Kurozumi Munetada
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Kurozumi Munetada (1780–1850) was a Japanese Shintō priest who founded Kurozumi-kyō, a religion that served as a prototype for Japan's contemporary "new religions." His followers worship the sun goddess Amaterasu as the supreme deity and creator of the universe. Devotional practices include morning worship of the sun, incorporating breathing exercises described as "swallowing the sun," aimed at achieving spiritual union and physical well-being. Kurozumi-kyō was officially recognized as a Shintō sect in 1846 and reorganized under its current name in 1876. It remains a recognized denomination of Sect Shintō and, in the late 20th century, had over 200,000 adherents.1
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