From within the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood, jolted recently by the secession of influential priests, has begun yet another reform movement.

Chief Priest Takudo Hosoi, 49, of Jisshu-ji temple in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, the son of former High Priest Nittatsu, sent High Priest Nikken a letter of remonstration titled “Exhortation for the Reformation of the Priesthood” dated Oct. 18. He distributed copies among chief priests of local temples throughout Japan, asking them to rise up for the reform movement.

Mr. Hosoi—who until recently assumed important posts within the priesthood, including membership on the Nichiren Shoshu Council and nationwide propagation chief—has an extensive network of personal contacts, especially among priests who were ordained under the 66th high priest, Nittatsu Shonin, and regard him as their teacher. Mr. Hosoi is also one of the priests expected to shoulder the next generation of the priesthood’s administration.

In his letter to the high priest, Mr. Hosoi first points out the deplorable state of the priesthood, stating, “A shameful spiritual state pervades the entire sect; priests have no hope, are consumed with complaint and are preoccupied with self-preservation.” He then states that the high priest’s abuse of his authority directly caused the current confusion.

Next, Mr. Hosoi demands that the high priest give a clear explanation for the so-called Operation C—Nikken’s plan to disband the SGI. Mr. Hosoi had heard that Nikken held several conferences to discuss his plan with his close aides in July 1990, the time when the Soka Gakkai was promoting its plan to donate head temple lodging facilities and 200 temples as well as to renovate the Sho-Hondo to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the head temple’s founding.

Mr. Hosoi states in his letter, “If you were calmly conducting the series of commemorative events with the Soka Gakkai’s complete support and receiving donations while concealing your intention, your act would be fraud totally unbecoming of clergy.”

Regarding the Nichiren Shoshu Council, Mr. Hosoi, former Council member, states: “Council members rarely know of agendas before a session begins.... The Council’s authority is diminished; it has become a mere rubber stamp.”

Mr. Hosoi also revealed that when Nikken came back from the first overseas gojukai trip in 1963, he said that he had gone out to have some drinks at night in Seattle, got lost and had to be saved by a local women’s division member. This contradicts Nikken’s own statement at a meeting on Aug. 28 at the head temple that he did not “set one foot” outside the hotel. Concerning this inconsistency, Mr. Hosoi states: “If you acknowledged the truth and responded honestly to what is not true, I would not have any doubts about your innocence. Because of your response, however, I cannot possibly suppress doubt about you in my heart. This is truly regrettable.”

Mr. Hosoi concludes his letter of remonstration by expressing his belief that there is no future for kosen-rufu apart from the SGI and by demanding the high priest’s immediate resignation, whom he describes as the emperor from the tale “Emperor’s New Clothes” parading around his town naked.
Mr. Hosoi’s movement is separate from either the Association for the Reformation of Nichiren Shoshu, which is headed by Chief Priest Gen’ei Kudo of Choei-ji temple in Tokyo (and former chief priest of Myoho-ji temple in Los Angeles), or the Association of the Priests Concerned About Nichiren Shoshu and Protection of the Law, whose spokesman is Hosho Shiina, the former chief priest of New York’s Myosetsu-ji temple and current chief priest of Myoei-ji temple in Saitama.

Many priests, especially those who regard themselves as Nittatsu Shonin’s students, are reportedly expressing their support for Mr. Hosoi’s movement. Mr. Hosoi’s unusual action—demanding the high priest’s resignation publicly while remaining in the priesthood—is putting the current priesthood administration, especially the high priest, in a difficult position.

Unlike previous cases where priests spoke out against the high priest and disassociated themselves from the head temple, this time Nikken is facing tough choices. If he punishes Mr. Hosoi, he might face further opposition from Mr. Hosoi’s supporters. But if Mr. Hosoi’s action goes unpunished, this could become a precedent that many priests might follow in the future, thus rapidly eroding Nikken’s authority.

Regarding the recent development, Chief Priest Kodo Yoshikawa of Kenbutsu-ji temple in Kyoto, who was a student priest under Nittatsu Shonin and is currently a member of the Association for the Reformation of Nichiren Shoshu, commented:

I think that nothing is more encouraging to the students of the former high priest than hearing that High Priest Nittatsu’s son, Chief Priest Hosoi, has stood up for the priesthood’s reformation. This has great significance. For his courage and belief I would like to express my heartfelt respect.
I read his “Exhortation for the Reformation of the Priesthood.” It straightforwardly expresses what the majority of priests are thinking yet unable to express openly. Priests’ views of the current issue are drastically changing. Actually, yesterday one priest told me: “To tell you the truth, from the beginning I, too, thought that the high priest was wrong. I share the same feeling [as Mr. Hosoi].”

I am convinced that with Chief Priest Hosoi’s recent action, the reform movement of the priesthood will grow into an unstoppable current.

Translated from the Oct. 22, 1992 Seikyo Shimbun