Chujiro Hayashi Sensei (1879 – 1940) graduated from the Naval Academy on December 1902.  He was a reserve navy captain and a medical officer.  In 1925 he received Shinpiden from Usui Sensei and following his advice, he set up a Reiki Clinic in Shinanomachi, Tokyo

To increase the efficacy of Usui Reiki Ryoho, he introduced new methods such as the use of beds (Until then, with the exception of gravely ill patients, patients were treated in a seated position) and treatment by more than one healer. (Previously the treatments were given one-on-one)

Hayashi Sensei’s clinic had 8 treatment tables, and two healers treated each patient.  There were 16 Reiki healers on duty, and the clinic was just as well attended as the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai headquarters.

Hayashi Sensei founded Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai.  Based on the clinical data he obtained, he systematized the hand positions and developed a new guideline for Reiki Ryoho.

After Usui Sensei’s death, Hayashi Sensei left Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, and Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai became an independent establishment.  After becoming independent, Hayashi Sensei developed a new method of teaching Reiki Ryoho:  Training sessions were held once a month, for five consecutive days, and upon completion the students were awarded Okuden (level II) certificates.  The certificate was issued by Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai, but formally, “Betterment of Mind and Body - Usui Reiki Ryoho” was instructed.

Even after Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai became an independent establishment, Hayashi Sensei continued to hold Usui Sensei in esteem.  During treatment or training sessions, he would hang a scroll on which Usui Sensei’s Five Precepts were hand-written by himself.  Hayashi Sensei continued to spread Usui Sensei’s teachings and the name of Usui Reiki Ryoho.  (Had he used another name after becoming independent, the name of Usui Sensei or Reiki Ryoho would not have become known throughout the world.)

Hayashi Sensei would travel to different towns for his five-day training session if there were 10 applicants and gave them Okuden.

Hayashi Reiki Ryoho was spread mainly in Japan.  Through Hayashi Sensei’s connections, many followers were members of the upper class, such as artists, writers and businessmen.

Hayashi Sensei adopted a three-level system (Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden) as in Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.  He awarded Shinpiden to 13 people.  The two female recipients were his wife, Mrs. Chie Hayashi, and Hawayo Takata Sensei (1900 – 1980).

Though there are many accounts that put the date of Hayashi Sensei’s death as 1941, but the correct date according to the navy’s register is 1940.  According to Mrs. Chie Hayashi, Hayashi Sensei did not want to go back to a battlefield again and committed suicide.  Hayashi Sensei passed away on May 11, 1940.  He was 62, the same age as Usui Sensei when he passed away.

After Hayashi Sensei’s death, Mrs. Chie Hayashi became the second president of Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai.  She wanted her children (a son and a daughter) to become a successor, but as they did not, Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai disappeared.

Hayashi Sensei was aware of Takata Sensei’s gift, and seemingly he entrusted her to spread Reiki Ryoho throughout the world.  Takata Sensei is the pioneer of Western Reiki.  She studied Usui Reiki Ryoho at Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai after Hayashi Sensei cured her of a serious disease with Reiki Ryoho.  Upon her return to Hawaii, she opened a Reiki clinic, and after her death, the 22 Reiki Masters she trained spread Reiki Ryoho throughout the world.