The World Tribune is publishing Ikeda Sensei’s encouragement every month for the SGI-USA women’s division’s America Victory Daimoku Group and Sophia Group meetings. The following is the history of the women’s division’s founding, which marks its 75th anniversary this year.
On June 10, 1951, just a month after being inaugurated as second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda gathered some 50 women’s leaders at a French restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo. They had faced tremendous suffering in the wake of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Yet the women strove to spread Nichiren Buddhism widely to help others transform their destinies.
President Toda wanted to provide these women with a celebratory dinner, emphasize the power they possessed and encourage them to strive even harder for kosen-rufu.
He said:
I want you to know that women who uphold the Mystic Law are the most noble and praiseworthy women of all. Please continue to strive together with me so that in the future we can show others what wonderful actual proof we have achieved through practicing the Mystic Law. (June 17, 2016, World Tribune, p. 2)
This meeting marked the establishment of the women’s division. President Toda gazed at the vases of large-petalled white lilies placed at the center of the restaurant’s tables and composed a poem for the women present:
A noble gathering
like fragrant
white lilies,
for you are
pure-hearted friends. (June 19, 2020, World Tribune, p. 2)
With the white lily as their symbol, women’s division members continue to lead the Soka Gakkai with their efforts in prayer and dialogue, creating what Ikeda Sensei calls “an unparalleled network of women dedicated to paving the way toward a century of respect for the dignity of life and a century of peace and humanity” (June 17, 2016, World Tribune, p. 2).
Sensei says:
Nichiren Daishonin writes, “Among all the teachings of the Buddha’s lifetime, the Lotus Sutra is first, and … among the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, that of women attaining Buddhahood is first” (“The Sutra of True Requital,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 930). That is why the happiness and victory of women is the first priority of the Soka family.
Once, addressing a group of women, my mentor, Josei Toda, said with deep feeling: “Where else in the world can we find women who are so concerned for the welfare of the people and so engaged in discussing the future of our world from the 21st century on into the eternal future of the Latter Day of the Law? You are here by your own choice, based on the vow you made in the infinite past.”
Nichiren, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, is surely aware of all your efforts, and both founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and President Toda are without a doubt watching over you.
I hope you, the women of Soka, will forge ahead confidently, with ever-greater optimism and pride, camaraderie and good cheer. Striving together in the world’s most beautiful unity in diversity—each of you blossoming in your own unique way—please create a shining century of hope for women, a century of respect for life, of equality and of peace. (May 3, 2021, World Tribune, p. 2)
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
May 8, 2026 World Tribune, p. 10
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