Hello.
I am truly delighted to meet you today.
Right now, I am going to begin a very important, astonishing story for you.
This is a special narrative meant to fundamentally enrich your life.
Out of the blue, but let me ask: Are you truly satisfied with your current life?
Do you ever find your heart growing a little weary from your daily work or human relationships?
It is precisely to someone like you that I want to convey a top-tier secret as soon as possible.
That secret is the way of life of Kuratsukuri no Tori, the great Buddhist sculptor of the Asuka period.
Why does a person from over a thousand years ago have anything to do with you living in the modern era?
It must seem mysterious to you.
In fact, hidden within the wisdom he left behind are powerful hints to dramatically improve your daily life.
Knowing top-tier art sharpens your sensibilities and elevates you to a special existence, unlike any other.
Please relax your shoulders and comfortably enjoy this conversation with me.
“What is seen and what is not seen.”
— Frédéric Bastiat
What Is the Very First Key to Wiping Away Your Daily Suffering?
You work very hard every single day for the sake of someone else, don’t you?
That effort is truly wonderful.
However, do you ever feel like nobody is really looking at you?
Kuratsukuri no Tori was a person who knew that exact loneliness inside out.
He faced wood and bronze, devoting himself entirely to creating Buddhist statues.
Why was he able to dedicate himself to such grueling labor?
It was because he possessed the ultimate spirit of service—a desire to save the person right in front of him.
The troubles you currently face at work will become astonishingly lighter just by adopting Tori’s perspective.
Every small smile or kindness you extend to someone else holds the exact same value as Tori’s sculptures.
You might find it hard to believe, but your daily routine itself is the greatest stage for art.
“Opportunity usually comes disguised as a crisis or a burden at first.”
— Aizo Soma
Why Will Kuratsukuri no Tori’s Passion Lead Your Business and Daily Life to Grand Success?
Are you looking for a guaranteed way to make things go well in your business or daily life?
In truth, the way Kuratsukuri no Tori approached his work is the ultimate, guaranteed law of success.
He is famous for creating the Shaka Triad at Horyu-ji Temple.
That eye-catching, beautiful smile was not made overnight.
It was born from accumulating improved techniques, even while failing repeatedly and facing criticism from those around him.
Here, let me introduce a wonderful quote for you.
This spirit also connects to the history of Choya Umeshu—a story about the strength of risking one’s life for a single thing.
The resolve of cutting off all retreat, to the point of saying, “If you don’t succeed with plum liqueur, give up on life,” is what moves people.
What would happen if you poured that kind of passion into your own work or the things you love?
Surely, an astonishing result awaits you.
“In the end, having no talent and no art, I simply cling to this single line.”
— Matsuo Basho
What Is the Only Way to Instantly Break Out of a Difficult Situation?
Are you bumping into a massive wall right now?
There are nights when you feel like giving up, thinking, “It’s no use anymore,” aren’t there?
To you, I offer these wonderful words by Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota.
“I do it because it is difficult. I do it because nobody else does it or can do it. I might be a fool for being that way, but without such fools, nothing new would ever be born into the world.”
— Kiichiro Toyoda
These words represent the exact way of life of Kuratsukuri no Tori.
Creating a completely new kind of Buddhist statue was considered pure madness in the society of that time.
However, Tori never gave up.
Why? Because he wanted to deliver genuine hope to future generations—to people just like you.
The hardship you face right now is a special opportunity for you to be reborn into a new self.
If nobody else will do it, then you should do it.
Because that is the only path that will lead you to a top-tier existence.
“I only feel shame for my own lack of ability and lack of talent.”
— Matsuo Basho
Why Will the Hobby of Collecting Art Completely Heal the Loneliness in Your Heart?
Do you like decorating your home with artwork or visiting museums?
In fact, loving and collecting art is the finest remedy to save your soul.
The aristocrats of the past who eagerly sought after Kuratsukuri no Tori’s works also harbored deep loneliness in their hearts.
