From SGI President's encouragement at the Dec. 10 Kansai Representatives Conference in Osaka, Japan:

"The age of youth is here at last. The role of young women is especially important. When the young women are active, it brings joy to all -- the whole atmosphere is brightened. I want Kansai to become a model for the Century of Women.

"I also hope that the men's and women's divisions will unite with the young men and women, doing their utmost to support, love, encourage and foster the youth.

"Not advancing is regressing. When those who are senior in faith burn with a youthful fighting spirit, go about their activities cheerfully and energetically, and continue to learn and grow with a bright, positive spirit, their juniors also develop.

"Taking advantage of others for one's own ends is a manifestation of the devilish nature within. Working wholeheartedly for the benefit of others, on the other hand, is the way of life of a Buddha."

From the World Tribune Express, No. 132 October 12, 2001

In an essay about the Ever-victorious Kansai spirit, President Ikeda writes: "I had only one mission: to build an undefeatable golden citadel in Kansai. To do so, I was determined to give my entire life and resolutely triumph. But the sheer size of the goal that President Toda had set made it an undertaking physically impossible for a single individual to achieve alone. I therefore resolved to put 100-percent effort into meeting with the Kansai members, into encouraging them, into spurring them on and into raising them to be courageous champions of kosen-rufu who would work with me in this struggle.

"And I translated this into action. I was certain that my burning determination -- the passionate flame of the human spirit that could make the impossible possible, beyond imagination -- would definitely spread and set alight the hearts of many others."