Young Ikeda demonstrated that kosen-rufu is a battle against the devilish nature of power that seeks to exploit others

One evening, as the days of harsh interrogation continued, I was led in handcuffs from the Osaka Detention Centre to a nearby building that housed the Osaka District Prosecutor’s Office. My most basic human rights were violated as I was paraded outdoors with my hands cuffed.

When the detention centre’s heavy iron gate opened, a young men’s division member from Tokyo was standing there. Choking back tears of anger, he managed to say, “Mr Toda is worried about you . . . ,” before he was overcome with emotion.

I said to him: “I’m fine. I’m holding up well. Please tell Mr Toda that. Give my best to all our members. Tell them not to worry!” After delivering that brief message, I resumed my struggle against the authorities.

That young man engraved in his life the lesson that kosen-rufu is a great battle against the devilish nature of power that seeks to exploit others. He went on to become a courageous leader of our movement in Saitama Prefecture and the Kanto Region.