Nurturing a child, raising a family requires a great responsibility. The roles mothers play nurturing their children, as well as the purpose of children’s literature covers a large proportion in the world. We could also say that literature is children’s foremost life teacher.
-    Mr. Ikeda

Sartre (France’s existentialist philosopher and novelist) once said: ‘What can literature carry out in the presence of a starving child?’Literature represents life, literature represents soul and literature represents one’s life condition. When children are exposed to great literature, this encounter will have a great impact and light up the inner depth of their lives. With a profound ideology and philosophy as the basis for a great cause, human spirit can then be nourished and freed from vulnerability. Children need youthful literature which respect every child’s dignity and simply explore the human spirit within the novel.

Our present impure society unwillingly causes children to live like caged birds where they cannot freely explore the mysterious wonders of the world. Numerous violent and popular publications devoid of educational values fill our society. With these, it is impossible for children to absorb the enriching nutrients of literary works. For that reason, only true literary creation can bring them dreams, instilling them with hope, courage and develop a rich noble sentiment and human character.

Mr. Ikeda himself is a leading example. At one Arts Division’s dinner, Mr. Ikeda encouraged fellow art division members to take good care of their health and wished them longevity so that they are able to create exceptional works for the children. Five years later, he carried out his promise and published his first children’s story ‘The Cherry Tree’, followed by ‘The Snow Country Prince’, ‘The Princess and the Moon’ ‘Over the Deep Blue Sea’ and so on. In addition, he didn’t ignore High School Division members, successively he wrote ‘A Journey to Hiroshima’ and ‘Alexander’s Determination’ as well as other Young Boys and Girls’ novels.

The whole world is developing rapidly, the soil for nurturing and instilling youths with good morale is polluted and in despair. For that reason, children’s literature is very important in the constructing the future. To build the next generation, we must foster a younger generation of ‘humane’ individuals and to nurture their ‘souls’ and impart them the way of life of a humanistic person. Even if the economy is prosperous but if the children’s souls are ‘crooked’, it will result in a social breakdown. Hence, when cultivation of the ‘soul’ is forgotten, even the most advanced and developed country will regress.

Human growth is influenced by these two factors, firstly, it’s the people we meet and second, the books we read. When we encounter a good friend they will guide us to attain Buddhahood. Moreover, reading a first-rate philosophy will greatly influence our growth also determines the later part of our lives.

Mr. Ikeda attaches great importance in fostering exceptional successors. Capable people aren’t fostered just because we needed someone or when we are pressed or suffocated with work matters. Fostering individuals is an endless journey which should start since young, and Junior Division is the best stage to carry it out. Parents must frequently read out children’s literary works to their children. We can also organize such story telling activities where we could learn and study first rate literary work with the Junior Division. And when the parents and the child read it together, the child will never forget and hold on to that experience till the end of their lives as they grow and develop in their character.

Sometimes, even though Mr. Ikeda is having a fever of 39 degree Celsius which persisted for days nevertheless he still carries the determination of ‘I cannot stop here’ ‘I must keep on writing!’ and never gave up on writing. He said: ‘It is in such situations, I will receive more of my readers’ feedbacks saying that they are deeply touched.’ It is because articles directly expresses one’s life, soul and life condition, hence the saying ‘the writing mirrors the writer’. When one’s whole life is projected into an article while enduring innumerable hardship with boundless passion, using one’s life likened to the fire burning to write, the article will definitely touch people’s hearts. 

Perhaps, now is the time when you could try and start to write ‘for the children’!

Labels: e. Words of mentor