After all, they suffered terribly during our troubles with the priesthood.” I want to see our members there before going to Kumamoto. His gongyo session with the members had naturally evolved into a warm, heart-to-heart exchange.Īs he would be heading to Kumamoto Prefecture the next day, Shin’ichi said to the Oita leaders that evening: “I really want to go to Taketa tomorrow. “I am praying earnestly that all of you will be safe and well.” And your doing so proves that I am fulfilling my responsibility. All that matters to me is that you will lead happy lives and enjoy boundless benefits through faith in the Gohonzon. Shin’ichi continued: “I don’t care if barrages of criticism are directed at me personally, because I’ve been prepared for that from the start. Having this conviction is the essence of being a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism.” “This is the only way to earn the praise of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law to create an everlasting memory of our lives in this world and to make the cause for gaining the highest distinction and honor as Buddhists. “Our mission in this world is to share the Mystic Law-the universal key to attaining absolute happiness-with as many people as we can during our lifetime. “What will we, as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism, accomplish and leave behind? Our gift to posterity will be spreading throughout the world the great Law of life revealed by Nichiren Daishonin, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and ensuring that it continues to be passed on eternally. The pianist and composer Rentaro Taki (1879–1903) produced beautiful musical works, and the writer and educator Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835–1901) founded a prestigious university. The late Edo period Confucian scholar Hirose Tanso (1782–1856) founded the private academy Kangien and fostered many students who went on to become outstanding leaders of society. He noted that many well-known figures in Japanese history had a connection with Oita: “Otomo Sorin (1530–87), the Sengoku period feudal lord, converted to Christianity and helped introduce Western culture to Japan. Here, too, Shin’ichi not only led the members in gongyo but afterward poured his entire being into encouraging them and offering guidance in faith. In the evening, an open gongyo session was held at the Oita Peace Center.
At their request, he revised the lyrics for an Oita prefectural song that a team was writing and made some suggestions for the melody. In the afternoon, he visited a privately owned activity center, where he met with a small group of Oita Prefecture representatives. He incorporated their names alongside the Chinese characters for cherry tree or mountain. When the prefecture leaders suggested names, Shin’ichi immediately dipped his brush in ink and inscribed individual calligraphies. “Are there any other members I should write calligraphies for? I’m sure there are still many others who worked hard during the painful troubles with the priesthood.” He also wrote a calligraphy for the newly established Oita Young Men’s Twenty-first Century Group and another for the Oita Young Women’s Twenty-first Century Group, expressing his good wishes for their futures. These included one for the Oita 170 Group, with whom he had reunited on December 9. He also inscribed many pieces of calligraphy to present to members. He greeted them warmly and posed for photographs with them. On December 11, Shin’ichi spent the morning wholeheartedly encouraging members who came to see him at the Oita Peace Center.
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