Rev. Gakugen Yoshimizu has long stood in solidarity with people experiencing poverty and homelessness, putting Buddhist compassion into practice through tireless action. He helped establish the communal grave Yui no Haka (“Grave of Bonds”) and found ’Hitosaji no Kai‘, through which he provides meals, conducts nighttime outreach, offers practical assistance and counselling, arranges funerals, and holds memorial services.
His activities recognize people not merely as recipients of assistance, but as neighbors with whom life is shared. His work embodies the bodhisattva path by safeguarding human dignity both in life and after death. He has also made Buddhist temples available for use by local communities and fostered cooperation among religious practitioners, support organizations, professionals, and residents. By confronting poverty, isolation, discrimination, and the loss of social bonds, his pioneering work rebuilds human connections and promotes peace in everyday life. It truly embodies the ideals of the Niwano Peace Prize Visionary Award.