence, he struggled with recurring health issues. At age 14, he fainted while getting a haircut—an episode he later identified as the onset of his "brain disease." These fainting spells recurred throughout his youth.
He applied twice to the Army Cadet Academy but was rejected due to his physical condition. Later, he studied political science at the Imperial University, graduating in 1901.
Career as an Educator
His teaching career began in 1902. He served as a teacher and later as principal at several middle schools, a professional path he pursued for several decades.
Encounter with Usui Reiki
In 1925, upon the recommendation of Mrs. Tamura, Eguchi was initiated into Usui Reiki Therapy. He paid an entrance fee of 50 yen along with an attendance fee for each meeting. While he recognized the value of the method, he began to question the amounts charged for the instruction.
By 1927, he reached the conviction that Usui Reiki Therapy was an inherent, natural human healing capacity and that charging substantial fees to transmit it was unjustified. After declaring his decision, he withdrew from the association and publicly announced his own method: Palm Therapy.
Palm Therapy
The public response was substantial. The number of practitioners grew rapidly, and Eguchi continued to promote his method despite opposition from some physicians.
In 1929, Palm Therapy gained wide public recognition through a special feature in the magazine Nihon oyobi Nihonjin, written by Mitsui Kōshi. That same year, large-scale practical sessions were organized in Tokyo and Osaka.
In 1930, he published Introduction to Palm Therapy alongside Mitsui Kōshi. In 1932, he resigned from his post as school principal to dedicate himself entirely to practicing and spreading the method.
Final Years
From 1932 onward, he traveled regularly to promote Palm Therapy and organized study meetings across multiple cities, continuing his work even under wartime restrictions.
The 1945 bombing of Tokyo destroyed his home and most of his personal belongings. Eguchi passed away in June 1946 at the age of 73.