Mr. Yoshiyuki Oseki, Chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with yearning for Gohonzon, became a professional runner.
In April 2000, when I was a sophomore in high school, I began practicing Buddhism at Kenshokai in Niigata Prefecture.
I prayed morning and night sincerely, and after meeting a local marathon runner, I received an opportunity to join the Japan Self-Defense Force’s athletic team!
Later, as I was able to improve my performance, I solidified my aspiration and became a professional runner.
The coach of the Self-Defense Force track and field team to which I belonged at the time, was an acquaintance of Takeyuki Nakayama, an Olympic marathoner, so I asked to be transferred to Aichi Steel, one of the best companies in Japan, where Takeyuki Nakayama was the coach.
I was turned down twice, but after I defeated a top runner from Aichi Steel in the qualifying round of the Japan Industrial Track and Field Association, I had the great fortune to be scouted by them. As a result, I was able to transfer to Aichi Steel with a professional contract.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, my father begged me to find a job near my hometown in Niigata. I was thinking of transferring to a company near there. To my surprise, I was smoothly transferred to a major company in Gunma, which is close to Niigata. It was Subaru Motors!
Since then, I have been able to participate in many competitions as a long-distance athlete representing Subaru Motors. I cannot think of any reason other than the protection of the Gohonzon.
Although I am now retired from track and field, my achievements have been recognized and I was offered a job as a full-time employee for Subaru.
I am currently involved in coaching many juniors, students, and adult runners at Subaru and have been so fortunate financially that last year I was able to build a house at a prime location in Gunma Prefecture.
However, Subaru, was affected by the new Corona that spread at the same time the company entered its 20th year, and production was temporarily halted causing economic uncertainty.
Although I felt uneasy, I was encouraged by the guidance I received from Asai Sensei at the New Year’s Day service last year:
“No matter how much turmoil the world is in or how dangerous the situation may be, by ordering the Shoten Zenjin with a strong single-mindedness, the Daishonin will make the impossible possible.”
Despite the adversity, I continued to chant and do Shakubuku (share Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with others) which turned my situation around. Then, I was encouraged by those around me to compete in the Okinawa Marathon!
I had been away from competition for a long time. I was not well adjusted and had to go into the race at the spur of the moment. I was so surprised that I finished 3rd place in a race with 14,000 entrants!
Also, my success was featured in the local newspaper! I was inspired to repay this wonderful experience with Shakubuku.
During all this, one of my classmates, who joined Kenshokai last year, was selected to represent Japan at the Tokyo Paralympics, and he enthusiastically asked me to be his coach.
Then the Tokyo Paralympic Games officially asked my company to send me as a training partner! This led to a system in which the company fully backed me up, and I became his main coach for three months from June to September of this year (2021).
It is very difficult to run a distance in a set time under adverse conditions, and it is also very nerve-wracking to give accurate advice to the athletes, taking into consideration their personalities and feelings.
The daily prayers gave me life force and helped me to overcome the intense training period by giving warm-hearted and sincere coaching to the athlete. He won a bronze medal!!
After the Olympics, the president of Subaru Motors personally visited my department and presented me with a commendation! I was filled with gratitude for the protection I have received from the Gohonzon through my daily prayers and devotion.
The other day, the wife of the athlete, who had a grudge against me when her husband joined Kenshokai, said to me “Thank you very much for everything!”.
On October 13th, at the Daishonin’s death anniversary ceremony, Asai Sensei taught us:
“Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddha disappeared in order to awaken our yearning for the Buddha. When we see him all the time, we become used to him and lose our gratitude. However, the Daishonin has not really perished. Although we cannot see him, he is always here, teaching us with the proof of his rewards and virtues.”
As a result, Nichiren Daishonin is invisible to the arrogance and greediness of the Soka Gakkai and the Orthodox sect who disobeyed the Daishonin’s testament. They’re pointing an arrow at Buddha and going down the wrong path.
I am filled with gratitude to Asai Sensei.
Because of Asai Sensei, I am now chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo that connects to the Daishonin so that I can achieve unbreakable happiness!
If the ultimate wish of Nichiren Daishonin Buddha is for all human beings to attain Buddhahood, and for Japan to become a Buddhist country, I will hasten to do my utmost to accelerate this by sharing Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo!
Thank you!
Unbreakable Happiness 