The are pious followers of the Jà Âdo Shinshà « and Jà Âdo-shà « sects of Japanese Buddhism.
Myà Âkà Ânin, which means "a wondrous, excellent person", refers to a devout follower of Pure Land Buddhism who lives a life of total dedication to Amida, the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, and whose acts and sayings, though they may often run counter to common sense, reveal the depth of faith and true humanity.
Myà Âkà Ânin were largely unheard of in the West until D. T. Suzuki introduced them in his lectures and writings on Jà Âdo Shinshà «. Most myà Âkà Ânin left few, if any, written records, but one of them, Saichi, is noted for his numerous poems expressing his devotion to Amida Buddha.
Myà Âkà Ânin have been documented from the Tokugawa period to modern times.