The Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

At the same time, we are entering the second half of the decisive decade leading up to the Soka Gakkai’s centennial, on Nov. 18, 2030—a period that Sensei described as all-important for turning the tide of humanity toward a century of peace. He explains:

The decade from the Soka Gakkai’s 90th anniversary to its centennial in 2030 will be crucial. We must be even more determined to show victorious proof of our own human revolution, to transform all great evil into great good and to effect a powerful change in the destiny of all humankind.^[3]

At this halfway point to 2030, we find ourselves at the same crossroads Ikeda Sensei faced 65 years ago on the second annivesary of his mentor’s passing.

In 1960, Sensei announced plans from the second to the sixth anniversary of Josei Toda’s passing to expand the Soka Gakkai to 3 million households.

This year, on Nov. 15, we marked the second anniversary of Sensei’s passing. Around the world, SGI countries introduced their goals, determined to create meaningful progress by the sixth anniversary in November 2029.

For the SGI-USA, our determination is to introduce 10,000 youth to Buddhism in America by Sensei’s 100th birthday in January 2028, thereby giving these successors the tools to transform their lives and elevate the life state of society.

What can we learn from Sensei’s actions then that we can apply right now?

In a guidance session during the SGI Autumn Training Course in November, SGI General Director Yoshiki Tanigawa spoke of Sensei’s indelible actions from 1958 to 1964, the sixth anniversary of his mentor’s passing. They include:

May 3, 1960: Sensei’s inauguration as third Soka Gakkai president. In his diary the following day, he writes: “Honing my vision for the next four years, until the beginning of the seventh year of my mentor’s passing. Will move straight ahead toward 1964.”^[4]

November 1961: In his final act as Youth Division Chief of Staff, he oversees the young men’s general meeting, held at the National Stadium in Tokyo, gathering 100,000 young men, based on President Toda’s guidance: “If there were 100,000 true, able patriots, they could save their country.”^[5] A week later, at Mitsuzawa Stadium—the place where President Toda made his 1957 declaration to abolish nuclear weapons—85,000 young women gather in the same spirit. These two meetings represent the establishment of a rock-solid foundation for the youth division.

January 1962: The Osaka Incident comes to a close, with Sensei acquitted of all charges. Four years earlier, as Soka Gakkai youth division chief of staff, he was arrested and imprisoned by the Osaka Prefectural Police on false charges of violating election laws. Sensei says of the trial’s conclusion: “We are lions. Let us make our way through the storm toward the sunlight.”^[6]

November 1962: At a headquarters leaders meeting, Sensei announces that the goal of 3 million households has been reached nearly one-and-a-half years ahead of schedule.

April 1964: At the memorial service marking the sixth anniversary of President Toda’s passing, Sensei announces his plans to write The Human Revolution as an expression of gratitude for his mentor. On Dec. 2 of that year, Sensei begins writing the first installment. He completes the manuscript of the 12th and final volume on Nov. 24, 1992, with the book totaling 1,509 installments, before commencing his subsequent 30-volume novel The New Human Revolution on Aug. 6, 1993.

Travels (1960–64): During this period, Sensei travels to 26 countries in North and South America, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East, laying the foundations of kosen-rufu in many parts of the world.

Groups and institutions founded (1960–64): At the same time, he also spreads the ideals of Buddhist humanism by creating the following: Institute of Oriental Philosophy (January 1962); the Min-On Concert Association (October 1963); and the future division (June 1964).

In volume 30 of The New Human Revolution, “Great Mountain” chapter, Sensei writes: “The mentor opens the way for the disciples. Genuine disciples widen and extend that path even further. Ensuring the continuation of the movement for kosen-rufu is the true path of mentor and disciple.”^[7]

Mr. Tanigawa said that the sixth anniversary of Sensei’s passing will be in November 2029, followed by the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in November 2030. “In these next few years that mark such significant milestones, how far can we as disciples advance kosen-rufu?” he asked. “To challenge to expand kosen-rufu with a vigor surpassing our mentor’s struggles is our very mission and responsibility as his disciples.”

—Prepared by the World Tribune staff