Disregarding his own well-being, President Ikeda resolves that “The members have been waiting for me. I will definitely go (to Wakayama) no matter what” despite being diagnosed with acute pneumonia.​​

In 1969, Ikeda Sensei went to Wakayama to give guidance. Ignoring the poor state of his physical condition, on December 20th, President Ikeda stepped off the train which arrived in Shin-Osaka Station, his whole face almost completely covered with a mask he had due to a cold. 

That night at the Higashi Osaka Gymnasium he was even able to deliver such strong guidance that no one suspected he was in poor physical condition, he even led a Gakkai song afterwards. However when he returned to the Kansai Cultural Centre where he was staying, his face had become flushed and he was struck with an unusually high fever. When a doctor came to examine him and measure his temperature, he simply shrugged it off, saying “Oh, don’t worry its only a normal fever of about 38.5 degrees centigrade.” But in reality, he had a fever of 40 degrees.​

The doctor reported that due to accumulated fatigue the cold worsened into an outbreak of pneumonia. His body rejected the recommended liquid diet and he was given an injection which was a combination of antifebrile (to lower his temperature) and glucose. He was lucky that he actually survived this day of Kansai guidance. But it was far from over. In fact, the next day he was due in Wakayama where he had been requested to attend time and time again. The following day was set for Nara, and the next, for Chuo, his schedule all planned out in advance.​

The following day was the 21st. The leaders closest to him advised, ”We will go to Wakayama instead so please take a rest…” But President Ikeda instead responded to them. “The members have been waiting for me. President Toda also risked his life for kosen-rufu. I will definitely go no matter what. If I should collapse along the way, at least I will have realised their wishes. I am the President, how can I disappoint them?”