The Soka Gakkai’s theme for 2024 has been announced: the Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide.In the Oct. 12, 2023, edition of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada explained that following our celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu (in November 2023), our next focus will be on 2025, the Soka Gakkai’s 95th anniversary, and then 2030, our 100th anniversary.
The next seven years toward our centennial are a crucial time for transforming the destiny of people the world over, said President Harada. With next year marking the 70th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s appointment to youth division chief of staff and the world youth peace festivals, youth around the world will take the lead.
He called on all members to join together in generating new waves of expansion with an ever-youthful spirit and to raise the youth in their respective communities.
On Sept. 2, 2023, youth leaders from 44 countries and territories, including the U.S., attended the 15th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial in Tokyo. In a message to that meeting and addressing the youth, Sensei said, “Nothing is stronger than the ‘heart of a lion king,’[1] the spirit of one who upholds the Mystic Law and works with tireless, selfless devotion to kosen-rufu for the sake of people’s happiness and the sake of justice.”
Sensei continued: “We have the power to activate the protective functions of the universe, revitalize people’s lives and create a treasure realm embodying the Daishonin’s ideal of ‘establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land.’
“Let us resolutely protect the ever-victorious castle of Soka—of ordinary people dedicated to happiness and peace—built by our noble pioneer members with such strong, indestructible faith” (Sept. 15, 2023, World Tribune, p. 3).
The SGI-USA plans to hold Youth Peace Festivals in March at the chapter through zone levels, depending on the location. These festivals will serve as gatherings where youth can bring their friends, with the aim of spreading peace to their immediate surroundings and joy to their neighbors.
Our motto toward these peace festivals is “Advance With 10 Friends” based on Sensei’s guidance, “If each of you can cultivate 10 genuine friendships, then kosen-rufu will surely advance!” (Feb. 18, 2022, World Tribune, p. 8).
November 3, 2023, World Tribune, p. 4
References
- “Letter from Sado,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 302. ↩︎
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