Ōta Jōmyō ［大田乗明］ (1222–1283): Also known as Ōta Kingo, the lay priest Ōta, or Ōta Saemon-no-jō. A follower of Nichiren who lived in Nakayama of Shimōsa Province, Japan. His full name and title were Ōta Gorō Saemon-no-jō Jōmyō. From the content of a letter sent to him by Nichiren, it appears that he and Nichiren were the same age. He was an official employed in the Office of Legal Affairs of the Kamakura shogunate and converted to Nichiren’s teachings by Toki Jōnin. With Toki Jōnin and Soya Kyōshin, he was a pillar among the believers of Shimōsa Province. In 1275 he arranged for his second son to enter the priesthood as a disciple of Nichiren. This son took the Buddhist name Nikkō (written differently from that of Nichiren’s designated successor). Around 1278 Jōmyō himself became a lay priest and was given the name Myōnichi (Wonderful Sun) by Nichiren. He called the place where he lived Hommyō-ji temple. Nichiren gave him several important writings including On the Three Great Secret Laws and Lessening One’s Karmic Retribution.