Like many countries, Japan has a fascinating history of cults, which seem quite plentiful given the relative size of the island nation. Prior to this episode, I was going deep into readings of Pana-Wave, the Japanese cult led by the late Yuko Chino.

Pana-Wave is largely an amalgamation of beliefs, featuring the arrival of archangels 365 million years ago on the land now known as Egypt. This concept is not original, though. Writers like Peter Kolosimo are best remembered for similar notions, and alien contact faiths are widespread. Scientology and Raelism are perhaps the best known. It gets more curious from here.

Pana-Wave argued that Chairwoman Chino was the prophet capable of communicating with these archangels, which had taken various forms over those years. Already eccentric – Chino relayed directives from her van, named Arcadia, and the group traveled in a caravan of vans – the prophet claimed Communist guerrillas were trying to kill her slowly via electromagnetic waves. Sound strange? Context during this historical period is important; after failed mass protests in Japan in 1970, the country’s New Left splintered in countless factions and became more violent and radical. While the cult and revolutionaries never clashed, apparently, the specter of the Japanese Red Army and other leftist formations was vivid. Moreover, Pana-Wave members believed the Communists were seeking to control East Asia and establish a more collective worldview. In this lens, Chino stood in the way, hence her targeting for assassination.

The Pana-Wave Laboratory was born to fight the attack on Chino and discover tactics to thwart the electromagnetic assault. Cult members took to wearing white from head to toe, including face masks, as they believed such was protective. The outfits, along with many other adventures, including attempting to steal a wild seal in 2003 and declaring the world would end on May 15, then May 22 that year, made Pana-Wave quite famous. Chino died in 2006. The group reportedly persists today.

Playlist

And Again Those Eyes
Karen Gwyer
Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase
Don't Be Afraid

SUM1
Alpha Maid
CHUCKLE
C.A.N.V.A.S.

Blistex
Eev Frances
Sometimes I Forget To Breathe
Self released

Sleight of Hand
The Legendary Pink Dots
So Lonely In Heaven
Metropolis Records

(hoodwink)
Klein
thirteen sense
Parkwuud Entertainment

Arrested
Lucy Liyou
Arrested
Orange Milk

Iii.Iii
Rafael Toral
Space Elements Vol. III
Staubgold

Hormone
Growing
PUMPS!
Vice Music

Protest
Eli Keszler
Harka Original Soundtrack
LUCKYME®

Rise and Fall - Beatrice Dillon remix
Bendik Giske, Beatrice Dillon
Rise and Fall (Beatrice Dillon remix)
Smalltown Supersound

Shoes Of Gold
Matana Roberts
COIN COIN Chapter Four: Memphis
Constellation

Salt End
Philip Jeck, Chris Watson
Oxmardyke
Touch

to live by a body of water is to forget it exists
Yara Asmar
Stuttering Music
Ruptured

River Acheron
Ela Orleans
Upper Hell
Pussyfoot Records

Annaline
Swans
leaving meaning.
Young God Records