THE STORY OF VALERIO LIMA
Valerio Lima during his first yamabushi training under Master Hoshino.
Just this past weekend, a group all the way from Brazil successfully completed a three-day Yamabushi training under Master Hoshino here on the Dewa Sanzan mountains in Yamagata. How they came to be here in the first place is quite the adventure.
Let’s rewind to Spring 2016.
Master Hoshino receives an unexpected email. The conversation that followed went something like this:
Master Hoshino to Tak: "Kato, I got this email, but it's not in Japanese. What does it say?"
Tak: "It's a person from Brazil who wants to do Yamabushi training there."
Master Hoshino: "Yamabushi training in Brazil? Well, if they come to Daishobo and train with us on these mountains, I guess that could be arranged."
Fast forward to a few months later, a jet-lagged Brazilian by the name of Valerio Lima arrives at the doorstep of Daishobo, thousands of kilometers from his home in Pirenópolis. Despite the autumn chill and the snow on the ground, Valerio remained undeterred. He put on his white yamabushi clothing, and completed his first training under Master Hoshino.
Valerio Lima after completing yamabushi training under Master Hoshino on Haguro-san (Mt. Haguro) and Kinbo-zan (Mt. Kinbo).
Still wanting more, the following year, Valerio returned to Tsuruoka for a second training with Master Hoshino. Not only that, he extended his stay to participate in Dewa Sanzan Jinja's Akinomine Autumn's Peak ritual, a secretive weeklong training to become a fully-fledged Yamabushi.
Valerio with Tim from the Yamabushido team after a successful Akinomine Autumn's Peak Ritual.
Upon completion, Valerio received his Yamabushi name: 智脩 Chishu. Together, this name could be interpreted as “wise discipline” or “cultivating wisdom”, a name reflecting the Yamabushi practice of seeking spiritual insight and self-improvement through ascetic training in nature.
Valerio’s dedication didn’t stop there. He organized and led groups from Brazil to Japan for Yamabushi training. These trips allowed more people to experience the transformative power of the practice directly in its traditional setting.
Master Hoshino goes to Brazil
Then, true to their word, the following year Master Hoshino and Tak traveled to Brazil for yamabushi training. Valerio had found a location with all the elements required: nature, a waterfall for meditation, space for dedicating to the Kami and Buddha, and accommodation. This training was conducted twice, with the second session in February 2020 just before the pandemic really hit.
In 2023, Valerio visited Daishobo again for Master Hoshino’s birthday. And just this past weekend, Valerio and a group from Brazil with people from Peru and also Poland successfully completed a three-day training under Master Hoshino's guidance.
Here are some photos from the weekend
Master Hoshino leading training on Haguro-san.
Climbing the steep slopes of Kinbo-zan.
The group after a successful training with Master Hoshino.
Master Hoshino reflected on this recent training:
“Participants braved steep ascents through lingering snow on Haguro-san and Kinbo-zan while engaging in fasting rituals, fire-jumping ceremonies, and prayers at sacred shrines like Sanjin Gosaiden. Despite these physical challenges, they emerged renewed—filled with reverence for nature and their ancestors. It is truly inspiring to see how Yamabushi traditions resonate globally, so much so that there are signs annual Yamabushi training may soon take root in Brazil.”
- Master Hoshino
One of the participants from Brazil added:
"After 12 years of discussing Japanese culture with Valerio and 2 months of meditation in India, the timing finally aligned. The mountain integration feels like the culmination of my spiritual quest."
- J.
Finally, Valerio had this to say:
“I am deeply moved to have reached a position where I can guide the next generation on these sacred mountains that changed my life nine years ago. After receiving my yamabushi name in 2017, I established the Japan Therapy Institute in Brazil. Having grown into the largest institute of its kind in Latin America, the next focus will be on helping to nurture more female Yamabushi."
- Valerio Lima
You don’t need mountains nor do you need to be in Japan to experience the transformative power of Yamabushi training. With the right know-how and experience gained on The Dewa Sanzan mountains, the essence of this practice, immersing yourself in nature, praying, sensing rather than thinking, and rediscovering your true self, can be applied anywhere.
We are a small team of like-minded Yamabushi practitioners. People like Valerio show just how big even one person’s impact can be. His journey all the way from Brazil exemplifies the far-reaching influence of Yamabushi training, with his unwavering commitment demonstrating how dedicated practitioners can transform lives worldwide through this timeless wisdom. Through individuals like Valerio, the spirit of Yamabushi training continues to touch lives across the globe.
