Thirteenth-century Japan. Disease, famine, violence, and natural disasters plague society. Misery reigns. Samurai lords, blinded by power, shirk any responsibility to protect the citizenry. Religious leaders care more about currying favor with the powerful than helping common people find hope and a positive way to deal with their suffering.

But one unknown Buddhist monk, standing alone, dares to speak the truth to power.

In the graphic novel Nichiren, author Masahiko Murakami and illustrator Ken Tanaka imagine the world of this revolutionary priest, who risks his life to remonstrate with the authorities.
Nichiren insists that all human life is precious and that the government needs to change its ways and become of service to the people. He criticizes the established religions as being merely pawns of the state, that teach ideas that only further the people’s sense of powerlessness. The true purpose of Buddhism, he asserts, is to teach people a way to empower themselves, challenge their destiny, and experience happiness in this life.
Soon powerful priests come to see Nichiren as a threat, and they and their government cronies stop at nothing to silence him.
Based on actual events, this real-life adventure story will captivate readers as it illustrates the life of one courageous human being who refuses to give up on his vow to bring happiness to the people and peace to the land.

Ken Tanaka (illustrator)