This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Yamaguchi Campaign. From October 1956 through January 1957, 28-year-old Daisaku Ikeda traveled throughout Yamaguchi Prefecture, encouraging members who had been isolated in their Buddhist practice. Through his prayer, resolve and one-to-one encouragement, a membership of 430 households grew to 4,073, and a foundation was established for the members to advance kosen-rufu in their communities. On this anniversary, the SGI-USA is embarking on its own historic campaign, “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” The Yamaguchi Campaign shows that building trust with one young person at a time can awaken hope and open the way for an entire community.
The following excerpts are from The Human Revolution, book 2 “Turning Point” chapter, pp. 1502–23.
Shin’ichi Yamamoto arrived in Shimonoseki on Oct. 9 on the first leg of his guidance tour of Yamaguchi. He was greeted by a number of members, both visiting and local, at the inn selected for their activity center. The first thing he said to them was, “Let’s do gongyo.” He faced the Gohonzon and chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, his posture upright, his voice resounding, full of life and refreshing.
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One of the visiting members felt so mystified that [the guests joined so quickly, and] he mustered his courage and asked, “Mr. Yamamoto, we’ve held a number of discussion meetings and guidance sessions here. Yet no matter how earnestly we talked, the participants would not respond. But once you arrive, the atmosphere instantly changes. Everyone becomes vigorous and cheerful. What is the secret, sir?”
Laughing, Shin’ichi gently replied, “It all depends on how you regard your mission and responsibility and how you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo before you go to your meeting. In other words, it depends on whether your vitality as a leader is strong enough to reach and invigorate the participants. You may not be able to visit Yamaguchi Prefecture again in your life. So, while you are here, you must leave some trace of your struggle for kosen-rufu in this place. The moment you are so resolved, your vital force will naturally appear.”
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Ube was the last city Shin’ichi visited during October. It boasted a vast coalfield that stretched as far as the seabed. Mining and other industries dependent on coal flourished here. The members from the 10 chapters concerned, total strangers to this area, were forced to engage in an unexpectedly hard struggle. Sometimes they would walk all day long without achieving any results except for blisters on the soles of their feet. They would stand on the observation platform looking out over the city and heave a deep sigh, discouraged that none out of the population of 160,000 would listen to the Mystic Law.
Shin’ichi immediately perceived that the visiting members were profoundly discouraged. He gave them considerate guidance, citing passages from the Gosho (Nichiren Daishonin’s writings), praying that their vitality would revive. Confiding to them his hopes for the following month, he said: “I must leave Yamaguchi Prefecture today. I am certain that Ube will become a splendid base for activities in the future. This month you were forced to struggle against heavy odds, but the fact remains that you fought to the limits of your strength. I’m certain your efforts will bear abundant fruit next month. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to come here earlier and provide you with adequate leadership. I promise to visit Ube again next month. I’ll be seeing you then.”
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The carefully conducted operation had lasted three months—October, November and January—but the total number of days devoted to it had not exceeded 30. The number of days Shin’ichi had spent on his guidance tours had been even less, only 22. However, the local membership, a static group of 430 families at the end of September, had leaped nearly tenfold to 4,073 by the end of January, as though they had suddenly sprung to life.
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