Soka Gakkai

Awakening within, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, an educator, embraced Nichiren Buddhism in June 1928. This profound shift propelled him toward a “bold aspiration.” He co-founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai, later simplified to Soka Gakkai, with Josei Toda on November 18, 1930. Here in Kyoto, the Soka Gakkai’s presence reflects this initial focus on education, evolving into a movement dedicated to societal happiness through Buddhist principles. Initially, Makiguchi envisioned his writings as the primary means to spread his vision. He found greater success, however, through direct, personal connections. He tirelessly journeyed throughout Japan, holding small discussion meetings in homes. Imagine Makiguchi, at 67, enduring a 26-hour train journey from Tokyo to Kagoshima for a single meeting. This relentless spirit echoes in the Soka Gakkai’s emphasis on grassroots connections. Even with World War II looming, he persisted, holding over 240 meetings. He introduced roughly 500 people to Nichiren Buddhism before his arrest in 1943. Makiguchi’s final discussion meeting took place in Izu Province, just days before his arrest for blasphemy. He spent 500 days in solitary confinement, yet never wavered, even sharing his beliefs with his captors. He died in prison on November 18, 1944, the Soka Gakkai’s 14th anniversary. Toda, released from prison in 1945, immediately began rebuilding the Soka Gakkai, emphasizing Makiguchi’s tradition of discussion meetings. He believed these intimate gatherings were crucial for spreading kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of Nichiren Buddhism. A pivotal meeting in 1947 connected Toda with a young Daisaku Ikeda, who became instrumental in the Soka Gakkai’s global expansion. The Soka Gakkai, grounded in discussion meetings, blossomed under Ikeda’s leadership. It grew to 750,000 households in Japan by 1957, evolving into an international peace movement. The Soka Gakkai’s activities for peace began symbolically on September 8, 1957, when Toda called for the abolition of nuclear weapons.