International Japanese Yoga Association

05/20/2026

One month of online classes in Nakamura Tempu’s Japanese yoga and meditation for just $40! That’s a total of 12 classes taught by H. E. Davey, Vice President of Kyoto’s International Japanese Yoga Association and the author of Japanese Yoga. With over 50 years of training and the highest IJYA teaching certification, he’s uniquely qualified to help you learn Nakamura Tempu’s authentic Art of Mind and Body Unification.

Sign up today at www.TempuYoga.

05/19/2026

"Laughter is a Human Prerogative"

As we go about our daily lives, we should make a real effort to live brightly, cheerfully, and with vigor.

In this sense, I highly praise the act of "laughter." When you laugh, your mind feels somehow relaxed and bright. It’s surprising how many people overlook this simple fact. As the highest of all living things, humans carry heavy burdens; laughter was given to us to bring our weary minds and bodies back into a healthy balance.—Nakamura Tempu

Learn more about Tempu Philosophy in H. E. Davey’s internationally acclaimed books The Teachings of Tempu and Japanese Yoga. Available everywhere!

05/12/2026

05/12/2026

“The Awakening of Conviction"

The very fact that we live as we do is because we possess, to some degree, a sense of conviction. How, then, is this conviction established and strengthened? It begins, first and foremost, with arousing that conviction from within.

Conviction cannot grow strong unless it is called forth. It is restless, yearning to emerge, yet it has been suppressed—buried deep, deep, deep in the recesses of the mind under a lid of negative thoughts. Once your conviction is fully awakened, you can remain as composed in times of crisis as you are in times of peace.—Nakamura Tempu

COMMENTARY

信念 (Shinnen): While often translated as "belief," in this context it refers to a deeper conviction or spiritual resolve. It’s the "inner backbone" that keeps a person steady.

かん発 (Kanpatsu): This is a powerful, active verb. It suggests that conviction isn't something you go out and buy or learn; it’s something you trigger or ignite from your subconscious.

消極的な観念 (Negative Ideas): This refers to the "mental clutter"—doubt, fear, and pessimism—that acts as a physical "lid" (futa) on your true potential.

事あるときも常に事なきのように (Remaining composed in crisis): This is a classic Zen-like ideal. It means staying "unmoved" or "calm" even when things are happening (koto aru) as if nothing were happening at all (koto naki).

Tempu Sensei used the repetition of "bottom, bottom, bottom" (底の底の底) to emphasize how far down we’ve pushed our natural confidence. In English, I used "recesses" to capture that depth, but the imagery is clear: your strength is already there; you just have to stop burying it.—H. E. Davey, author of The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life

To read more about Nakamura Tempu Sensei’s revolutionary Japanese yoga, meditation, and philosophy, take a look at H. E. Davey’s acclaimed books at www.MichiPublishing.com. And for affordable worldwide online classes go to www.TempuYoga.com.

05/04/2026

05/03/2026

“Building a Dependable Self"

“At its core, this means nurturing the power to make your life truly alive. It's about building up your physical strength, courage, good judgment, decisiveness, energy, and overall ability, both in quantity and quality, to fill your life with substance.”—Nakamura Tempu

Read more at http://www.TempuYoga.com and learn how you can study Nakamura Tempu’s Japanese yoga, meditation and philosophy from anywhere in the world.

04/30/2026

04/24/2026

The one thing you must be truly careful of—as I’ve mentioned every chance I get—is this: 'Don’t get so used to the greatness of these teachings that you settle for minor progress.'

The bottom line is to live with a spirit that says: 'Every day is a new beginning; I must renew myself day after day.’—Nakamura Tempu

Read more at www.japanese-yoga.com.

04/24/2026

“Is life heaven or hell?”

Life really comes down to how you see it—your mindset, your way of thinking. That’s what shapes whether it feels like heaven or hell.

If you think about it, the one deciding “this is heaven” or “this is hell” is your own mind. When your mind settles on “this is awful,” your whole life can start to feel that way.

So when things happen, it can help to lean toward thoughts like, “This is kind of nice,” or “I’m glad about this,” even in small ways.—Nakamura Tempu

Read more at www.TempuYoga.com.

04/20/2026

Nakamura Tempū

Born in 1876.

He was active in Manchuria and Mongolia as a military intelligence agent during the Russo-Japanese War. After returning to Japan, he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis—then considered an incurable disease—which weakened him both physically and mentally. This led him to reflect deeply on life, and he traveled throughout Europe and the United States in search of life’s truth.

He visited leading philosophers and religious figures but was unable to find the answers he sought. In disappointment, he decided to return to Japan. On his way back, however, he had a chance encounter with a yoga master and received guidance at the foot of the Himalayas. There, he realized the truth that “I am a strong being connected to the power of the infinite universe,” and by awakening to this, he overcame his illness and opened a new path in life.

After returning home, he became active in the business world. In 1919, wishing to help people suffering from illness, distress, and poverty, he began researching the true nature of human life based on his own experiences. He developed Shin-shin-toitsu -ho, the “Mind and Body Unification Method” and started giving lectures throughout Japan.

With the support of influential figures from political, financial, and other circles who were deeply impressed by his teachings, he founded a school to lead others to health and enlightenment. He continued teaching for the next 50 years.

Among those influenced by him were Tōgō Heihachirō, Hara Takashi, Kitamura Seibō, Matsush*ta Kōnosuke, Uno Chiyo, Futabayama Sadaji, Inamori Kazuo, and Hirooka Tatsurō. These individuals applied Nakamura Tempū’s philosophy to their own lives and business management.

He passed away in 1968 at the age of 92.

Want to learn more? Visit www.TempuYoga.com.