Kansai Campaign

Kansai Campaign (pp 50-midcol2 52)

     ‘The leaders meeting of the Osaka Chapter was held as scheduled in the Kanmin Kaikan in Kita ward. It was overflowing with joy and enthusiasm. Nothing is more glorious than a gathering of people who have fought to their hearts content. For the previous few months the Osaka members had continued to act exactly as Shin’ichi Yamamoto had instructed, finding their own hidden power through his encouragement. Although still young in faith, they had been able to save 9,002 anguished families. They were in high spirits because of this, their faced shining with signs of revitalization – the very picture of Bodhisattvas of the Earth emerging in Kansai.’

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear… In the last days of April 1956, during a time when friendlier relations existed between the Sokagakkai and the Head Temple, President Toda, Shinichi and all the other senior leaders gathered at Taisekiji.
(Curious about the temple issue? Read about it at Soka Spirit (SGI-USA) or at Soka Spirit (Independent) or SGI-USA Soka Spirit .)
     On the afternoon of April 20, a ceremony was held to announce the inauguration of the 65th High Priest, Nichijun Horigome, attended by 200 Sokagakkai leaders and some 3000 believers from the Hokkeko lay society. President Toda vowed to work for kosenrufu as long as he lived. Other activities took place including the airing of the treasures.
     Nichijun had steadfastly opposed the WWII militaristic government’s effort to unify Nichiren Shoshu with the Minobu sect. Another group of priests conspired to proclaim that the True Buddha was merely a transient form of the Shinto goddess, Amaterasu. Nichijun’s valiant effort succeeded in saving Nichiren Buddhism from such defilement. He had deeply impressed both Josei Toda and Tsunesaburo Makiguchi.
     Ceremonies commemorating the High Priests inauguration continued until the 30th with 700,000 Sokagakkai members making the pilgrimage to Taisekiji during this period.
     Meanwhile, back at headquarters, business was booming. April shakubuku results were being reported: Osaka chapter – 9,002; Sakai chapter – 1,111. Shinichi was certain that 10,000 converts by the Osaka chapter would be possible in the May campaign.
     The Osaka Chapter leader’s meeting was held as scheduled amid boundless enthusiasm. Five men representing the district chiefs gave animated resolutions. Shinichi spoke at length about Napoleon Bonaparte, extolling his victories but in the end, Shinichi said, Napoleon could not overcome his fate without knowledge of the mystic law. Finally, Shinichi strongly encouraged the members to achieve victory in May.

Points to ponder
     Nichijun’s defense of Nichiren Shoshu from the militaristic government.
The wartime government imposed crisis at the Head Temple.
     The activities at the Head Temple during April 1956.
     Osaka Chapter leaders meeting.
     Shinichi’s remarks about Napolean.