When he was eight years, his father passed away suddenly, and he fell into a life of dire destitution. He, the oldest son of the five children, helped his mother with work such as field-labor and straw-sandal-making in exchange for bread. He welcomed the challenge of overcoming a variety of difficulties.

He graduated from Jingu Kogakkan(now called Kogakkan University) in 1931. At the age of 25 he became a teacher in Korea. At the age of 36 when he was in service for Zenshu Teachers College, he was affected by the defeat of the War.

In 1946 he began to teach Japanese at a high-school in Ehime-ken, Japan. In 1974 he retired from the service at the age of 65. Since then he has devoted himself to the compisition of poems.

At first, he composed "tanka", Japanese verses of thirty-one syllables, and authored a book called "A Critical Biography of Yosano Kan", in 1937. After his move to Shikoku, the fourth largest main island of Japan, he began to write poems instead of the tanka verses, based on Buddhism spirit in accordance with Saint Ippen's faith.

In 1962 he began to publish a monthly poetical bulletin called "Shikoku". Without any suspension of its issue since then, he, by himself, has been mailing the "Shikoku" to 1,200 people every month,free of charge.

The number of "Shinmin's Poetry Monument" put up by those who have been moved by his poetry has now reached more than 730, including ones put up in 42 prefectures across the country and some, more than 20, put up aborad. The number increases still.

He got up at twelve midnight late in life. In a chaotic world of spirit before dawn he sat in meditation, invoked the aid of Amida, recited Buddha's name, and compossed poems. And then at 3:36 a.m. while absorbing light from the moon and stars in the sky he crossed over the Shigenobu River. He chanted his prayers on the other shore of the river with his forehead touching down on the earth. He prayed to Him for a reign of peace and happiness all over the globe.

Awards: Shoriki Matsutarou Award, 1980; Award for Educational and Cultural Work (Ehime Prefecture), 1989; Prize of Evangelical and Cultural Work for Buddhism, 1991.

{Principal Publication}

Poetical Works: A Collection of Poems Selected by the Author, Magnolia Hypoleuca, Shikoku ‡T, Shikoku ‡UAShinmin Sakamura's Poetical Works (in six volumes), etc.

Essays: Pray, and Any Flower of Yours, Endowed in Your Heart, Will Come Out, When You Lose the Strength to Continue to Live, A guide-Post for Love, etc.

Poetical works with Pictures: a Flower of Our Own! Let It COme Out at Its Best,The Cosmos Where a Single Flower Lives Fully, A Flower Coming Out of Ahum-Inspiration and Expiration, Birds Must Fly, etc.