Matsushita suddenly sat up straight and said to Shin’ichi: “I’d like to call you ‘Father’ from now on.” ​
​

Matsushita also used to say: “When I see you, I always feel revitalised. Just meeting with you is always an enormous pleasure.”​
​On one occasion, Matsushita arrived a full hour in advance of their scheduled meeting, saying with an unaffected smile, “I was so eager to meet you that I came as soon as I could.” ​

​Once while they were meeting over a meal in Shinanomachi, Tokyo, Matsushita suddenly sat up straight and said to Shin’ichi: “I’d like to call you ‘Father’ from now on.” ​

Shin’ichi was embarrassed by this declaration, but Matsushita continued: “I know you’re younger than I am, but you’ve taught me a great deal about Buddhism and other things. I can’t help but regard you as my father.”​

​Shin’ichi responded in good humour: “Please, don’t be silly. You mustn’t say such things. I’m the one who would like to call you ‘Father.’” ​

​But Matsushita was quite insistent. Eventually, they compromised by deciding that they would each call the other “Father.” Shin’ichi felt as if he had glimpsed Matsushita’s deeply humble attitude towards learning and his pure heart.​