by the New York Zone team
What is your zone motto? “Faith is to fear nothing.”
Tell us briefly about your zone’s history. Ikeda Sensei first visited New York City on Oct. 13, 1960. On Oct. 14, after he visited the U.N. headquarters with a vow for peace, he established New York District. In 2007 we became New York Zone, which encompassed all of the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island. In 2020 our zone split, and New York Zone now comprises Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and Westchester.
Do you have Buddhist centers in your zone? We have one center located in Manhattan: The New York Culture Center (NYCC). During his visit to the NYCC on June 15, 1996, Sensei remarked on its history:
This building, the New York Culture Center, was the home of the Rand School of Social Science, which served as an institution for adult education. On the side of this building was the truly marvelous slogan The People’s House. As it turns out, the American philosopher and educator John Dewey came to this building to lecture many times.[1]
Today, it continues to serve as “The People’s House” for the members of New York.
Does your zone have a particular point of pride? As a zone, we strive not to spare “an iota of effort”[2] in introducing youth to this practice, vanquishing devilish functions and ensuring that every member gets benefits! The Soka Spirit chanting session originated at the New York Culture Center in 2003 to rally all members to chant and defeat devilish functions, such as the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood. We also have a wonderful history of being in the vanguard of shakubuku for SGI-USA, which we are striving to continue with SGI-USA’s initiative “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” Due to these efforts, many members are receiving incredible benefits and capable people for kosen-rufu are emerging. Some are world-renowned business people, musicians, Broadway actors, filmmakers, educators and photographers. Some are incredible community leaders and trusted friends and family members.
What is your prime point with Sensei as a zone? In 1981, the local Nichiren Shoshu priests tried to malign the Soka Gakkai and destroy the unity of the New York organization.[3] Sensei came in June of that year to rebuild the youth division and the New York organization. At that time, he wrote “To My Beloved Young American Friends, Youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth,” which includes the stirring lines:
Faith is—
to fear nothing
to stand unswayed
the power to surmount any obstacle.
Faith is the source from which
all solutions flow.
Faith is the engine that propels us
in the thrilling voyage of life,
a life victorious and transcendent.[4]
And:
With complete faith in you
as successors,
I entrust to you the entire endeavor of kosen-rufu
And can
therefore proceed
to every corner of the earth!
Confident that
from this yet narrow path
you will forge a grand passage
into the future,
I am happy and filled with joy.[5]
Do you have something that is unique to your zone? New York Zone represents a beautiful mosaic of the world. Within it, countless cultures, languages and generations intersect, reflecting the diversity of global society itself. From Manhattan’s international influence to the Bronx’s resilient spirit, from Staten Island’s close-knit neighborhoods to Westchester’s vibrant suburbs, members advance kosen-rufu amid the pulse of a world city. With the United Nations headquartered in Manhattan and major cultural institutions shaping global dialogue, New York Zone stands at the forefront of peace and humanistic exchange—demonstrating how personal human revolution can ripple outward to impact the wider world.
What is your zone’s vision toward 2030? To continue to be the vanguard of shakubuku for SGI-USA through the “One Youth. Infinite Hope.” movement—raising courageous youth who awaken others to their limitless potential.
March 6, 2026 World Tribune, p. 10
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