When President Ikeda’s resignation was announced at a meeting in 1979, only the members and ground leaders around Japan stood by him, pleading him to stay on.

That dark day, April 24 (1979) arrived. It was a Tuesday. Representative leaders from all over Japan had joyfully gathered at the Shinjuku Cultural Centre. But what should have been a momentous meeting marking the end of the first Seven Bells and a fresh departure, became instead the occasion of my resignation and the appointment of a new president. This news came as a complete surprise to the majority of leaders.

I entered the hall halfway through the meeting, and cries rose from the audience, “Sensei, don’t resign!” “Sensei, stay our president!” “All our members are waiting for you!” Their faces were clouded by anxiety.