February 2011

Mongolian TV Interviews Board Chair of Rissho Kosei-kai

Staff of the Ulaanbaatar Broadcasting System (UBS), a Mongolian national TV broadcaster, visited Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo on February 5 and interviewed Rev. Yasutaka Watanabe, chair of the Buddhist organization's board of trustees, in the administration building. The interview was to be aired in a series this spring on Japanese culture and religion, including Rissho Kosei-kai.

The interviewer was Mr. Tumurbaatar Deleg, a famous Mongolian translator of Japanese literature. He has translated Izu no Odoriko (The Dancing Girl of Izu), by Yasunari Kawabata, Bushido by Inazo Nitobe, and Nogiku no Haka (The Wild Daisy), by Sachio Ito.

In the interview, Chair Watanabe, described the special characteristics of Rissho Kosei-kai, explaining that it is a lay Buddhist organization embracing the Lotus Sutra as its basic scripture whose members strive to live by its teachings. He said, "The teachings include taking good care of our parents and appreciating [the significance of the existence of] our ancestors. The teachings also include being kind to others."

Chair Watanabe explained that Rissho Kosei-kai is disseminating Mahayana Buddhism in Mongolia and is giving religious training to its 400 member households there. He also explained that in 2009 the School of Nursing in the Health Sciences University of Mongolia and the Kosei College of Nursing in Tokyo began a joint program of training Mongolian nurses in Tokyo.

During their visit to Japan, UBS staff members toured Rissho Kosei-kai's Sapporo Dharma Center in Hokkaido and the Founder's Birthplace Center in Niigata Prefecture for further coverage of the Buddhist organization.

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