One day, Yabuki checked his campus mailbox as usual. Most days it was empty, and he was forced to swallow his disappointment. But today there was a letter. He took it out and looked at the return address. “Shin’ichi Yamamoto” was typed in Roman letters.

Yoshinari Yabuki, after graduating from Soka University in 1975, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, the United States, as a foreign student. Winter in Minnesota was very cold, with the temperature sometimes dropping as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. Yabuki was struggling with learning English and his classes were difficult. He started to feel overwhelmed, as if being oppressed by the approaching winter. Without anyone close by from whom he could seek advice, he was terribly lonely.

One day, Yabuki checked his campus mailbox as usual. Most days it was empty, and he was forced to swallow his disappointment. But today there was a letter. He took it out and looked at the return address. “Shin’ichi Yamamoto” was typed in Roman letters.

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Dear Mr. Yabuki,

As my disciple, I hope you will advance resolutely, keeping your focus 30 years hence. Please don’t forget that many more of my disciples will follow after you. You have a great responsibility and mission. Though you may have to make personal sacrifices along the way, it is important to boldly open the path for those who will come after you.

I pray for your good health and your development.

Shin’ichi

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“That’s right,” he thought. “Just as Sensei says, I am here for the sake of the thousands and ten thousands of Soka Schools and Soka University students who will come after me. I cannot allow myself to be defeated!”  As Yabuki said these words to himself, he became filled with courage and energy.

Appointed as the president of the new university (Soka University, campus of Los Angeles) was none other than Yoshinari Yabuki.