The history of Tendai Buddhism in Europe starts with the ordination of Riccardo Venturini from Italy and Emmanuel Rock from the United Kingdom. Both of them studied under Reverend Ichishima Shōshin, 36th Abbot of Senzō-ji and Professor Emeritus at Taishō University.

In Japan, only a few priests are both eligible and willing to teach Tendai Buddhism and its Esoteric Practices to the non-Japanese. Reverend Ichishima is one of them. Up to this day, thanks to the generosity he has showed towards his disciples and his translation of seminal doctrinal and ritual texts, he remains the guiding light behind all overseas activities

In Europe, along with the disciples of Reverend Ichishima Shōshin, there is a group of priests who trained and ordained at the Tendai Hawaii Betsuin under the kind guidance of Reverend Ryōei Tyler, Dai-ajari and Abbess of Kongōsan Eigen-ji in California.