The Sleeping Lion

The Sleeping Lion (midcol2 54-55)

     ‘The sleeping lion has now arisen!’

So proclaimed District Chief Kazuyuki Sagawa as he began his remarks at the Abeno district rally held in the Nakanoshima public hall on May 2nd and attended by close to 3,000 people. District Chiefs present as guests were stunned by such an exclamation from the normally reserved Sagawa. After a moment of shock they erupted in explosive applause. The crowed roared!
Abeno district’s astounding success was actual proof that Shinichi’s sustained effort to develop Kansai had paid off!

Flashback:
     Prior to becoming a Sokagakkai member Kazuyuki Sagawa had endured many hardships in building a successful business. His brother, Goro, who worked in Kazuyuki’s business, became a Sokagakkai member. He had been introduced by a client. Goro, in turn, introduced a coworker, Fujiya Shirota, and told him that if he ever missed gongyo he would surely meet an accident during his travels as a salesman. Consequently Shirota regretted having taken this ‘awful’ faith but resolved to persevere. After all, he was a youth from Kyushu, home of manly men.
     The lion sleeps - Kazuyuki is not yet a member – stay tuned.

Points to ponder
     Imagine a 3,000 member district. How did they do it?
     How would you react to guidance such as that offered by Goro to Shirota? If you miss gongyo, you’re toast.
     Read about Kazuyuki Sagawa’s early life.