After three wonderful days of lectures and concerts in Kyoto came to an end, the world in which we live has changed profoundly, as if the era itself has shifted. Iran, where through connections we were allowed to hold concerts many times despite the prohibition of music, is now facing grave circumstances. I feel it as my own, and each day I find myself thinking and praying. I have also heard that Lebanon, where I have been named a Permanent Honorary Citizen, is under bombardment across the entire country. Hearing that my acquaintances have evacuated, I keep praying for their safety. While I worry deeply over the people I know, from the depths of my heart, I pray for the safety of the lives of the many whom I do not know. It is unbearable to see more lives sacrificed and precious lands destroyed. By creating a new world no matter what, I earnestly wish to create a peaceful world in which such things can never again prevail. I have come to realize that the answer lies in purifying the inside, connecting with something far beyond, receiving many influences that transcend human understanding, and continuously creating new movements. Therefore, I will keep putting this into practice.

Today, following where my heart led me, I went to the land of Yasaka, greeted the Yasaka Pagoda, and from the second floor of the Koma Gallery Café I gazed at the pagoda and expressed in poetry the words that arose within me. I can see that when words are born, space itself changes and the energy spreads to those whose lives are connected. Unable to remain still, I spent the day wishing that even in the smallest way the situation might shift and move forward. The wind that blows from the Yasaka Pagoda carries the voices of my ancestors’ souls. Many souls are with us, working and moving together to create a world in which human beings can truly live. They continuously teach me never to lose heart and to persevere together with them. For this, I am deeply grateful that I can live without losing my center. I know that holding Master Idaki Shin’s concerts is the solution to everything, so I will continue working toward filling the concert halls to capacity. Thank you very much.