In the spring of 1996, Ikeda Sensei traveled across the United States, encouraging the members in Los Angeles, Denver, New York, Weston, Florida, and El Paso, Texas, as part of a monthlong trip that included the Bahamas, Cuba, Costa Rica and Mexico.
More than a series of meetings and commemorative events, his 27th and final visit to the U.S. represented a decisive effort to build “a foundation for the next thousand years of the kosen‑rufu movement in the United States.”[1]
Recalling the spirit of his 1996 visit, Sensei writes:
America is vast. It is a majestic land. For that reason, American kosen-rufu is something you must move forward steadily, firmly and sincerely, one step at a time, while gazing into the distant future, hundreds or even thousands of years ahead.
It is with this in mind that I have made every possible effort to prepare the way. Nichiren Daishonin says, “And now when Nichiren chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, he is enabling all living beings to attain Buddhahood in the ten thousand years of the Latter Day of the Law.”[2]
If we consider that 10,000-year journey, it is clear that we are still in the very groundbreaking stage. The time has come to pour all our heart and soul into fostering one person at a time, thereby steadily and carefully planting the seeds for future development. At times, the seeds we have taken such great pains to plant may not sprout. Should that happen, then we must plant more seeds. Or there may be times when, on sprouting, those young plants become bent or twisted. If so, then we had better try again to raise them straight.
If you tirelessly continue to challenge yourselves in this way, then without doubt a great “forest” of kosen-rufu will unfold before you. This is the formula of the Mystic Law.[3]
Over the coming issues, the World Tribune will revisit each stop of Sensei’s journey, from May 31 to July 6, 1996, examining the significance of the events in each location, the guidance he left behind and the enduring memories of the members who participated in those historic gatherings.
MAY 31, 1996–JUNE 6, 1996
JUNE 29, 1996–JULY 6, 1996
LOS ANGELES
On June 1, Ikeda Sensei attended an SGI-USA Executive Conference in Los Angeles, where he offered key points on leadership. Earlier that day, a development planning committee was convened to discuss the future Soka University of America campus in Aliso Viejo, California. On June 5, Sensei attended an executive conference before departing the following day for Denver. He returned to Los Angeles on June 29. To commemorate the Day of Mentor and Disciple, on July 3, he attended an SGI-USA Commemorative Training Session, where he said, “When one is completely dedicated to the path of mentor and disciple, they experience no doubt or confusion, no uncertainty or fear”(My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, p. 491). Two days later, on July 5, Sensei attended a Los Angeles Representatives Conference, his final meeting before departing to Japan the following day.
• Find Sensei’s 1996 guidance to the members of Southern California in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 407–36, 491–96.
• Check out the June 2026 Living Buddhism, pp. 14–33, and the July 16, 2021, World Tribune, pp. 4–9, for additional coverage of Sensei’s 1996 visit.
JUNE 6–11, 1996
DENVER
Ikeda Sensei arrived in Denver on June 6 for his first visit there. Two days later, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Denver—his first from a U.S. institution of higher learning. On June 9, Sensei met with members at the SGI-USA Denver Culture Center for the Rocky Mountain Joint Territory Cherry Blossom General Meeting, followed by an executive leaders conference the next day. He departed on June 11, making a brief layover in Indianapolis before touching down in New York.
• Find Sensei’s 1996 guidance to the members of Denver in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 437–46.
• Check out the June 2024 Living Buddhism, pp. 12–21, covering Sensei’s 1996 visit to Denver through the eyes of the members who were present.
JUNE 11–19, 1996
NEW YORK
Next, Ikeda Sensei spent nine days in New York. On June 13, he lectured at Columbia University’s Teachers College on the topic of education for global citizenship, followed by a trip to the United Nations the next day. At the SGI-USA New York Culture Center on June 15, Sensei attended a gongyo meeting with representative leaders, touching on the themes of inconspicuous benefit, the four universal sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death, and attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime. The meeting commemorated the Day of New York, June 20—the day in 1981 when Sensei wrote his poem “To My Beloved Young American Friends—Youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth” in New York. Then, on June 17, Sensei met with a former U.S. secretary of state, after which the secretary recommitted himself to efforts for a peaceful world. On June 18, he joined the World Peace Youth Culture Festival at Carnegie Hall and then departed for Florida the following day.
• Find Sensei’s 1996 guidance to the members of New York in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 447–73.
• Sensei’s Columbia University speech, “Thoughts on Global Citizenship” can be found in the June 2026 Living Buddhism, pp. 28–33.
JUNE 19–24, 1996
WESTON, FLORIDA
Ikeda Sensei spent June 19–24 in Weston, Florida, to celebrate the opening of the SGI-USA Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC). On June 23, he attended the 21st SGI General Meeting at the FNCC Friendship Hall, where 1,500 SGI representative members from 52 countries and territories gathered. Here, he spoke about the “six conditions for happiness.” He spent several days freely traveling the FNCC grounds, interacting with SGI members from around the world. He then left Florida for a brief visit to Latin America before returning to the United States.
• Find Sensei’s 1996 guidance at the Florida Nature and Culture Center in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 474–87.
• Read about the origins of FNCC in the June 2026 Living Buddhism, pp. 24–27.
JUNE 29, 1996
EL PASO
On Ikeda Sensei’s return to the U.S. from Latin America, he stopped briefly on June 29 at an airport in El Paso, Texas. There, he encouraged and praised the local SGI-USA members for their efforts to advance kosen-rufu.
• Read Sensei’s poem “To the Great Pioneers of Kosen-rufu of El Paso,” which he dedicated to the members there, in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 488–90.
June 19, 2026 World Tribune, pp. 6–7
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