Nichiren Shōshū puts the Lotus Sutra center stage, treating it as the ultimate expression of Buddha’s wisdom. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to the Gohonzon—a calligraphic mandala inscribed by Nichiren himself—serves as the beating heart of daily practice. Drawing from three pillars—faith (shin), practice (gyō), and study (shō)—devotees strike a chord between personal transformation and universal harmony.

Faith blossoms through devotion to the Dai-Gohonzon enshrined at Taisekiji, the head temple in Shizuoka. Practice takes shape in Gongyō (morning and evening recitations) and Daimoku (the chanting of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo), an active rhythm said to clear obstacles and unlock inherent Buddha-nature. Study means engaging with Nichiren’s letters and treatises—texts that remind practitioners of the golden thread running from 13th-century Kamakura to modern daily life.

A distinctive belief holds that humanity is living in mappō, the Latter Day of the Law, when original Buddhist teachings grow faint. Only the Lotus Sutra, chanted with unwavering conviction, can resonate strongly enough to break through ignorance and suffering. That sense of urgency has never felt more relevant—especially as mindfulness apps and wellness trends sweep the globe, echoing the human desire for clarity and calm.

Authority in Nichiren Shōshū rests solely with the High Priest, viewed as the exclusive successor in an unbroken lineage tracing back to Nichiren. This emphasis on orthodoxy guarded against dilution—so much so that a schism with Sōka Gakkai in the early 1990s still ripples across the community, underscoring the sect’s commitment to preserving its unique heritage.

Annual pilgrimages like the Hito-rei-shiki at Taisekiji draw thousands, reminding everyone that personal victories—whether overcoming illness or finding inner peace—are part of a collective tapestry. In a world swirling with uncertainty, Nichiren Shōshū teaches that a single chant can move mountains.