Keiko Katayama

One of our precious donors, the late Keiko Katayama of Osaka, Japan, started donating to SUA with her husband, Akira, to repay her deep appreciation to university founder Daisaku Ikeda. Mrs. Katayama had been battling cancer for eight years. In 2011, she was diagnosed with skilled gastric cancer and had her stomach and spleen removed. She later experienced cancer recurrences in 2015, 2017, and 2019.

In July 2019, her doctor informed her that she had one month to live. She decided she would accomplish her dream of promoting donations to SUA to support Mr. Ikeda’s vision upon learning he considers “education to be the culminating undertaking of my life.” She contacted each of her friends and shared the mission of SUA and Mr. Ikeda’s vision.

When she was unable to speak, she would type her message on her phone. When she did not have energy to type, she would ask close friends to share her message. Her family also supported her goal. She was very happy to see her friends become SUA supporters and joyfully report to her that they were able to contribute to SUA.

In August 2019, Mrs. Katayama and her family accomplished their goal of sharing about the opportunity to donate to SUA with 103 of their friends. Mrs. Katayama was able to extend her life after realizing this goal and joyfully celebrated her birthday on August 24 with her family. On September 2, 2019, she peacefully passed away with a victorious, joyful countenance.

Her friends continue to uphold her wish and donate to SUA. Most of them come from humble backgrounds, but they save their money and donate to SUA to support Mr. Ikeda’s vision of world peace. The education provided by SUA is made possible by so many sincere donors like Mrs. Katayama.