On Saturday, Aug. 15, 1964, the World Tribune printed its first edition—a four-page tabloid with the first three pages in English and the fourth in Japanese.
With headlines such as “Respect for Job Should Be Same as That Shown Toward Gohonzon” and “Prayer, Faith, Unity and Study—Keys to Our Own Happiness,” it communicated to the English-speaking world the profundity of Nichiren Buddhism and the significance of the Soka Gakkai’s grassroots movement for peace.
Ikeda Sensei had given the newspaper its name—and by extension, its mission—while flying over the skies of India. He chose the word world for its resolve to send the light of peace and hope to all humanity and tribune for its role in protecting ordinary people.
Thanks to the enduring support of SGI-USA members, the World Tribune and Living Buddhism have continued to grow and evolve with the times. Since last year, we created a special issue commemorating 65 years of global kosen-rufu with Sensei, as well as one covering the March SGI-USA youth training course in Japan, with 120 youth from throughout the United States.
We also highlighted a new “Commitment to Peace” pledge under the banner “One Youth. Infinite Hope,” encouraging members to share Buddhism with youth. We covered a new dialogue initiative, “Peace in Miniature: ‘One is the mother of ten thousand,’” introduced a monthly Soka 2030 study series and began the new series “Once Upon a Gosho,” featuring Buddhist stories from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings.
The newspaper continues to spotlight new SGI-USA books and offerings for members while expanding its messaging through videos, podcasts and social media.
Based on the foundation established by the World Tribune, Buddhability emerged in the last several years as a digital ecosystem designed to introduce Buddhist principles to youth in the United States. Most recently, the launch of the Buddhability app offers an accessible way for young people to engage with Buddhist wisdom in their daily lives.
In a message marking the newspaper’s 50th anniversary, Sensei shared how, during Nichiren’s time, his disciples gathered to read and reread his letters, relaying their message to others. “Today, in the same manner, we study the World Tribune at discussion meetings and on our own, and we freely share with our family and friends the greatness of Buddhism and the inspiration we gain from faith,” Sensei wrote. “In so doing, we advance in our efforts to carry out the Buddha’s work of kosen-rufu” (Sept. 5, 2014, World Tribune, p. 1).
A year later, on its 51st birthday, Sensei gave the newspaper a motto to serve as its eternal touchstone: Voice of Courage and Hope.
Today, the World Tribune remains an enduring record—a first draft, if you will—of the history of our kosen-rufu movement in America, which members read as their personal letter from Sensei. We express our profound appreciation to all our readers for filling its pages with your personal stories of courage and hope throughout the decades.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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