On Aug. 14, 1947, Daisaku Ikeda, at just 19 years old, attended his first Soka Gakkai discussion meeting, encountering the man who would become his mentor, Josei Toda. Just 10 days later, on Aug. 24, the young Daisaku joined the Soka Gakkai.
The day is of great importance not just as the day when Ikeda Sensei attended his first discussion meeting but also because of what happened on the same day three years later. At the conclusion of a lecture, Josei Toda announced that he was resigning his position as Soka Gakkai general director—not wanting his business difficulties to reflect negatively on the organization.
Sensei recounts the event in The New Human Revolution, where he appears as Shin’ichi Yamamoto:
Shin’ichi could not hide how shaken he was by this. He worried about what would happen to the Soka Gakkai and kosen-rufu. He asked Mr. Toda whether the new general director would become his mentor. Mr. Toda replied decisively: “No. Though I may cause you nothing but hardship, I will always be your mentor.”
Shin’ichi wanted to confirm this statement with his whole being. He was filled with indescribable joy over this affirmation that he was indeed Mr. Toda’s disciple.[1]
Thus, on Aug. 24, 1950, Sensei affirmed his commitment to dedicate his life to the eternal path of mentor and disciple, thus embarking on his lifelong journey to establish Nichiren Daishonin’s ideal of “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land” and the goal of worldwide kosen-rufu.
On June 5, 1976, Aug. 24 was designated as Soka Gakkai Men’s Division Day. The month of August has since become a time for all men’s division members to renew and actualize the vow they share with their mentor and advance kosen-rufu where they stand.
Sensei says:
Men’s division members are strong. They are the golden pillars of their families, society and the Soka Gakkai. And the effort of men’s division members is a decisive factor in the struggle for the victory of kosen-rufu.That’s why Shin’ichi completely agreed with the proposal from the men’s division to make Aug. 24 Men’s Division Day.[2]
The SGI-USA youth have recently embarked on a mission to enable 10,000 youth to join our organization by Jan. 2, 2028, marking Sensei’s 100th birthday, based on shakubuku rooted in friendship. With the significance of this date in mind, what better way for the men’s division to support that effort in the month of August than by reaching out to men and young men in their districts and inviting them to this month’s discussion meeting—renewing bonds of friendship.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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