The Founder of the Konko Faith was born on September 29, 1814, in a small village called Urami (present-day Konko Town, Okayama Prefecture, Japan). Given the name Genshichi, he was the second son of Kandori Juhei and Shimo, both farmers.
Urami is a small quiet village located about two kilometers northwest of present-day Konkokyo Headquarters. Genshichi was often carried by his father’s back and visited various shrines and temples.
As Genshichi was the second son and thus not expected to take over the family lineage or farm, he was arranged to be adopted in the fall of 1825. Genshichi was adopted by Kawate Kumejiro and Iwa, and he was renamed Kawate Bunjiro, or Bunji.

When Bunji was 13, he received education from Ono Mitsuemon, the village headman for two years. It was rare for such an intellectual to be living in a village. This valuable education became his asset.