Although Tenrikyo has clear Shinto roots and some Buddhist influences, the organization itself as well as the Japanese government have classified Tenrikyo as a distinct religion for many decades now, and not simply a Shinto sect. Adherents.com lists Tenrikyo as one of the twenty largest "Major Religions of the World"

Besseki pledges are an initial ritual signifying formal conversion to and affiliation with Tenrikyo.

In 1999 in the eleven countries with the most Tenrikyo locations, the total number of Tenrikyo churches, missions, etc. increased in the United States, South Korea and Thailand; decreased in Japan, Brazil, Taiwan and Mexico; and remained the same in Canada, Argentina, Australia and France.

It may also be noted that 78 peopl took the Besseki pledge in China in 1999, but the newsletter did not report the numbers of branches, churches, etc. in China.

Source: January 2000 Tenrikyo newsletter, on official Tenrikyo web site: Besseki pledges from "Statistics on Tenrikyo followers, 1999". Mission, church, etc. data from "A Statistical Review of Tenrikyo 1990"