The Mainichi, Saturday 25th January 1947 (Page 2)

'Goddess' Released

Yoshiko Nagaoka Said Suffering From Delusion

    KANAZAWA, Jan. 23 - The self-styled Deity, Yoshiko Nagaoka whom her fanatic devotees worshipped as "Jiko-san" or "Sun Goddess" was diagnosed today as "mentally unbalanced" by Dr. Hato-o Akimoto, professor of psychiatry at Kanazawa Medical University.
    Dr. Akimoto said that although she looks like an ordinary woman, she is seized with the morbid religious delusion, suffering from a case of "dementia paranoia."
    After being arrested by the Tamagawa police together with Futabayama, noted ex-sumo champion, the "sun goddess" underwent a two day questioning. Found mentally unbalanced, however, the "Jiko-son" was freed from prison late this afternoon.
    The police flatly denied the widespread rumor among followers that the "Jiko-son" is a daughter of Lord Ikeda, descendant of the Prince Kuni household.
    She was the former wife of Sadao Nagaoka, 51, ex-business manager of the shipping department of the NYK and at present on the staff of the Shipping Operation Association in Kobe.
    After a divorce in 1945, she began devoting herself to worship of "Kobo-Daishi". Though she established the "Yonaoshi-kai" (World Purification Society) in October, 1945, it was ordered dissolved on charge of lese-majeste. In January, 1946, she founded a new religion called "Jiu-kyo" at Sekine-cho, Suginami-ku, Tokyo.