[kototama- the original sound rhythms of universal creation]
Welcome to these resources for sound practice as taught by revered teacher, O-Sensei M.M. Nakazono (1918-1994). Here you will find a collection of his instructions for sound practice as well as audio excerpts from live recordings to support your study and practice of Kototama as a means of self-discovery, inner purification, and alignment with your highest nature. As O-Sensei put it, it is time to “wake up” to our highest capacity of being human and find out who we really are.
The 5 “Mother Sounds”
A– the “Light of Life,” expansion power
I– the Life Will, Inner Substance
E– separating capacity of judgement
O– intellectual, memory capacity
U– physical senses, concentration power
(For more information on Mother Sounds, please refer to O-Sensei’s Legacy Works.)
*See Pronunciation Guide
Fundamental Sound Practices
"SU- A -WA" (for awakening)
Mother & Half-Mother Sounds
50 Sound Rhythms in Futonolito Order
Two Prayers of Purification
(recited 3 x each)
32 Child Sounds
Iso Kami Shrine Prayer
Iso Kami Shrine and 32 Child Sounds
Additional resources
Prayers of Gratitude to the Ancestors
Live recording of Jizo Bosatsu Ceremony from Santa Fe, NM at O-Sensei’s school and dojo, the Kototama Institute ~1985.
Read more about Jizo Bosatsu here.
Jizo Bosatsu Ceremony
The Purpose of Sound Practice
Direct experience is far beyond talking…a lively explanation excerpted from a talk by O-Sensei following a Jizo Bosatsu Ceremony. See transcript to be posted here.
Far Beyond Talking
Details on How to Do 50 Sounds Practice
O-Sensei gives specific instruction on how to chant the 50 sounds most effectively, demonstrating the rhythm, pauses, and breathing. [transcript available soon]
How to Practice Sounds
*Pronunciation Guide
A– as in “ah” or “cot”…. the mouth is full open, big and round.
I– as in “easy” or “see”…. bite the teeth, opening lips sideways.
E– as in “way” or “say”… from the “I” position, open the teeth.
O– as in “oh” or “go”…. open mouth half-way making it round.
U– as in “too” or “blue”…. make the mouth small and round.
The pure vowels sounds of the Kototama Mother Sounds do not belong to any one languge. Key words are presented here in English. Listen to the recordings and observe the vibration you feel/hear. A detailed explanation by the author is found in the introduction to Inochi- the Book of Life. Practicing with the audios or experienced practitioners is helpful, but the crucial practice is to be fully present and experience the sounds directly, without preconceived thoughts or imagination.
Original Sound Card Instruction & Practice Guide from O-Sensei
Let your own highest, inner judgement, the IE dimension, guide you in understanding the meaning and significance of the Sounds.
What Do These Prayers (Noritos) Mean?
Students of sound practice often ask what these ancient prayers actually mean. They are of ancient origin, and are not written in modern Japanese language or characters, so a direct translation does not yield the meaning.
Out of compassion for students and the mind’s strong sense of inquiry, O-Sensei wrote a brief explanation offering a sense of the original meaning behind these prayers. Use it as a guide to search the meaning behind the words, without getting stuck on any particular word or religious idea.
O Sensei explains the basic meaning of the prayers:
“Everyone should practice to see the pure inner meaning of each sound. This is an ancient, symbolic prayer left to us by our ancestors, but the order of the sounds will help us to return to the place of natural and complete human beans. That is the reason that our ancestors left it to us. If we try to see their meaning by translating it, Word for Word, it is impossible. But, just roughly I will give you some sense of the inner meaning to the order of sounds in this prayer.
I have knowledge of the 50 sounds of the Kototama principle, and I am seriously trying to put all of the phenomena in a priority and a posterior into exact order by using the Kototama mirror. I know that if I can do this work exactly that it will be impossible for me to commit any kind of crimes, either spiritually or physically…everything will be purified. It is for my purification today that this sound principal was created by Izanagi when he was able to completely grasp the order of his own manifestation from U unto all the millions of separate manifestations which are permanently staying in the bottom of our beings as the capacity of human life.
Now I am seriously searching and asking that I may be able to completely take back this original capacity so that I can manifest out everything as it is. May the perfect order of the universe manifest out through my life as my own complete capacity… as I am.”
further contemplation
The 50 Kototama Sound Rhythms
in Three Orders
“Treasure Left to Us by Our Ancestors.” – M.M. Nakazono
In his Legacy Works, the author explains there are three dimensions of human life. The purest, highest capacity manifests as the Futonolito order, which is the divine core of the human being. On one side is the intellectual/thinking/physical capacity of Kanagi order, and on the other is the spiritual/arts/psychic capacitiy of the Sugaso order.
According to Sensei, sound practice inquiry can help people awaken and directly realize these natural capacities. In his last Jizo Bosatsu ceremony at his school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, O-Sensei encouraged everyone to continue to practice the sounds, especially in the Futonolito order.
Kanagi Order
KANAGI ORDER-This is the main order of our current material/scientific civilization based on UO dimensions of physical and intellectual capacities. It is symbolized by the star in the night sky, as where the starlight is beautiful, it is not so easy to see clearly in the darkness of night. It is patriarchal in nature.
Futonolito Order
FUTONOLITO ORDER- This is the order of the next civilization’s higher consciousness. It is symbolized by a golden sun fully illuminating the world, as fully awakened human beings will have the highest viewpoint of Life. It is in the center, able to integrate both Kanagi and Sugaso capacities as well.
Sugaso Order
SUGASO ORDER- Based on AO dimension of emotional and spiritual/psychic human capacities, the spiritual “a priori” capacities are symbolized by the full moon light, seeing more in the night. Although still part of modern civilization, Sugaso was the main order in the prior civilization and is maternal in nature.
NOTE: Detailed explanations of the Kototama Principle and the 3 orders of civilization can be found in O-Sensei’s legacy books at
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1
The great tao begot two. two begot three. three beGot FIVE, and five begot all things. Tao te Ching 42.
________________________________
(NOTE: The resources presented on this page are protected by copyright. They are offered for personal use only. Please do not share on social media nor republish in any manner without express written permission from Kototama Books. Thank you.)
The principle of the Kototama is the principle of the human life dimension, and the highest human truth. This principle belongs to all human beings. Every human being has the same capacity.
-M.M. Nakazono, The Source of the Present Civilization, 1990
Kototama Books
Contact Information
All rights reserved.
For permissions, translations, or further information, please contact Kototama Books, publisher for the writings of Mikoto Masahilo Nakazono, O Sensei.
Hinomoto no Mikoto Masahilo Nakazono
(May 22, 1918 – October 8, 1994)