How do we transform the times?
A U.S. representative during the SGI Autumn Training Course asked SGI General Director Yoshiki Tanigawa how to create momentum for sharing Buddhism at the front lines especially with young people, who are searching for a philosophy to guide them.
To be sure, next year marks the 70th anniversary of the Osaka Campaign of 1956, in which the Osaka members, uniting around a young Daisaku Ikeda, introduced 11,111 households to the Soka Gakkai in the single month of May. In the process, they both created a blueprint for making the impossible possible with faith and turned the tide in accomplishing second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda’s goal to introduce 750,000 households to Buddhism during his lifetime.
Mr. Tanigawa used the analogy of a pond to explain how to effect a major change. How do you create ripples in the pond? he asked. He responded in effect that you can’t make ripples by physically picking up and moving the pond. How, then, do you move the water?
“The quickest way is for you to dive into that water,” he said. “It’s up to each person to make a determination, to muster up a stronger life force, to become aware of your own mission and to stand up. It must start with you, and it must be felt by those closest to you.”
Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada elaborated on the Osaka Campaign during a Q&A session with SGI representatives from around the world, offering two points regarding this pivotal moment in kosen-rufu.
1. All of Ikeda Sensei’s struggles during that campaign were based on the Gosho or The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin.
Every morning, the Kansai leaders began their day by gathering at the old Kansai headquarters building to hear Sensei lecture on Nichiren’s writings. “This effort became the major driving force that led to the victory in the Osaka Campaign,” President Harada said. Today, we can live with the same spirit by studying Sensei’s The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution every day and basing ourselves on the Gosho, he said.
In the Youth and the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Sensei speaks of why they studied the Gosho during the Osaka Campaign, saying we can find the essence of all matters in the Daishonin’s writings. He continues:
Each word and phrase in The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin pulses with the Daishonin’s fervent wish to lead all people to enlightenment. His writings shine with a profound compassion and philosophy that can revive those in the depths of suffering and guide them toward happiness. They contain the key to victory in life and kosen-rufu, as well as a leadership philosophy based on the Mystic Law.
“Champion truth, and your strength will be doubled”—these are words I have cherished since my youth. To base oneself on The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin means to live by the most powerful, deep and noble truth. By doing so, you yourself can boundlessly expand your capacity. And you can win in the struggle for kosen-rufu, which opens the way to happiness and a bright future for humanity.[1]
2. The most conspicuous part of this campaign was that Sensei wore out three bicycles personally meeting with 8,000 members and offering them personal guidance.
“Sensei was totally committed to this struggle,” President Harada said. “He went to the remotest village in Osaka to personally visit and encourage the members.”
In the context of today, leaders may need to travel by plane, train, bus or car to meet with the members. With what spirit should we encourage them?
President Harada said it means to take time to dialogue with each person and ignite within them the passion of faith. Regarding this, the Soka Gakkai benchmark is to dedicate 20% of your time to large meetings and 80% to giving personal guidance. “I’m sure our situations are different, but to be committed to offering personal guidance and making home visitations a priority will definitely enrich your organization,” he said.
Speaking of the Osaka Campaign to youth, Sensei shared these words from his mentor, President Toda: “If you continue to uphold the Mystic Law and make steady efforts, you can definitely do your human revolution and realize kosen-rufu. This is clearly stated in The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin. All that’s left is to make a determination and take action.”
Sensei continues: “Each of the members who participated in the Osaka Campaign proved the truth of these words.”[2]
By diving in to youth shakubuku, personal visits, prayer and our human revolution, we can absolutely turn the tide of humanity and create a century of life and a century of peace. The only thing left to do is to just dive in and win.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
January 1, 2026 World Tribune, pp. 6–7
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