TagYoung Men’s Division

This month, men and young men unite around the shared mission of introducing youth to Buddhism.

Long before members arrive at an activity, young men, donning red ties, prepare to open their Buddhist centers. They are members of the Gajokai, “protectors of the fortress group,” a young men’s training group established by Ikeda Sensei on Feb. 1, 1971, tasked with staffing and operating Soka Gakkai facilities. Underlying their responsibilities is a

by Shota Okajima SGI-USA Young Men’s Division Leader In 2011, the SGI-USA Young Men’s Division established the Gajokai and Soka Group academies. The goal was to raise many capable young men as successors who would develop the spirit to seek their mentor by participating in these behind-the-scenes training groups. In 2019, to refresh its training

by Shota Okajima SGI-USA Young Men’s Leader From as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far south as Jamaica, young men’s leaders traveled to Florida with incredible seeking spirit. They gathered to refresh themselves and unite at the April 21–23 Young Men’s Division Leaders Conference held at the SGI-USA Florida Nature and Culture Center. 

by Dinesh Sajnani Plano, Texas A member back in India told me a story I could never forget. They were visiting a Soka Gakkai center in Japan when another member’s shoe broke as they walked. Noticing them struggling, a young man staffing the center—a Gajokai—rushed over and handed them a spare shoe in exactly the

by James Eleby Rensselaer, New York I first started doing Soka Group activities in 2015, not long after I joined the SGI. I didn’t really have a lot of structured activities in my life at that time, so it was unlike anything I had ever participated in before. Everything was so organized and dynamic.  When

by Enoa Reid Aiea, Hawaii There are times when you have to speak up. You have to stand up for yourself, for what’s right; but it can feel like hell. That’s how it was for me. I’m a chill dude, and I keep to myself. So, when it was time for me to speak up

Message to the Nationwide Young Men’s Leaders Meeting

by Ryo Kuroki SGI-USA Young men’s Leader On July 10th, the young men’s division of the SGI-USA celebrated the 71st anniversary of our founding by holding commemorative meetings across the country. A total of 1,190 young men and nonbinary members and guests gathered, marking the first time this many youth came together in person since

by Ryo Kuroki SGI-USA Young Men’s Leader In December 2019, Ikeda Sensei conveyed the significant role SGI members would play to transform our global society toward the Soka Gakkai’s centennial in 2030. Calling forth the need to transform great evil into great good, he said, “The 10-year period from the 90th to the 100th anniversaries

The following episode highlights the inaugural meeting of the Soka Gakkai’s young men’s division, which was founded by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda on July 11, 1951. The text was adapted from Ikeda Sensei’s novel The Human Revolution, pp. 588–94, in which he appears as Shin’ichi Yamamoto.  That day was rainy. A few minutes

Message Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Young Men’s Division

In Hall Caine’s epic novel The Eternal City, the youthful revolutionary David Rossi cries out: “Be brave, be strong, be patient.” Our youthful revolutionaries of kosen-rufu are forging ahead with courage, abundant self-confidence and steadfast perseverance. As the young men’s division marks its 55th anniversary this month (July 2006), I am thrilled with the vigorous

Kayo Corps In 2019, the young women of SGI-USA will focus on Kayo Corps—a training group dedicated to deepening bonds of friendship, strengthening members’ foundation in faith through practice and study, and raising capable leaders for kosen-rufu. Select young women will be inducted into the group, in which they will commit to a six- or