The youth rode through the Chugoku mountain range to its highest peak, Mount Daisen, which stands at 5,673 feet, overlooking Yonago City in western Tottori Prefecture. Guided by the Tottori prefectural leader, they learned about the significance of each of Ikeda Sensei’s seven visits to the area and were given a tour of the Sanko Training Center and Yonago Culture Center.
The idea of the training center was born during Sensei’s third visit to Yonago in 1972 when he visited the Daisen Masumizu Highlands. After 25 years of the Tottori members’ earnest daimoku, that vision came to fruition with the opening of the Sanko Training Center in 1997. Located in the Daisen-Oki National Park, the center spans eight acres and was designed to harmonize with its natural environment.
The group then made their way to the Yonago Culture Center, which was rebuilt in 2014 and serves as the hub of kosen-rufu in Tottori Prefecture. Thoughtfully designed, the building offers views of Mount Daisen from every floor. It was at the original center’s garden that Sensei finalized the Chugoku Territory song, “Ode to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.”
When the song was debuted at the Soka Gakkai headquarters leaders meeting held at the Yonago Culture Center on July 22, 1978, Sensei called out to the members in his heart: “I want the Chugoku members to advance dynamically with this song. … I want them to blossom with happiness and achieve victory in life” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 28, p. 83).
Carrying on this spirit, members vibrantly welcomed the youth training course participants upon their arrival to the exchange meeting—each room overflowing with smiling faces. Following the meeting, small dialogue groups were held, allowing the youth to engage directly with attendees and guests.
True to the mentor’s heartfelt wish, the members of Tottori continue striving to contribute to their communities and lead victorious lives that embody actual proof.
Inspiring Others With My Story
Frederick Huatuco Paterson, N.J.
At the Yonago exchange meeting, I met a guest who had been brought by his wife, and he asked to hear my experience in faith. He was encouraged by what I shared about coming out of a financial challenge, as he was experiencing a similar situation. Because we shared a similar struggle, he decided to give Buddhism a chance. As I was leaving, we hugged and wished each other the best on our journeys. Through this encounter, I realized the impact I can have on others.
It was my first time leaving the U.S., and I was grateful for the opportunity to seek Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in the places where he had encouraged the members. Through my experience, I have strengthened my mission for kosen-rufu: to become a teacher. I want to finish college and start teaching in my local school district. I will use Sensei’s guidance to support and inspire the youth in my community and become the greatest teacher for kosen-rufu.
An Indomitable Spirit to Respond to the Mentor
Emma Grover San Francisco
On our bus ridethrough the snowy mountains to the Sanko Training Center, we were accompanied by the Tottori prefectural leader. He told us the detailed history of Tottori, and one story moved me deeply. In 1990, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood stopped conferring the Gohonzon on SGI members. Upon hearing this, the youth decided to promote the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, to ensure everyone could continue to connect with Ikeda Sensei’s guidance. Despite being the least populated prefecture in Japan, Tottori achieved the highest number of Seikyo Shimbun subscribers. Additionally, not one Tottori member left the Soka Gakkai due to the 1990 priesthood issue. I truly felt the indomitable spirit of the members, fueled by their desire to respond to their mentor.
My great-grandmother’s sister and niece were killed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the tragedy that drove her to start practicing Nichiren Buddhism. It was a deeply moving experience to visit the Hiroshima monument with the other training course participants and chant three times together with a deep commitment to fight for and realize kosen-rufu. In a book where visitors were encouraged to write messages, I wrote to my great-aunt Fumiko and her baby: “I hope you are resting now. Please know that I will fight for kosen-rufu for the rest of my life! Let’s meet in our next lifetime.”
I feel in my heart that it is my mission to strive alongside Sensei for the abolition of nuclear weapons and to make great strides toward world peace in my lifetime. I am determined to transform San Francisco into a kosen-rufu land with “One Youth. Infinite Hope.”
Guidance | Ikeda Sensei
The Courage to Help One Person
At the Soka Gakkai headquarters leaders meeting held on July 22, 1978, at the Yonago Culture Center, Ikeda Sensei gave the following guidance.
The Daishonin’s spirit and teachings are focused on realizing kosen-rufu. More important than spouting a million words of theory is helping one person start practicing Nichiren Buddhism. What matters is taking the courageous step to actually do that.
Please always remember this point, and with hearts as vast as the ocean, embrace everything with an open mind and keep advancing together in friendship and harmony. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 28, p. 84)
May 15, 2026 World Tribune, pp. 30–31
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles