TagAwards and Honors

On Jan. 20, 2023, the day before the grand opening of the SGI Guam Ikeda Peace and Culture Center, the Soka Gakkai delegation attended a series of public events congratulating the SGI on its new departure. At the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña, the territory’s capital village, the Guam Legislature recognized the Soka Gakkai International

OAKLAND—Dan Kalb, Oakland’s District 1 councilmember, selected the SGI-USA Oakland Buddhist Center in May as a representative to commemorate this year’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. In a newsletter to constituents, he explained that the center serves as a hub for SGI members in Oakland and in the East Bay “who are upholding the

A look at the 171-year-old University of Minnesota campus, where Ikeda Sensei was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on May 14 during the 2022 commencement ceremony for the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. All photos by Seikyo Press and Yvonne Ng.

MINNEAPOLIS, May 14—The University of Minnesota, one of the world’s leading research institutions, awarded Ikeda Sensei with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the 2022 commencement ceremony for the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, for his enduring role as a global peace advocate and Buddhist philosopher. In a ceremony at the university’s

The City of Glen Cove, New York, proclaimed June 20, 2021, Poet Laureate Daisaku Ikeda Day in commemoration of his visit there 40 years ago, when he penned the iconic poem “To My Beloved Young American Friends—Youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth.” Mayor Tim Tenke called the proclamation “a great honor” not only for the city

In a socially distanced, dignified and moving tribute on May 3, Soka Gakkai Day, the Northern California city of Oakland declared that the two-block stretch of Opal Street in front of the SGI-USA Oakland Buddhist Center be given a second name: “Daisaku Ikeda Way.” District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb, who served as the keynote speaker

The American Educational Research Association honors his efforts in peace building, human rights and education.

The Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, celebrated the 46th anniversary of the SGI’s founding with a proclamation declaring Jan. 26, 2021, Founding Day of the Soka Gakkai International in Greenwich. The citation praises the efforts of SGI members worldwide who strive each day “for the genuine happiness and true prosperity of their respective countries and local

On New Year’s Day, the city of Montgomery saluted Ikeda Sensei’s 93rd birthday (Jan. 2 Japan time) declaring him an honorary citizen of Alabama’s capital. The proclamation, issued by Mayor Steven L. Reed, states that for over 70 years, Sensei has “continuously advanced a movement for peace and social justice through non-violent social change” while

On Oct. 2, the 60th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s first visit to America, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Neighborhood Associations and local SGI-USA members dedicated the Cherry Tree Peace Grove at Loring Park. The peace grove honors the three founding Soka Gakkai presidents, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda and Daisaku Ikeda. In March, Minneapolis Mayor

Commemorating May 3, Soka Gakkai Day, the City and County of Denver proclaimed May 3, 2020, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda Day. Mayor Michael Hancock said that Ikeda Sensei has promoted “a vision of hope, freedom and democracy, and a powerful sense of hope for our shared global future.” Additional locations that honored Sensei with proclamations on May

SGI President Ikeda received an honorary doctorate of philosophy in education administration on Feb. 27 from Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, Philippines, for his great contribution of advancing world peace through education. This brings his total number of academic honors (honorary professorships and honorary doctorates from educational institutions worldwide) to nearly 400. The award ceremony

The new exhibition includes her visit to Soka University in Japan to receive an honorary doctorate. A new major exhibition on the life of Rosa Parks at the Library of Congress (LOC) in Washington, D. C., features her May 1994 visit to Soka University in Japan to receive an honorary doctorate. The panel, which features

SGI President Ikeda’s dialogue partner and president/founder of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, David Krieger, was presented the Soka Gakkai Award of Honor on Oct. 20 at the peace foundation’s 36th annual “Evening for Peace” in Santa Barbara, California. The award, signed by President Ikeda and Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada, states, “Sharing the aims

Soka Gakkai president meets with the president of India and discusses the Soka Gakkai’s efforts for peace. Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada and his delegation met with President of India Ram Nath Kovind at the president’s official residence in New Delhi on Sept. 23. President Harada first conveyed a message from SGI President Ikeda to

TOKYO, Aug. 2—The Brazilian university Federal University of Sergipe conferred an honorary doctorate on SGI President Ikeda for his efforts to foster global citizens and his contributions to peace. Federal University of Sergipe President Angelo Roberto Antoniolli attended the ceremony, held at Soka University. To date, President Ikeda’s honorary doctorates and professorships number over 386

The fascinating new book by Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, titled A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher (Middleway Press), is earning high praise. The book, which discusses how Dean Carter’s interfaith journey with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda made him a better Christian, received its most

by Kay Yoshikawa Correspondent This year marks the 74th anniversary of the end of World War II. During that global conflict, the Chamorros—indigenous people of the Mariana Islands—suffered unspeakable atrocities committed on the beautiful island of Guam. It was here that Daisaku Ikeda established the Soka Gakkai International on Jan. 26, 1975, for the sake

Middleway Press’ A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher, authored by Dr. Lawrence E. Carter Sr., has been named the 2019 winner of the Illumination Book Awards in the “Biography/Memoir” category. The awards are designed to honor and bring increased recognition to the year’s best new titles “written and published with a Christian worldview.” Dr. Carter is