The following is from the March 2026 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
In 1276, Nichiren Daishonin wrote to the Ikegami brothers at a time when they were enduring great hardship, encouraging them with these words: “Put into flames, a rock simply turns to ashes, but gold becomes pure gold” (“Letter to the Brothers,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, 497).
Seven-and-a-half centuries later, that spirit lives on. Like the Ikegami brothers before them, the members of the Soka Gakkai men’s division shine as steadfast golden pillars of kosen-rufu, of their local communities and of society at large—turning even the fiercest storms of adversity into momentum for victory. From the youngest members to the most senior, they are advancing with high spirits and vibrant determination.
On March 5, the men’s division will celebrate its 60th anniversary. At its founding ceremony, Ikeda Sensei emphasized that it should stand as a model of faith for all to look up to. On a later occasion, when younger members asked how they should take on responsibility for leading the movement for kosen-rufu, he replied that the role of a leader is to inspire others to take action, and that the most important part of this is to set an example oneself.
As disciples of Sensei, let us continue to challenge ourselves in our own unique ways. It is when they witness these unpretentious and sincere efforts that those around us also gain the courage to strive to move forward. Sensei would often say that he, too, was a member of the men’s division. Side by side with our mentor, we will continue this eternal journey of shared struggle.
During the time when he was taking the lead in the historic Osaka Campaign of 1956,[1] Sensei made his very first trip to Kyushu on March 5. The following morning, when the local leaders and members of the young men’s and young women’s divisions gathered at his lodgings in Yame City, Fukuoka, he called out to them: “Let’s all sing together.”
They proceeded to sing folk songs from Kyushu and the well-known “Kuroda Bushi,” with Sensei inviting the men’s division leader to dance. His awkward steps drew roars of laughter from everyone present. Sensei himself then took the floor and danced to the “Song of Comrades” with all his heart to encourage the members. Any feelings of reserve or formality lifted, and people realized the importance of setting aside vanity and pretense to work together in unity. It was guidance embodied in action—far more powerful than a thousand words.
“Nothing can destroy the treasures of the heart.” This was the message Sensei entrusted to me on the occasion of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, 15 years ago this month. I traveled to Sendai on March 17, a few days after the earthquake, and conveyed those words, not only to our members but to friends throughout the local community.
Fifteen years on from that devastating earthquake, our indomitable comrades throughout the Tohoku region stand together like a range of towering mountains, advancing harmoniously with their communities. The courageous dedication of the men’s division toward solidifying the foundations of kosen-rufu is deeply reassuring.
Now, my friends in the men’s division, let us ignite the spirit that we are the disciples of Ikeda Sensei and press forward with renewed vigor and determination!
March 6, 2026 World Tribune, p. 8
References
- Osaka Campaign: In May 1956, the Kansai members, uniting around a young Daisaku Ikeda, who had been dispatched by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda to support them, increased their chapter’s membership by 11,111 households in a single month. ↩︎
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