TagYouth Division

David ShiRohnert, California Talking religion with friends can be very tricky and daunting, due to both the stigma surrounding religion and not wanting to potentially ruin a friendship. Chanting about my mission for kosen-rufu and believing in the Buddha nature of my friends gives me the confidence I need to share Buddhism. I always try

New SGI youth members reflect on the support they received as they embraced Buddhist practice.

A discussion with youth about the key to introducing young people to Buddhism.

by Amelia Gonzalez Tesch, Kenichi Hackman and Shota OkajimaSGI-USA Youth Leaders Thank you for all your support of the youth division thus far in 2025, The Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide. As you may already know, our primary focus this year is strengthening our discussion meetings by making a concentrated

Transforming our communities from within

Meet some of the youth leading the charge toward the chapter-led March Youth Peace Festivals.

by SGI-USA youth leaders Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Shota Okajima On March 30, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s appointment as youth division chief of staff. Although he was just 26, it marked the time when he took on a more central role in the Soka Gakkai’s development. In his diary, he wrote

This year, SGI-USA youth will hold chapter-level March Youth Peace Festivals with the determination to create peace in their local communities. The World Tribune is featuring chapter youth leaders and how they are applying Ikeda Sensei’s guidance to win where they are. Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance:  Prayer is the courage to persevere. It is the struggle

Toward the March Youth Peace Festivals, the SGI-USA youth coined the motto “Advance With 10 Friends.” This was based on Ikeda Sensei’s guidance, “If each of you can cultivate 10 genuine friendships, then kosen-rufu will surely advance!” Focused on friendship and held at the chapter level, these peace festivals are about each member turning their

This year, SGI-USA youth will hold chapter-level March Youth Peace Festivals with the determination to advance kosen-rufu in their local communities. The World Tribune is featuring chapter youth leaders and how they are applying Ikeda Sensei’s guidance to win where they are. Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance:  What’s important … is that you resolve to become the

with SGI-USA Youth Leaders Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Shota Okajima World Tribune: How do the upcoming March Youth Peace Festivals play into 2024 as the Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide? Amelia Gonzalez Tesch: Each SGI-USA member can remain ever-youthful! And one of the best ways to do so is by

How Sustaining Contribution builds the foundation for our happiness.

Reaffirming the spirit of Soka Gakkai performing groups as the Ikeda Youth Ensemble reemerges toward March 2024.

by Amelia Gonzalez and Shota Okajima SGI-USA Young Women’s and Young Men’s Leaders Congratulations to the youth of the SGI-USA for holding historic young women’s division gatherings and young men’s division outings in July! Our deepest appreciation to the incredible women’s and men’s divisions for your support! YWD Friendship Gatherings To celebrate the founding of

In July, the youth will hold divisional gatherings across the country to commemorate the founding of the young men’s division (July 11, 1951) and the young women’s division (July 19, 1951). The World Tribune spoke with SGI-USA Young Women’s Leader Amelia Gonzalez and SGI-USA Young Men’s Leader Shota Okajima about these gatherings and how every SGI-USA

Living Buddhism sat down with youth division members to talk about what taking part in the May Commemorative Contribution activity means to them. Contributing Out of Appreciation Miho HommaLong Island City, New York In 2011, I worked for a company that paid low wages and had never given a bonus to employees. This was my

A report on the March youth meetings.

SGI-USA youth on what it means to be the protagonist in their lives.

To commemorate the 65th anniversary of March 16, Kosen-rufu Day, youth will hold general meetings across the country. These gatherings will celebrate young people awakening to their profound missions (see pp. 6–7 for more information on the meeting’s theme). Here are some things you should know. Who: All youth members and guests ages 12–34 are

The Ikeda Wisdom Academy, a study program for SGI-USA youth leaders, successfully concluded its fifth class in February 2023 with a study exam. For the past two years, the academy studied Ikeda Sensei’s lectures on some of Nichiren Daishonin’s essential writings in the first two volumes of The Teachings for Victory, including “Letter from Sado,”