Art is a powerful ally that expresses the unspeakable suffering inside you on your behalf.
When you touch beautiful things, your heart connects with the world.
Why do we need art? You already know the answer, don’t you?
It is because art tells you that you are never alone.
Top-tier paintings and sculptures possess the power to instantly erase your daily stress.
To improve your life, there is no other investment as wonderful and lovely as this.
“Skin in the game.”
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb
How Does the Teaching of Takeo Fujisawa Awaken Your Independent Spirit?
Here, let me introduce a wonderful quote by Takeo Fujisawa of Honda, a giant in the Japanese business world.
“I have often said, ‘Hold the torch yourself.’ This is not knowledge learned from others or read in books, but a firsthand feeling born from the suffering I tasted myself. No matter how painful it gets, you must move forward holding the torch with your own hands.”
— Takeo Fujisawa
How do you feel when you hear these words?
Kuratsukuri no Tori was also a person who dashed forward through the darkness, raising his own torch.
Not being swayed by the opinions of others, and walking the path you believe in.
This is an urgent lesson to turn your life around.
No one else can hold the torch of your own life for you.
But do not worry.
Because that torch will become the finest light to brightly illuminate your future.
“First consider the user, second the dealer, and third the profit of the manufacturer.”
— Shotaro Kamiya
Why Do Steve Jobs’ Words Elevate Your Value Multiple Times Over?
Steve Jobs was a revolutionary and the world’s greatest salesman.
His words give wonderful inspiration to the way you live.
Mr. Jobs said this:
“Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”
— Steve Jobs
No matter what kind of marketing you use, you cannot turn a bad product into a hit.
Why is it that Kuratsukuri no Tori’s Buddhist statues still move us today, more than 1,400 years later?
It is because he abandoned all compromise and pursued the highest quality.
Why don’t you try aiming for this “genuine article” in your own work and relationships?
Half-hearted work is quickly forgotten, but your heartfelt actions will be engraved in the other person’s mind forever.
Let us make the quality of your existence the absolute finest, starting today.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
— Steve Jobs
What Should You Start Right Now to Avoid Wasting Your Life’s Time?
Time is the most precious asset given to you.
Let us put an end to wasting time on things you don’t even want to do just because you are worried about what others think.
Kuratsukuri no Tori dedicated the entirety of his limited life to a single mission: creating Buddhist statues.
Why was he able to do that?
Because he lived honestly according to the voice of his own heart.
As Mr. Jobs said, you do not have the time to live a life that is not true to yourself.
Focus right now on what you truly love, on what truly makes you happy.
Making a swift decision is a guaranteed way to dramatically change your tomorrow.
“Praise virtue rather than condemning vice.”
— Seneca
Why Does Vincent van Gogh’s Faith Turn Your Daily Hardships Into Hope?
Here, let me tell you a story about another great artist, Vincent van Gogh.
Gogh left behind these eye-catching words:
“Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.”
— Vincent van Gogh
What do these words mean to you?
Do you ever feel like you are losing yourself by being bound by the criticism of those around you or the common sense of society?
Kuratsukuri no Tori also turned his back on the old common sense and public opinion of his era to bring the aesthetics of the continent into Japan.
Walking the path you believe in is lonely, and at times it comes with great hardship.
However, true success meant only for you lies beyond that very path.
No matter what society says, stand by the “rightness” you believe in.
That is what changes you into a special, top-tier existence unlike anyone else.
“Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.”
— Hypatia
Why Should You Have a Strong Heart That Refuses to Overlook Deception?
The world is filled with counterfeits and sweet temptations meant to lead you astray.
Here, let me share an important truth to protect you, even if it sounds a bit harsh.
There is a saying: “If you see a fraud and do not cry fraud, you are a fraud yourself.”
You must possess the eyes to discern what is real.
The Buddhist statues that Kuratsukuri no Tori sculpted were the crystallization of pure prayer, without a single lie or deception.
