23rd Jul. 2019
As if to tear the sky and sweep away any impurity and stagnation, thunder crashed above us, rumbling through the air. The downpour kept me from going outside. The mountain road on Mt. Hiei could have been closed with the sheer amount of rain. I contemplated what I should do and knew that I needed to go. The life of a person naturally heads forward, paving the way by moving. The roaring of thunder along with an astonishing amount of rain—I’ve come to know that it signifies nation-building. Both abroad and in Japan, whenever we held the “Legends of Koguryo Rediscovered” concert, thunder rumbled with torrential rain. It’s purification. In Tehran, Iran, on the day of the concert held owing to special permission, we experienced heavy rainfall and rolls of thunder in the desert. The Iranian people were surprised. On a month-long concert tour in Europe, the same happened before every stage. We have come to call the phenomenon a sign of nation-building. And today’s weather told us that it’s the beginning. I could sense from the sound that we won’t be allowed to be tardy from now on. We have to move instantly to pave the way by the energy of making the impossible possible. When I started to live following the true demands of my life, I learned from experience that life always works to make the impossible possible. My life becomes most exuberant, gaining a vivid sense of being alive. After encountering a sign of nation-building, I drove down to Kyoto to have a conversational gathering with participants at Koma Gallery Café in Yasaka. Standing before Yasaka Pagoda, I saw brilliantly shining souls soar into the sky. I received a message that we can work to build a nation wherever we are. I rejoiced to work together with the souls. After the rain, a refreshing and graceful wind of nation-building was blowing in the beautiful ancient capital. Thank you very much.
