Mrs Miyo Nonaka (Ekai-ni), the first disciple of Venerable Reion Takehara, attained faith in 1925. Having done so she at once proceeded to make her joy in faith known to her relatives and friends and started encouraging them to attain faith in Amida Buddha too. As a result a great number of followers sprang into being. Ekai-ni moved closer to the temple in order to learn more about Buddhism and also accepted as her guests others who wanted to study the Dharma. In this way places of accommodation for believers began springing up one after another both inside and outside the temple. Carrying out her Master's orders, Ekai-ni for half a century continued with the practice of offering the Nembutsu to the Otani family of the Head Temple who are the direct descendants of Shinran Shonin. It was through such untiring effort on her part that the current deep relationship between the lineage of Shinran Shonin and Shogyoji Temple was forged.