Umegiku-nyo ［梅菊女］ (d. 1267): Nichiren’s mother. According to The Transmission on the First Cleaning Bath written by Nikkō, Nichiren’s immediate disciple and successor. When Nichiren publicly proclaimed his teaching in 1253, she and her husband, Mikuni no Taifu (also Tayū), converted and Nichiren gave her the Buddhist name Myōren (Wonderful Lotus). Her husband died in 1258. In 1263 Nichiren was pardoned from his exile in Itō on the Izu Peninsula and returned to Kamakura. The following year he visited his mother, who was gravely ill, in his home province of Awa and prayed for her recovery. According to Nichiren’s letter titled On Prolonging One’s Life Span, she recovered as a result of his prayers and lived for four more years.