‘The District Itself Is the Soka Gakkai’
The first discussion meeting in the United States took place on Oct. 2, 1960, on the first leg of Ikeda Sensei’s inaugural journey for worldwide kosen-rufu. Fewer than 30 people, including children, gathered that day. It was at the end of this meeting that Sensei proposed the establishment of the first district outside of Japan—Hawaii District.
During that visit, Sensei went on to establish 17 districts and two chapters in three countries, including Los Angeles Chapter. These efforts laid the foundation for the kosen-rufu movement in America and created a framework for members to carry out their Buddhist practice, centered on the heart of our movement, the district discussion meeting.
In San Francisco, Sensei gave the following encouragement to the newly appointed leaders of Nevada District, expressing his vision for the future of the kosen-rufu movement.
If we liken the Soka Gakkai to an orchard, each district corresponds to a single fruit tree, while the fruit represents each of you. Without the tree, there will be no fruit. Everything depends on the tree. Similarly, the real basis of the Soka Gakkai is each district that composes it. One could even say that the district itself is the Soka Gakkai.
When a district is formed and becomes fully functional, kosen-rufu in that area will progress by leaps and bounds. … Though there are only two or three members besides the two district leaders now, I have established this district with a view toward the future—three, five or ten years from now. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 1, revised edition, pp. 113–14)
Over the next six decades, as propagation took root, those first districts would grow into more than 2,400 districts and over 500 chapters nationwide, from the northernmost districts in Alaska, to national centerpoints like Kansas City, Missouri, to the islands of the Caribbean and Puerto Rico.
Encouragement That Endures
The SGI-USA has steadily evolved in its publication of books and expanded their collection over the years to reflect the dynamic growth of the Soka Gakkai. Most notable is The New Human Revolution novel series, totaling 30 volumes, in which Ikeda Sensei laid out the blueprint for our worldwide movement for peace. Other books include Sensei’s dialogues, lectures and guidance that connect Buddhist philosophy with everyday life, inspiring readers to transform themselves and society.
My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition $22.95
Memories of My Youth $14.95
Ikeda Sensei’s 95 Years $12.95
The New Human Revolution, vol. 28 $15.95
Spreading the ‘Voice of Courage and Hope’
On Aug. 15, 1964, the World Tribune printed its first edition—a four-page tabloid-sized newspaper with the first three pages in English and the fourth in Japanese.
With headlines such as “Respect for Job Should Be Same as That Shown Toward Gohonzon” and “Prayer, Faith, Unity and Study—Keys to Our Own Happiness,” it communicated to the English-speaking world the profundity of Nichiren Buddhism and the significance of the Soka Gakkai’s grassroots movement at a time when Buddhism had yet to transcend the framework of an ethnic Asian religion.
Ikeda Sensei had given the newspaper its name—and by extension, its mission—in May 1964, while flying from Mumbai to New Delhi in India. He chose World to convey the paper’s resolve to send the light of peace and hope to all humanity and Tribune for its role to protect ordinary people.
To celebrate the 51st anniversary of the publication in 2015, the World Tribune was redesigned and expanded to a 12-page issue. Celebrating this new departure, Sensei gave the newspaper a byname to serve as its eternal touchstone: Voice of Courage and Hope.
The SGI-USA also launched a new digital ecosystem, Buddhability, on Oct. 2, 2020, to introduce Buddhist principles to a new generation of youth in America. The innovative online platform features a website, podcast, newsletter, videos and more across multiple social media channels. It has grown to over 1.9 million podcast downloads and over 72,000 newsletter subscribers, with many young users going on to join the SGI-USA.
Together the World Tribune, the study magazine, Living Buddhism, and Buddhability offer hope through conveying to the English-speaking world Nichiren Daishonin’s writings, Ikeda Sensei’s guidance and practical examples of applying Buddhist humanism to everyday life.
Buddhist Centers
On his second visit to the United States in January 1963, Sensei established the first Soka Gakkai Buddhist center in the country, with the opening of the Los Angeles Community Center on Jan. 19 in East Los Angeles.
Today, the SGI-USA is home to 73 Buddhist centers nationwide, along with other facilities for the members, including the Buddhist retreat center, the Florida Nature and Culture Center, in Weston, Florida. On April 6, 2025, the Trinidad and Tobago Buddhist Center opened, and several more are scheduled to open soon: the Denver Culture Center, the Hudson Valley Buddhist Center and the Silicon Valley Buddhist Center. All serve as castles of capable people and victory.
October 2, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 10–11
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