Attracting Success! Achieving 'The Best Umeboshi in Japan!' with the Power of Thought

The Struggles of a Farmer's Wife

Around the age of 20, the symptoms of congenital hip dislocation that I had been dealing with worsened, making it difficult for me to stand or walk for long periods, unlike before when I lived normally. However, my husband, who was the eldest son of a farming family, accepted me at the age of 22, saying, 'A farmer's wife is not just a labor force.' I wanted to be helpful, even though I couldn't do heavy farm work, so I helped with the harvest of the plums and mandarins he cultivated. However, after a while, the pain in my legs worsened, and I started working part-time as an office worker away from the family business, but even there, if I pushed myself, my legs would hurt, leading to my resignation. Whenever I felt better, I would return to work. This cycle continued. When my body was unwell, my dissatisfaction with those around me grew, and I even harbored feelings of 'It's only natural since my legs are bad' towards my husband, who always cared for me.

Teachings that Bring Peace and Happiness to the Heart

At one point, my husband and I heard from an acquaintance about a doctor in our county who tells interesting stories, and we decided to attend a seminar he was holding. The doctor, who was learning the truths of Happy Science, gave a very interesting and moving talk, and we began to attend regularly. In particular, the teaching of 'Love that Gives' changed me. Deep down, my dissatisfaction with my husband stemmed from a desire to be recognized and loved. When I realized this, feelings of reflection and gratitude overflowed, and for the first time, I sincerely told my husband, 'Thank you.' Furthermore, instead of complaining about my bad legs, I became more proactive in thinking about what I could do. I thought, 'If I practice President Okawa's teachings, my heart will become peaceful and happy. I want to learn more teachings,' and I joined Happy Science with my husband as a member.

※ Love that Gives: One of the central teachings of Happy Science, which states, 'Instead of thinking about taking from others, people can find happiness by first giving something good from themselves.'

The Path Opened by the 'Power of Belief'

As I began to learn at Happy Science, my desire to 'contribute to supporting this salvation activity' grew. Whenever there was an opportunity for donations, our family participated, but at that time, our income was barely enough to support our family. 'I want to become more prosperous and spread this teaching.' Days continued with such thoughts.
'Is there a way to add value through processing and set our own prices for sales?
What can I do, even with my bad legs...? That's it! Let's turn the plums my husband grows into umeboshi and sell them.'
With this thought, my husband and I visited a umeboshi master in Oita Prefecture through an acquaintance's introduction and made improvements to adjust the salt content. After more than a decade since we started making umeboshi, we began supplying them to a roadside station nearby.

Liberation from My Previous Self-Image

I wanted to learn the secrets of further success, so I participated in a training program for business owners at Happy Science. When I thought about the future vision in line with President Okawa's message, I realized that the success image I had been considering was small. During the training exercise of 'Envisioning my successful self 10 years from now,' I worked on 'thinking from a larger perspective.' To my surprise, I found that I could easily come up with specific numbers for business plans, as if I were directly transcribing my inspirations. After the training, I continued to write detailed business plans.

Drawing Positive Images in My Heart

From President Okawa's teaching that 'People become the kind of person they think they are. What they think becomes reality,' I made an effort to maintain my thoughts. Every night during my prayers, I would vow aloud, 'I will become someone who creates a new era and can be of help. I will become a successful person who can bring happiness to the people of the world.' I repeatedly reviewed the insights from the training and the notes I wrote for my business plan, strengthening my thoughts towards success.

Wishing for the Happiness of Buyers

The umeboshi I make is a traditional sour type that serves as a preserved food and is said to have sterilizing effects. It is made by pickling plums grown with low pesticides by my husband, using only organically grown shiso and mineral salt. When packing, I carefully fill each piece with the thought, 'May those who eat this umeboshi have a healthy day today.' When I wish for the happiness of those who order, I sometimes forget the pain in my legs and become absorbed in my work.

The 'Best in Japan' Arrived After Efforts

In September 2011, my husband brought home an application form for the 'National Umeboshi Competition,' held every four years in Hita City, Oita Prefecture. Encouraged by my husband, I decided to submit the umeboshi I had pickled that year. I packed the umeboshi for the competition as usual, offered my prayers of gratitude, and wished, 'May the results reflect my efforts.' Then, one evening in late October, the phone at home suddenly rang.
'Your umeboshi has won the Grand Prize!'
'Huh?' I was speechless, but (Yay! This is the arrangement of the divine, a divine scheme) gratitude welled up inside me. It was said that the award was unanimous among the nine judges from a total of 1211 entries. Immediately after this, media coverage flooded in. For three days after it was published in a major newspaper, the phone kept ringing with orders, leaving no time even to go to the bathroom. In 2011, I made 300 kilograms of umeboshi, but the following year, it increased to over 7 tons, more than 20 times, and I continue to be busy with shipments every day.

The Future is Realized by the Power of Thought

Gratefully, my umeboshi became 'the best in Japan.' I want to continue making delicious umeboshi that will move our customers and expand this business not only in Japan but also to Southeast Asia, where rice is consumed. I want to turn this umeboshi-making into a business where those with physical disabilities like myself and the elderly can work energetically. I dream of contributing to the development of poor countries overseas as well. My dreams continue to expand. Although I am still on the way to realizing my dreams, I believe that the size of my faith-based dreams and sense of mission, as well as my high aspirations, attracted 'the best in Japan.' I have personally experienced that 'the future will be realized by the power of thought,' as President Okawa said. Moving forward, my family and I will continue to strive and spread the circle of happiness.