There is no better indication of Prince Shôtoku’s continuing
fame than his appearance on the old ten-thousand yen note, making his face
perhaps the most familiar in Japan. The comparison with George Washington
is obvious and quite revealing. Prince Shôtoku is indeed seen by
Japanese as a sort of father of his country, a great statesman who emerged
in a period of internal strife and foreign threat to lead the nation. One
great difference, however, is that while Washington relied on military
leadership, Prince Shôtoku was a dedicated pacifist and relied on
the continental ideals of Confucianism and Buddhism.