Passing Through Righteousness to Buddhism--Masahiro Suetsugu's Decisions on Chivalry and Ordination (1988)

Passing Through Righteousness to Buddhism--Masahiro Suetsugu's Decisions on Chivalry and Ordination (1988)

Masahiro Suetsugu is a leading figure in the world of ninkyo (chivalry), having served as the head of the Isshigumi-gumi disciples of the Yamaguchigumi III and as the secretary general of the Ichiwakai. His righteous character of following through with one's principles was appreciated by the right-wing thinker Taku Mikami, who presented him with a phrase, "In a world protected by guns, one must follow through with one's righteousness. In 1988, in the midst of the "Yamaichi War," a fierce feud between Yamaguchigumi and Ichiwakai, Suetsugu suddenly became a monk. He received the Buddhist name "Gishin" and entered Buddhism. This decision was a major turning point in the life of a man who had been at the center of the chivalry, and who had left violence behind to sublimate his righteous spirit to the Buddhist path. At the grand ordination ceremony, many people, both former friends and former enemies, gathered to pay their respects to Suetsugu's way of life. After being ordained,
Suetsugu continued to talk about "what is righteousness" while dressed in his vestments.