Nichidatsu Fujii

At the age of 19, he was ordained a monk in the unusually ascetic and intellectual tradition of Hōon-ji in Usuki, Ōita.

He started missionary activities in Manchuria in 1917, but the Great Kanto earthquake made him return to Japan in 1923.

He arrived in Calcutta in January 1931 and walked throughout the town chanting the daimoku and beating a drum, a practice known as gyakku shōdai.

[4] During World War II and despite the dangers to himself he declared himself in favour of pacifism and went round Japan actively promoting it.

By 2000, at least 80 Peace Pagodas had been built around the world in Europe, Asia, and the United States, though not all are due to his movement.

While the Pagodas have been one expression of their call for peace, Nipponzan-Myōhōji also has carried its prayers to the world in numerous walks.