The following is from the February 2026 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
Ikeda Sensei was always filled with joy whenever February arrived, for it was the month in which his mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, had been born. “Now—let us make this a month of triumph!” he would declare, imbued with a profound spirit of gratitude.
Thirty years ago, on Feb. 11, 1996, the Toda Peace Institute[1] was established to commemorate the 96th anniversary of Josei Toda’s birth. At the headquarters leaders meeting that month, Sensei expressed deep joy in having fulfilled every concrete promise he had made to his mentor, his voice carrying the quiet pride of a disciple who had remained true to his vow. This vow centered on one unwavering commitment: to ensure that founding President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and second President Toda would be known throughout the world.
Five years later, in February 2001, at the first youth division leaders meeting of the 21st century, Sensei called out to the young members gathered there: “It is young disciples who realize the ideals of their mentors.” Embracing this call as our personal vow, let us strive every day with the same spirit as Sensei.
February is traditionally known as the Soka Gakkai’s month of vibrant propagation efforts. During the February Campaign[2] in 1952, the young Daisaku Ikeda set what was then an unprecedented target: for a single chapter to introduce 200 households to Nichiren Buddhism within just one month. Some voiced concern, questioning whether the goal was impossibly ambitious.
Sensei worked meticulously to ensure the target could be achieved. He began by engaging wholeheartedly in home visits and one-to-one encouragement, awakening in each person the resolve to challenge their own goals. He also made a special effort to chant together with his fellow members. He always began from prayer; throughout his life, he was like a youthful lion of daimoku—at every moment, wherever he went.
Chanting and taking action together, with hearts united, the members were inspired with shared sincerity and tenacity. What propelled their advance was not tactics or strategizing but powerful prayer that activated the protective forces of the universe, causing wisdom and life force to surge forth. With bold action, they decisively broke through every impasse. It was this steady accumulation of effort that culminated in the monumental result of 201 households joining that month. Herein lies the eternal formula for victory of the Soka Gakkai.
According to the traditional Japanese method of counting,[3] this month marks 805 years since the birth of Nichiren Daishonin, who declared: “It could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered” (“On Prayer,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 345). There is no doubt that Soka Gakkai members, with resolute determination to advance kosen-rufu, will lead lives of complete fulfillment and satisfaction. With this unwavering conviction and joy, let’s triumphantly crown this February of tradition!
February 6, 2026 World Tribune, p. 9
References
- Originally called the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research. ↩︎
- February Campaign: In February 1952, Ikeda Sensei, then an advisor to Tokyo’s Kamata Chapter, initiated a dynamic propagation campaign. Together with the Kamata members, he broke through the previous monthly record of some 100 new households by introducing Nichiren Buddhism to 201 new households. ↩︎
- The traditional Japanese custom of counting views a person’s age as one year from the day of birth. ↩︎
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles