CategoryOur History

Installment 12: At Echi

11/18 Soka Gakkai Founding Day In 1930, founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, together with Josei Toda, published the first volume of Soka kyoikugaku taikei (The System of Value-Creating Education). This date later became known as the founding day of the Soka Gakkai. (See The New Human Revolution, vol. 23, “Bold Struggle” chapter; and NHR-27,

On why we celebrate our starting point each November in our districts.

In the years following World War II, Josei Toda’s office in the Nishi-Kanda neighborhood of Tokyo functioned as the Soka Gakkai Headquarters after business hours. Whenrebuilding the Soka Gakkai, he was asked whether he would purchase a headquarters building, to which he replied: “We don’t need a building. That’s just an outward form. Wherever I

Installment 11: Casting Off the Transient and Revealing the True

10/2 World Peace Day  In 1960, Ikeda Sensei departed for his first overseas trip to spread Nichiren Buddhism globally on behalf of his mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda. This day later became recognized as World Peace Day. (See The New Human Revolution, vol. 1, “Sunrise” chapter; and NHR-24, “Ode to Mothers” chapter) 10/5

Installment 10: The Tatsunokuchi Persecution—Part 2

9/8 Anniversary of the Declaration for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons In 1957, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda made this declaration at the Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. He entrusted his successors in the youth division to spread throughout the world the belief that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil. This declaration became the

Marking the 30th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s September 1993 Harvard lecture, “Mahayana Buddhism and Twenty-First-Century Civilization.”

Installment 9: Eleven Letters of Remonstrance

In 1947, Daisaku Ikeda was 19. He was seeking answers to life amid the chaos of postwar Japan, reading books on literature and philosophy. On Aug. 14, 1947, he attended a Soka Gakkai discussion meeting in search of a philosophy that could give him genuine purpose. There, Josei Toda, the man who would become his

8/1 45th Anniversary of the Song ‘Runners for Justice’ In the Aug. 1, 1978, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun, Ikeda Sensei presented the high school division a song he composed called “Runners for Justice.” It was revised in 2010 and now serves as the future division song.  8/6 Sensei Begins and

Installment 8: Eleven Letters of Remonstrance

7/3 Mentor and Disciple Day In 1945, Josei Toda, then-Soka Gakkai general director, was released from prison after being incarcerated for two years for refusing to forsake his faith, violating the wartime Peace Preservation Law. On the same day in 1957, a young Daisaku Ikeda, then-youth division chief of staff, was arrested by the Osaka

Installment 7: The Komatsubara Persecution

November 1941—Founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi is met by several officers of Japan’s special higher police at the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai’s Kyushu General Meeting. One blocks his path, shouting: “Isn’t it strange how the nation is praying to the Sun Goddess and you won’t even accept the talisman? You’re no patriot!” Composed, Mr. Makiguchi

6/4 SGI Ikeda Kayo-kai Day In 2009, Ikeda Sensei and his wife, Kaneko, visited the Soka Young Women’s Center in Shinanomachi, Tokyo, for the first time and presented five eternal guidelines for the young women’s division. To commemorate this day, June 4 is celebrated as SGI Ikeda Kayo-kai Day. 6/6 Tsunesaburo Makiguchi’s Birthday In 1871,

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi greeted his students at the school gates every morning, come rain or shine. He considered all aspects of their well-being. Were they cold? Had they eaten a proper meal? He prepared lunch for students who would otherwise go without, discreetly placing the meals in the janitor’s room so the students wouldn’t feel ashamed.

Installment 6: The Izu Exile

5/3 Soka Gakkai Day In 1951, Josei Toda was inaugurated as second Soka Gakkai president and declared his lifetime membership goal of 750,000 households. On May 3, 1960, 32-year-old Daisaku Ikeda was inaugurated as third Soka Gakkai president, vowing to advance kosen-rufu on his mentor’s behalf.  (See The Human Revolution, “Blazing Sun” chapter and “New