CategoryOur History

Our History: May 3, Soka Gakkai Day

In making tough decisions in life, it often comes down to choosing between taking the easy way out or finding the courage to do what’s right, no matter how hard that may be. The story of Nichiren Daishonin first proclaiming his teaching offers insights into how we all can win over ourselves and find true

On April 2, 1958, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda died at the age of 58. The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the April 8, 2009, Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper. My mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, once said to me: “Buddhism teaches that ‘all phenomena are

On March 16, 1958, in the predawn chill at the foot of Mount Fuji, 6,000 youth assembled, unaware they were to make history. There, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda announced that he was passing the baton of kosen-rufu to the youth. Japan’s prime minister had originally agreed to attend the ceremony but bowed out

On March 16, 1958, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda entrusted the mission of kosen-rufu to the youth. The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was published in the March 16, 2000, Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper. My eyes were focused unwaveringly on the future. Yet, seeing the frail condition of my mentor in

Our History: Feb. 27, 1990

Our History: January 26

In October 1961, Ikeda Sensei visited the Berlin Wall just two months after it had been erected. “The sudden closing of the passage between East and West Berlin split families, relatives and lovers,” he wrote of the time. “It was a small-scale model of the Cold War, in which people were oppressed and cast asunder

November 18, 1930

The Era of the Oneness of Mentor and Disciple

A Grand Journey for Peace

Uncovering the ‘Greater Self’

‘Faith Is to Fear Nothing’

Solidifying Our Foundation for the Next Thousand Years

Transcending All Differences

by Adin Strauss, Naoko Leslie, Kevin Moncrief, Olivia Saito, Maya Gunaseharan and Ryo Kuroki SGI-USA Leaders “It is an illusion to think that the Soka Gakkai will remain just as it is now. Just wait and see the Gakkai in 10, 20 or 50 years—it will be unimaginable. Otherwise, there is no way we can

The Mentor-Disciple Relationship and the Journey of Kosen-rufu

In the following excerpts taken from The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, Ikeda Sensei describes encountering his mentor, Josei Toda, for the first time on Aug. 14, 1947. A small group of people were making their way quickly through the darkening streets to a certain house in Kojiya, in the Kamata area of Tokyo’s

Deeply committed to the education and development of children and youth, Ikeda Sensei, as the third Soka Gakkai president, established the high school division in June 1964, the junior high school division in January 1965, and the boys and girls division in September 1965—which together comprise the future division. The present generation of future division

Deeply committed to the education and development of children and youth, Ikeda Sensei, as the third Soka Gakkai president, established the high school division in June 1964, the junior high school division in January 1965, and the boys and girls division in September 1965—which together comprise the future division. The present generation of future division