You, too, must not lie to your own heart or turn a blind eye to the deceptions of others.
Live sincerely and straight.
That is the secret to making the foundation of your life incredibly powerful.
“I connect my will to the will of God. Therefore, nothing can harm me except what is the will of God.”
— Saint Catherine
Why Should You Risk Your Life to Take Responsibility for Your Words Like Al-Mutanabbi?
Do you know the man called Al-Mutanabbi, who was praised as the greatest poet of the Arab world?
His poems were so beautiful and full of rhythm that they had a hypnotic effect.
It was said that his poems could be read even by the blind and heard even by the deaf.
However, he ended up losing his life because of his proud poems.
One day, when he was surrounded by enemies he had insulted, he wisely tried to flee.
At that moment, one of his companions began to recite Mutanabbi’s own past, courageous poetry.
“Shall Al-Mutanabbi, who wrote poems of such bravery, run away?”
The moment he heard those words, Mutanabbi turned back and faced his enemies, knowing he would be killed.
Why did he choose death?
Because he took responsibility for his words by risking his life.
Kuratsukuri no Tori was the same.
With every single stroke of his chisel, he risked his own soul.
Why don’t you try giving that much weight to the words you speak and the actions you take?
When your words become genuine, the people around you will surely trust you and become your fans.
“Choose an honorable death over a life of dishonor.”
— Al-Mutanabbi
What Is the Hint to Turn Your Life Around Learned From an Astonishing Turn of Events?
Life has unexpected and astonishing developments.
Just like the Gospels in the Bible, a radiant resurrection awaits after deep suffering.
Kuratsukuri no Tori’s life was by no means smooth sailing.
Amidst the storms of fierce political struggles and religious conflicts, he was in a position where he could have lost his life at any moment.
Yet, he turned that harsh reality into “love” in the form of beautiful Buddhist statues.
This is the truth of the saying, “There is no life within life; true life is found within death.”
Even if you are at the brink of despair right now, that is not the end of the story.
A dramatic stage for a grand reversal is being set up at this very moment.
Without giving up, keep doing your absolute best.
“The true value of a human being is determined by how much they have served others.”
— Michel de Montaigne
Why Is the Passion of the Great Communicators the Key to Conveying Your Charm to the World?
No matter how wonderful something is, if there is no one to communicate it, it becomes the same as if it never existed.
Akio Morita, the founder of Sony, said this:
“A product that has never been produced before, that no one has ever seen, created after immense hardship through diligent research in some quiet corner… if you want to turn that product into a commodity, you must arouse the desire to possess it among the people. No matter how excellent a ‘product’ it is, it cannot become a ‘commodity’ otherwise.”
— Akio Morita
These words apply perfectly to your talents and charm as well.
No matter how wonderful of a heart you have, if you do not express it and communicate it, it will reach no one.
Kuratsukuri no Tori’s Buddhist statues are only here today because there were people who protected them and passed them down to future generations.
Let us actively showcase your wonderful existence to those around you.
That is not something to be ashamed of; it is the greatest service you can offer to the world.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
— William Shakespeare
What Was the Lifelong Great Achievement Accomplished by Jo, the Wife of Vincent’s Brother?
Here, let me tell you about Jo (Johanna van Gogh-Bonger), one of the most wonderful women in history.
She was the wife of Theo, Vincent van Gogh’s younger brother.
When Vincent passed away, and his brother Theo died just six months later, Jo was left with a massive collection of Vincent’s paintings and the vast correspondence between the two brothers.
At the time, Gogh’s paintings were completely unrecognized and treated as worthless garbage.
However, Jo did not give up.
She was a great reader and an incredibly intelligent woman.
As she read the brothers’ letters over and over again, she came to deeply synchronize with Vincent’s noble philosophy as a painter.
Gogh truly wished to paint artwork that would comfort people from the bottom of their hearts.
