The 120 SGI-USA youth training course participants traveled to several prefectures in Chugoku region, the westernmost area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. There, they traveled to 15 locations to attend exchange meetings in groups of eight.
The youth traveled southeast from Tokyo to Fuchu, and then to Fukuyama, attending exchange meetings held at culture centers in both cities and finding in each member the spirit to advance the cause of peace.
The roots of Fukuyama Chapter run deep. When it was established in 1961, so many members showed up to see Ikeda Sensei that several thousand remained outside, listening via a loudspeaker. The women’s chapter leader at the time asked Sensei if he could go and meet with these members. Delighted by her forethought and without hesitation, Sensei moved through the crowd, thanking and praising the members for their valiant efforts (see The New Human Revolution, vol. 4, revised edition, pp. 106–07).
More than six decades later, in Fukuyama and Fuchu, that same care was palpable during the training course. In Fuchu, it surfaced in a spontaneous moment, joy rippling through the room when two friends of local members, inspired by the spirit of the exchange meeting, received the Gohonzon.
In Fukuyama, a young boy gave a skillful kendama performance—his first in a long while—drawing smiles from every face in the room, including his own. Each city left its mark, showing the youth the heart of genuine care and leaving with them a deeper commitment to do the same in their communities.
A New Perspective on Life
Bhuvan Ravindran Boston
The wholehearted encouragement from the members at each exchange meeting inspired me to trust my life. A particularly encouraging encounter was with a men’s division member who had been discharged from the hospital the day before. He had completed cancer treatment and was declared cancer free. There he was, the very next day, sharing Buddhism with his son-in-law with tears of joy. In that moment, I felt I was encountering a true example of a Bodhisattva of the Earth.
Throughout the training course, I came to see that genuine encouragement begins with how deeply and unconditionally we value each person. During our visit to the Min-On Culture Center, a museum dedicated to music, I learned that Ikeda Sensei wanted even centuries-old pianos to be played—to fulfill their mission—and this shifted my perspective on life. I began to feel that everything and everyone has a unique purpose waiting to be awakened.
Most of all, I determined to become someone who never judges myself or others and embraces each person fully. Experiencing such compassion firsthand ignited in me the vow to serve as a mirror to each life’s unsurpassed dignity and mission.
Returning home, I am resolved to chant with my whole being, making world peace my concrete, daily prayer—and to give expression to that prayer by encouraging one person at a time.
What Heartfelt Dialogue Taught Me
Hana Peck Tucson, Ariz.
In one small discussion group during the exchange meeting, I connected with several Japanese members and guests. I felt nervous and pressured to say something profound. But as I simply spoke about my daily life, one guest—who had been quite shy—began to open up and ask questions. In that moment, I understood why Ikeda Sensei emphasizes sincerely connecting with the person right in front of you.
The members had spent months preparing for our arrival, and you could feel the depth of their care in every interaction. One member said that they challenged themselves to bring guests, inspired by the American spirit, while another said our performance reignited their determination for kosen-rufu. Knowing it had been decades since they hosted a training course group, I could feel how much this meant to them.
I returned home with a clear determination: to treasure every person I encounter. I want to pour my heart into member care, home visits and dialogue so that everyone feels as valued as I did. At the same time, I’m determined to advance efforts toward nuclear abolition, knowing that this is essential to actualizing kosen-rufu.
More than anything, I learned that sincere, one-to-one dialogue has the power to awaken hope in myself and others.
May 15, 2026 World Tribune, pp. 4–5
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