On January 3rd, all concerns about last night’s snow had completely disappeared, and under a clear blue sky Mount Fuji appeared radiant, crowned with white snow in all its beauty. In that instant, joy welled up from deep within my chest, and with it came the strength to move forward. It was a moment of heartfelt gratitude, realizing that we are united with the life of nature, supported and sustained as we live. Today as well, at Tokyo Komaya, wishing to welcome with all my heart those who gather from across the country, I prepared myself by clearing my inner state. From yesterday’s experience, I understood once again that it is essential first for me to have the Ceremonial Coffee, so we made Daifuku rice cakes, I brewed the Ceremonial Coffee for everyone working here, and we shared them together. Even with a single sip, I regained my center and recovered the state of life melting into the whole. The sensation that if one lives from here on, one can truly go on living—the deep core and essential point of life—and the feeling of that core spreading throughout the whole, is to feel life itself, bringing a profound sense of peace and overflowing gratitude. From my heart, I welcome each guest, prepare the Ceremonial Coffee, and express in a single phrase the inner light and wind of each person, writing it in sumi ink on marbled washi paper. While being together, I deeply feel that this is a place where each person encounters one’s true self and meets the future. The existence of such a place itself is a source of hope, an essential point, for which I am deeply grateful. The space embraced by solid wood responds and resonates with the sounds of Master Idaki Shin, becoming ever clearer and more beautiful. His music, too, resounds with greater depth and beauty, creating a space where one can most fully reclaim oneself. Today as well, in communion with everyone’s life, there was a moment in which the words born of life were shaped into poetry, opening the future. That we may express the words of life and continue living toward the future, I offer my heartfelt thanks. After the gathering ended, I looked up at the night sky to see the moon shining brightly—it was a full moon. I heard that today it was a supermoon. The blue wind and the depth of blue light reflected in the moonlight caused my soul to tremble. The blue wind is the wind that blows when the King of Koguryo appears, and the blue light is the light that is manifested when the king’s soul emerges. Feeling that the souls will now appear and live together from here on, I sense certainty that from now forward, we can engage in true nation-building. Thank you very much.