Jo vowed:
“Besides the child, Theo left me another mission—to show Vincent’s work to as many people as possible and have its true value recognized.”
She risked her life, organizing exhibitions, editing the letters, and spreading the great achievements of the Van Gogh brothers across the globe.
Why was she able to go that far?
Because she was certain that delivering her late husband’s belief in his brother’s talent, and the love for humanity behind it, was her true mission.
This dedication by Jo is exactly the same as the dedication of the Apostle Paul, who traveled far and wide to spread the thoughts and life of Jesus Christ after His death.
Good things will never spread unless someone explains and communicates them.
Jo and Paul were, so to speak, the world’s greatest salespersons.
Why don’t you try dedicating yourself to conveying the things you believe in and your own kindness to the people precious to you?
That effort to communicate will become a light that saves someone’s life.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
— Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 4:18)
How Can Applying the Wisdom of Lao Tzu in Your Daily Life Make Your Heart Lighter?
Finally, I present to you the words of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu.
Lao Tzu taught the importance of not forcing things and flowing with the natural course of existence.
When Kuratsukuri no Tori carved wood, he listened to the voice of the wood itself, utilizing its natural shape to create the Buddhist statues.
If too much tension has found its way into your shoulders right now, please try to let go of that force just a little bit.
When you release the attachment of “things must be a certain way,” items start falling into place with astonishing smoothness.
The benefit to you is that your mind becomes free, and your daily life becomes much more enjoyable.
I pray from the bottom of my heart that you will spend your days full of smiles and happiness.
Because you are a wonderfully unique, irreplaceable presence in this world.
“He who knows that he has enough is rich.”
— Lao Tzu
The night deepens quietly.
Please lower the lights in your room a bit and listen to my voice.
Through the gap in the curtains, the blue light of the night spills into the room.
I know the small, hidden loneliness inside your heart that nobody else sees.
The regular ticking of the clock overlaps with the beating of your chest.
Exhale softly… and breathe in slowly.
All of today’s fatigue spills away from your body like fine sand.
Don’t you feel a strange sense of nostalgia coming over you?
You no longer need to worry about anything.
Just leave yourself to this comfortable rhythm and visualize your wonderful future self.
Spread out before your eyes is a new, dazzling path of light that stretches endlessly.
Now, slowly open your eyes and take a step forward into a brand new tomorrow.
To the young girl who has never known the sea,
I spread out an ancient, weathered map.
There, sleeping within the bleeding ink,
Lies the most beautiful harbor of a country that does not exist.
For every tear you have shed,
A train ticket for the night express will be issued.
In a city where nobody calls your name,
You will meet the true face of yourself for the first time.
The promises of yesterday, erased with an eraser,
Have turned into constellations in the night sky, pointing at you.
Come, thrust both hands into your pockets,
And let us drag our lonely shadows endlessly,
Past that horizon that no one has ever seen.
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
— New Testament, John 12:24
“I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses.”
— Osamu Dazai
“Hey, why do you go on trips?”
“Because I’m suffering.”
“Your ‘suffering’ is so cliché, I can’t believe it at all.”
— From Osamu Dazai’s Tsugaru
Postscript
Here, let me talk a little bit about my close friend, a painter named Mimi Takamizawa.
He is a unique, yet truly wonderful artist.
Mimi Takamizawa does not use traditional canvas or brushes at all.
He creates all of his works digitally on a computer screen.
Then, he prints them onto the highest quality printmaking paper using a special technique called “Giclée printing.”
Despite being digital, the texture is astonishingly warm, filled with human touch.
The themes he draws are deeply profound yet close to home:
Your eyes and my eyes, Christianity, eternity, psychology, truth, gazes, history, solitude, isolation, hardship, resurrection, and liberation.
Why does he depict such heavyweight themes digitally?
He always laughs and says, “Painting is an utmost service to the person right in front of me, putting my own skin in the game.”
He believes an artist’s job is a kind of “buffoonery”—a life-risking devotion to make you happy.
