The Bafuko, the military government of Japan, the entire Japanese army of samurai, could neither kill Nichiren nor break his will.

To understand the life of Nichiren, read Chapters 13, 15, 20, 21, 25, and 26 of the Lotus Sutra. No one has ever held firm under the constant persecutions, hatred, and jealousy, as did Nichiren. No one could have encountered and overcome the travails predicted for the Sutra's votary other than Nichiren. No one has ever realized a bodily reading of the text of the Lotus Sutra as did Nichiren, to the point of being hit in the face with the fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra [which predicts that the votary will be assailed with sticks and staves]. No one has been banished and exiled again and again on account of the Lotus Sutra as was Nichiren. No one has ever encountered more people whose heads were broken into seven pieces on account of their opposition to the Lotus Sutra and its votary. Lastly and most importantly, no one has ever had a sword broken [as predicted in Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra] at the moment of execution and lived to tell about it, other than Nichiren.