In July, during my visit to Washington, I visited the Upshur House, which once served as True Parents’ residence. On the wall hung a photo of the 13 Couples Blessing Ceremony in 1969-the first ever held in the United States-allowing me to see and confirm True Parents’ footsteps in America. These 13 couples, along with 22 couples from Japan and 8 from Europe, were part of the international 43 Couples Blessing. This was the first Blessing Ceremony outside of Korea, and connected and expanded the foundation of the Blessing from Korea to the world. These families can be considered the first fruits of True Parents’ global mission. My own parents were among the 43 couples blessed in 1969. The following year, in 1970, the first group of second-generation blessed children began to be born outside Korea-in Japan, Europe, and the United States.
When we were around second grade in elementary school, True Parents told us, “After you finish elementary school, I hope you will come to Korea and attend Sunhwa Middle School.” This wish was fulfilled in 1983, when we came to Korea as part of the first class of overseas students. Upon hearing of our arrival at Gimpo Airport, True Parents immediately called us to their residence at Shinmun-ro. As we stood in front of True Parents as a group of young 13-year-olds who had just graduated from elementary school, they spoke to us in Japanese, encouraging us to study Korea’s language, history, and traditions diligently. They particularly emphasized that one day we should be able to lecture on the Divine Principle in Korean, so that we could testify about True Parents to leaders in Korean society. At the time, we were far too young to imagine such a future. Yet now, through my public service with UPF and the Victory Over Communism movement, I have had numerous opportunities to lecture in Korean to influential figures in Korean society-allowing me to witness firsthand the fulfillment of True Parents’ words.
At a young age, just after graduating from elementary school, we left our parents and came to Korea, where we spent 11 years studying until we graduated from university. Korea became not only the homeland of our faith but also the home of our hearts. During our time as international students, I cannot count the number of times True Parents took care of us and offered words of guidance. Among all the guidance we received, the most memorable and deeply engraved in my heart were the words True Parents shared on the day of our high school graduation, when they invited us to Hannam-dong, where they were living at that time. True Parents reflected on how, after living in Korea for seven years, we might have found ourselves comparing Korean and Japanese blessed families, which could have left our hearts conflicted. They explained that, although Japan was chosen and established as the Eve nation before Heaven, it is a nation where Satan’s lingering influence is strong. Even when Heaven seeks to bless Japan, Satan seizes every opportunity to accuse. This made it essential for the early Japanese leaders-our parents-to establish a standard of unity with True Parents higher than that of leaders in any other country. Therefore, True Parents guided them very strictly, and they had to endure many hardships. Through this, we came to understand that the strict training and the sacrificial path of the Japanese blessed families were meant to bring them closer to True Parents’ heart and circumstances. With this understanding, we felt profound gratitude and pride in the bonds True Parents had forged with the Japanese blessed families.
In March 2012, following the devastation of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we had the honor of welcoming True Mother to Japan for the first time since the disaster. At that time, my father was serving as president of the Japanese church, and I was privileged to accompany True Mother on her tour as one of the core leaders. After completing the tour and returning to True Father’s side, True Mother shared her reflections during the following morning’s hoondokhae, after the victory report from the Japanese FFWPU president. She spoke briefly about her visit to Japan, acknowledging the history of missionary work there and the dedication of senior blessed families, including my father. She also expressed how pleased she was to see my spouse and me also taking the path of public mission, following in our parents’ footsteps.
In 2017, following the victorious Madison Square Garden rally, True Mother convened a continental leaders’ meeting and announced a new lineup of Cheon Il Guk global leadership. At that time, she appointed me as President of UPF Japan. The following morning, True Mother graciously invited me to her breakfast table, offering words of encouragement and guidance. From that point on, whenever I reported victories from the Japanese mission field, she responded with joy, noting that through our efforts, the hearts of people-especially leaders-were beginning to change. She expressed her hope that the “Pure Waters,” whom Heaven has found after 6,000 years, would take the lead in conveying Heaven’s heart to the world.
As a blessed family, we bear a name that represents True Parents themselves. This name carries tremendous significance: if we fail to become one with True Parents, the world may misunderstand them through our actions; but if we are truly united with them, we can faithfully testify to True Parents before the world. I will keep this deeply in my heart as I wholeheartedly commit to fulfilling the mission entrusted to me. Thank you.
