Revelations Made by Police on Japanese Cult Osaka, Oct. 11, Debauchery cloaked in sanctity was being widely committed by Tokuichl Miki, the founder and head of the Hito-no-Micht cult, and members of the hierarchy in his "church police investigators revealed to-day.
Indications were also given that Miki may be charged with lesemajesta and attempted treason in addition to rape.
'The lose majesta charge, officials intimated, will be made' on the grounds that the indiscriminate use of amulets of the chrysanthemum and papulownia emblems, crests of the Imperial house, was disrespectful.
The amulets were distributed believers donating more than ¥.30 and were contained in a box also embossed with a replica of the Imperial crest.
The charge of attempted treason, it was understood, will be based on evidence that Miki attempted to deity himself and to create a dynasty of Hito-no-michi "pontifis," his frst successor being his own son, Tokuchika.
"Spirit Chamber"
Startling revelations that Miki used the "Spirit Chamber." the holy of holies of his cult, to debauch young girl believers serving him as "attendants," were made by the police to-day on the basis of alleged confessions made by both the defendant and his victims, More than ten young girls, the police said, wore attacked by "Mik! while performing rites of "purification" and "inspiration." This latter ritual, which police ssid was "out rageously lascivious," was designed to "remove the spiritual pains and clear the head" of the woman be-Heyer submitting to it.
The holy of holies was closely guarded, and even the highest "priests" were compelled to wash themselves thoroughly in cold water before entering it.
Several of these "high prests" were aware of Miki's practices and attempted to follow his example in
alleged.
Yarlous regional shrines, the police Sumptuous Bathrooms The discovery of sumptuously appointed bath rooms in the various villas of the "pontiff" where he proceeded for "retreats" have led to the disclosure that they were also used for orgies, with Miki watching his Women "attendants" bathe while he was lying on a large couch, investigators said.
The defence denies these allegations, believers in the cult pointing out that Miki was in a very weak state when arrested because he had "assumed the sins" of his followers. Under the Hito-no-Michi teachings. the pontiff could atone for the sins of other believers by tormenting himself, The distribution of amulets has been stopped by court order pending further investigation, while the police have ordered the sealing of the "Spirit, Chamber." The interlaced sun and moon insignia on the tomb of Miki's ancestors, apparently signifying that they were the originators of the human race, have also been ordered stricken off, Police investigations, it is understood, are proceeding along—three lines, namely, the morals, the flnancing and the theory of the religion Domei,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.