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     Japanese politicians are probably the most lacking in economic knowledge. To detail what I mean by “economic knowledge”, I am talking about the abacus, that is, simple arithmetic. However, this lack extends not just to politicians, any success is impossible for the individual who forgets to use the abacus. Using the abacus applies to more than financial matters. To accurately know the gains and losses, advantages and disadvantages of any matter, no deviation from calculation is permitted.
     The theory behind democratic politics nowadays is to reflect the majority will of the people, a point that needs no introduction. Reflecting popular will is effected through the number of votes, and the measure for obtaining these votes is none other than the abacus. Success and development are impossible when the abacus, that is, mathematical calculation is ignored.
     An excellent example of ignoring mathematical calculation is the recent war. There are probably various causes for the defeat, but the principle cause was in ignoring mathematical calculation. If the abacus is to be considered, war should not be initiated at all, but once the first shots were exchanged, the war should have been concluded as quickly as possible. As opportunities to end the war were passed by and the longer the conflict was continued, the more the war did not add up, something which is obvious when we look back on those days now.
     The abacus, that is, considering mathematical calculation, is nothing new. Nothing has changed since ancient times. In establishing his hegemony over twelfth-century Japan, Yoritomo used the services of the man Kichiji Kanebori who was well-known for being very gifted in discovering gold mines. Obtaining gold was an instrumental factor in Yoritomo’s ascendancy. Likewise, in the sixteenth century, the amount of gold that Hideyoshi was able to collect from the mines of Sado was considerable. A story well known from the times goes that after construction of his great Jurakudai palace, Hideyoshi entertained at a banquet the daimyo of the times where he invited the guests to take as many as they could as presents pebbles of silver and gold that lined the long path from the palace gate to the entrance. One can well imagine how much gold and silver he possessed. Ieyasu also made careful use of gold. The silver and gold mines of Sado were one of the factors that helped support the three hundred years of Tokugawa rule, but Ieyasu continued efforts to search for silver and gold. A well-known account concerns the mining expert, Lord of Iga, Ōkubo who found for Ieyasu the gold mine at Ohito. The output from the mines on Sato, however, decreased over the years, and the lowest levels of production were recorded during the last days of Tokugawa government, causing much economic damage. It is an incontestable fact that the major cause for the dissolution of the Tokugawa regime was that the government gradually found it difficult to support bannermen and retainers, who as a result fell into difficult times.
     Because I am a man of religion, I am thought to be careless or indifferent to economic and financial matters, but that is not true at all. I am second to none in my use of the abacus, probably because previously I was involved in commerce. To tell the truth, however, contemporary people cannot be saved if the frugal life of those of religions of old is followed. The times are different. Land and buildings must be appropriate for the age. Furthermore, construction on prototypes of paradise on earth require great sums of money. Thus, the basis of the growth of church activities is our financial strength. An example of this phenomenon is the primacy that must be shown to the most recognized of contemporary religions, Tenri-kyo. The source of this religion’s strength as surely anyone knows is that this religion has placed its greatest emphasis on the acquisition of liquid assets.
     As can be seen in the various preceding examples, from the large scale of a nation to the small scale of an individual enterprise, there is no way for a project to go smoothly if careful use of the abacus is neglected. In this regard, I call to mind the case of the United States. Most of their influential politicians are from the world of business and commerce. The case of President Truman who had been a small shopkeeper twenty years before is well known. And, because a considerable number of the influential military come from families of business, that the U.S. of today is as it is is to a large extent because the leading classes come from business families who know how to use the abacus.
     In contrast to the U.S., at a glance the leading classes of Japan are seen to be mostly graduates of universities or those who went directly into government service after high school, so, because for most of them their government service is long and they have had rapid promotion, not only are they not familiar with how society works, they are not at all concerned with the abacus. They are like kids who have become princes. The results of such can be seen in the management of public enterprises. To take the example of the national railways, even though the private railways continue to pay dividends of around five yen [US$0.18], the national railways continue to run at a yearly loss in the tens of hundred million yen. Among other examples is the tobacco monopoly that sells tasteless cigarettes for astonishing profits. These are all nothing but examples of the Japanese figure of speech for business failure, “commercial practice of the warrior families.” Therefore, in this light, I warn that as a major pillar in the reconstruction of Japan there is no other policy but that we should from now on welcome individuals of business to positions as politicians.

“Soroban o Mushi Suru na,” first published on the front page of Hikari, Issue 26, September 10, 1949, and later reprinted while Meishu-sama still alive in the essays anthology for ministers Goshinsho: Shūkyōhen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), page 67, March 25, 1954, has previously appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“Do Not Ignore Mathematical Calculation,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 225.

“Pay Attention to the Bottom Line,” Teachings of Meishu-sama, Volume Four, 2007, page 17.