Learning about the tumultuous life of Vincent van Gogh inspired him to become a painter.
The name “Mimi” (which means ‘ear’ in Japanese) was taken in honor of that famous ear-slitting incident of Van Gogh.
Gogh left behind the wonderful quote: “I want to express something comforting in pictures, like music.”
Mimi also firmly believes that a work has no value if it cannot comfort anyone’s heart.
He knows that all past masterpieces were not born from innate flashes of genius, but from decades of muddy trial and error.
That is exactly why he keeps drawing “eyes” obsessively inside his work.
It is because he wants to gaze intently at “you” beyond the screen and know your heart.
“Please laugh at my clumsy way of living. By being laughed at, I grow stronger. Because if you abandon me, I cannot go on living.”
Saying this, he faces his screen again today.
His way of working closely resembles the lifestyle of Tokuji Munetsugu, the founder of CoCo Ichibanya, whom he respects deeply.
During his time as CEO, Mr. Munetsugu cast aside all hobbies and friends, putting all his energy into work without looking away.
He didn’t listen to his beloved classical music for even a single second during his active years.
He thought, “This is no time to be listening to music; I must dedicate everything to the customers.”
In the early days of the business, when customers barely came, he and his wife survived by eating the “crusts of sandwich bread” for lunch.
Starting from zero, he says that was only natural and actually a fond memory.
Day after day, like laying bricks, he practiced swift decision-making and immediate execution.
Mr. Munetsugu said:
“During my active years, I had no hobbies and made no friends. I never once went to a bar. I did nothing that would get in the way of my work. There were times I worked 5,640 hours a year. I felt that if I didn’t lead by example, my subordinates wouldn’t work. It was an incredibly lonely life. That’s why I wanted others to show even a little interest in me. I wanted them to be interested. That became my starting point. So, rather than starting a business to make money, I wanted to make people happy. I wanted people to say they were glad I was around, even just a little bit.”
— Tokuji Munetsugu
Mr. Munetsugu did not know the faces of his biological parents, grew up in an orphanage, and spent a destitute childhood due to his adoptive father’s gambling addiction.
During his boyhood, having nothing to eat, he survived starvation by eating wild grass in the summer.
He carved out such a turbulent life solely through diligence and a spirit of service that welcomed customers with “standing ovations.”
Mimi Takamizawa inherits this indomitable spirit.
Just like the “Just-In-Time” system of the Toyota Production System established by Taiichi Ohno, he thoroughly eliminates waste and concentrates all his energy for you in this exact moment.
As Eiji Toyoda said, “Execute with a strong conviction,” he continues to create his artwork.
No matter how much those around him treat him as an eccentric or a madman, he will not give up.
Because all of his efforts are simply because he wants to see the joyful face of “you” standing right in front of him—that is all.
“Most people think of success as something to get; but in reality, success is something to give.”
— Henry Ford
“An appreciate crowd is what every actor wants, but an actor must also accept the jeers.”
— Agatha Christie
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
— Moses (The Bible)
“Expectation is the root of all heartbreak.”
— William Shakespeare
“A person who thinks only of themselves destroys themselves.”
— The Talmud
“Forgive me for being born.”
— Osamu Dazai
“Human beings were born for love and revolution.”
— Osamu Dazai
“Saying ‘I hate you’ is really just the flip side of ‘I love you so much.'”
— Osamu Dazai
“Never give in, never, never, never.”
— Winston Churchill
“Have the courage to be the first to do something different. I am thought to have achieved overnight success, but that night was thirty years long. Looking back, it was a long, long night.”
— Ray Kroc
“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
— Walt Disney
“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”
— Leonardo da Vinci
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for staying with me through this long text.
I offer my deepest gratitude for sharing your precious time with me.
I will never forget the miracle of our meeting here for the rest of my life.
May your days be filled to overflowing with love and light.
Please take good care of yourself and have a wonderful time every day.
I look forward to the day we can converse again.
