Exhaustion and even fever from his extensive travels will not waver President Ikeda’s commitment to exerting himself for the sake of world peace.​

In March 1974, I flew to the United States, visiting San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Miami, before continuing on to Panama and Peru in Latin America. At every stop along the way, I engaged in dialogue with political, cultural, and educational leaders, as well as using every moment I had to encourage our members. I travelled from north to south, determined to make each day as productive as a year or a thousand days. ​

Exhausted by my extended travels, I fell ill, but I persisted in my efforts, even meeting with a university president on one occasion in spite of being weak with fever. ​

I was determined to keep going. I would have been happy to give my life for the cause of worldwide kosen-rufu. I was committed to opening the way forward, for the sake of the future and the young people who would come after me. I was resolved to pave the way to peace and victory. This was all I cared about.