Daisaku Ikeda's, SGI President, autobiographical novel. The years 1968 and 1969, whose events are recounted in these two volumes, are decisive for the development of the Soka Gakkai, because they see its president Shin'ichi Yamamoto take on a very delicate and important task. At the invitation of some exponents of the Chinese government, Shin'ichi takes charge of initiating the process that over several years will lead to the reopening of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The initiative naturally causes many repercussions, given that the action of the Soka Gakkai president affects foreign policy issues on which the Japanese government has taken a very cautious stance. But Shin'ichi Yamamoto is certain that the people of the two nations desire peace and mutual friendship above all else and is ready to face any difficulty to achieve his great goal.
"My friends, look straight at the endless chain of calamities and miseries that afflict the world! Do not turn away from the vortex of suffering that constitutes reality! We must speak courageously and constantly for the happiness and peace of humanity. We must offer the world wise and penetrating words. And we must act. To live means to fight. This is the mission and the great path of Buddhist practitioners."
