[I]n the Latter Age of Degeneration, all Buddhist teachings both Hinayāna and Mahāyāna, expedient and true Mahāyāna, and exoteric and esoteric teachings remain, but no one attains Buddhahood by practicing them. People in this Sahā World all commit the sin of slandering the True Dharma. In this adverse condition only five characters of Myō, Hō, Ren, Ge, and Kyō should be forced on them in order to plant the seed of Buddhahood. For instance, Never-Despising Bodhisattva preached teachings of the Lotus Sūtra for self-conceited priests and was persecuted. My disciples are in the favor able condition, able to put faith in the five characters to attain Buddhahood, but many others in Japan are not. Therefore, we have to forcibly spread the five characters of Myō, Hō, Ren, Ge, and Kyō among them to sow the seed of Buddhahood.

Hokke Shuyō Shō, Treatise on the Essence of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 214