Three Miracle Altars, On Display Now — A One-Time-Only Row at Our Showroom

Hello, this is Yukihiro Shima of Oubaitori.com. I had not planned to film anything today. But when I stepped into the showroom, three butsudan were standing side by side behind me — and it honestly took my breath away. In the center, a pure white “Shotoku” in pearl white. On the right, a pre-owned Kongodo in ebony. And on the left, a pre-owned Hakuho ebony butsudan. In 44 years in this trade, I have never seen this sight before.

“I have to film this today, or it will be gone.” That is what I thought, and I picked up the camera. By next week, this lineup will no longer exist.

Center | The One-of-a-Kind “Shotoku” in Pearl White

The white butsudan in the center is a brand-new “Shotoku.” However, you will not find it in our standard lineup. The Shotoku is normally finished in black lacquer. This full pearl-white finish was a special order, requested last year by a customer living far away who told me, “I would like it in this color.”

I never met this customer in person. Everything was done by phone and LINE. I asked again and again, “Are you truly sure about this color?” I first sent a painted sample board, and only after receiving the words “Yes, please make it this way” did production begin.

In 44 years, this is the first time I myself have seen a large traditional zushi-style butsudan finished entirely in pearl white. Precisely because it exists right now, I wanted to record it on video. I believe it is truly a one-of-a-kind piece.

And the customer who ordered this pearl-white Shotoku is currently waiting for a new home to be completed. They told me, “Mr. Shima, please feel free to display it. If filming it will help other customers, let me contribute in that way.” I am deeply grateful for those words.

▶ Try the “Shotoku” color simulator here

Right | A Pre-Owned Kongodo in Ebony — A Rare Sight

On the right is a pre-owned Kongodo butsudan in ebony (kokutan). Ebony has become extremely scarce worldwide, and a butsudan actually crafted from it is something special today.

On top of that, brand-new Kongodo butsudan are generally never displayed at Soka Gakkai butsudan specialty stores other than Kongodo itself. At our store, it stands here as a pre-owned butsudan — and that is something unique to us. This is a moment you can see only right now, only here.

Left | The Hakuho Ebony Butsudan Was Reserved This Morning

The pre-owned Hakuho ebony butsudan on the left received an order this morning. Delivery is scheduled for the end of August.

These three will stand together only through the end of this week. By next week, this sight will be gone.

A New Initiative: Butsudan You Can Customize by Color

Inspired by this pearl-white Shotoku, we are now developing a color customization program. You choose your preferred color from a color card, and we apply that finish to the entire butsudan. On the “Shotoku” page of our official site, we have built a feature — with some help from AI — where pressing a color changes the color of the butsudan on screen. “Could you make this butsudan in this color?” I have received that question many times over the years. Starting today, we are turning it into reality.

A Soka Gakkai Butsudan Exists So That You Can Chant Daimoku

What I wanted to share with you today is not only the story of these three butsudan. I believe that, fundamentally, a Soka Gakkai butsudan exists so that you can chant daimoku.

It is not the quiet idea that “as long as the Gohonzon is enshrined, that is enough.” It is about movement. I am going to chant. With this butsudan, my daimoku rises. Because it is this butsudan, I can keep chanting like this. Or perhaps you make a fresh determination, chant daimoku, and carry out your human revolution. I hope people will seek a butsudan as the starting point for exactly that.

Over these 44 years I have met a great many customers. So many of them have told me, “Starting from this butsudan, my daimoku began to rise” — and each one of them is walking the path of human revolution.

I want to be one of them myself. Three years ago I finally came to realize this, and today, thankfully, I am living each day with daimoku as my foundation. Shine at your very best, in the way only you can. That is what daimoku is for. Thank you very much for staying with me to the end today.

島　幸弘

■ Master Craftsman & Founder of Oubaitori 44+ years expertise | Polished 10,000+ SGI Altars. ■ SGI Altar & Humanistic DX Specialist Blending Japanese traditional crafts with latest AI. ▼ Publications (Amazon Best Seller #1) ・ Book 1: Soka Altar Revolution "Kuku-Zushi" ・ Book 2: Must-Read Book Before Buying ・ Book 3: LET'S DAIMOKU! (Latest No.1)

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