JAN. 2 WORLD TRIBUNE
Ikeda Sensei’s 95 Years
The commemorative issue pays tribute to Ikeda Sensei’s life and legacy, following his passing on Nov. 15, 2023. The issue highlights his ceaseless efforts to expand the Soka Gakkai’s peace movement to 192 countries and territories and globalize the Buddhist philosophy of respect for the dignity of life to secure the foundation of lasting peace.
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JAN. 12 WORLD TRIBUNE
‘Proud Architects of Happiness in Our Communities’
SGI-USA youth leaders Amelia Gonzalez Tesch and Shota Okajima speak on the significance of the upcoming March Youth Peace Festivals, to be held at the chapter level, rooted in the community.
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FEB. 2 WORLD TRIBUNE
Brimming With Courage Toward a Century of Life
At the First Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial, held on Jan. 7, 2024, Soka Gakkai Senior Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda presents three calligraphies composed by Sensei: “Heart of Peace” and “To the World, To the New Century,” as a pair; and “Century of Life.” At the meeting, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada highlights Sensei’s guidance explaining how the Soka Gakkai has to “keep up with the changes in our society and learn about new ways of thinking from our youth.” At the same time, President Harada stresses that “the spirit of mentor and disciple must never change.”
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FEB. 9 WORLD TRIBUNE
U.S. President Biden Sends Condolence Message on the Passing of Ikeda Sensei
U.S. President Joe Biden sends a message of condolence on the passing of Ikeda Sensei, saying, “As a committed leader, bridge builder and man of action, he dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace and dignity for all.”
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FEB. 9 WORLD TRIBUNE
All About Advancing With 10 Friends
Toward the March Youth Peace Festivals, the SGI-USA youth set out with the motto “Advance With 10 Friends,” based on Sensei’s guidance, “If each of you can cultivate 10 genuine friendships, then kosen-rufu will surely advance!”
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FEB. 16 WORLD TRIBUNE
Our Pledge on SGI Day
To commemorate the founding of the Soka Gakkai International on Jan. 26, President Harada calls on SGI members around the world to build on Sensei’s decades-long efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons, a world without war.
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FEB. 16 WORLD TRIBUNE
Daisaku Ikeda and America
The new exhibition, “Daisaku Ikeda and America,” opens on Jan. 20 at Ikeda Hall at the Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC) in Weston, Florida. The exhibition takes viewers through six decades of the kosen-rufu movement in the U.S. in 15-year increments, starting with Sensei’s first visit in October 1960. One highlight: photos of members throughout the decades from large meetings and youth performances to discussion meetings and Buddhist center openings in small communities.
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MARCH 1 WORLD TRIBUNE
New Members Celebrations to be Held in March
The SGI-USA begins a tradition of holding New Members Celebrations to honor and support those who have become members in the past two years.
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MARCH 1 WORLD TRIBUNE
The Power of Friendship
Toward the March Youth Peace Festivals, the World Tribune sits down with SGI-USA youth leaders to discuss the spirit behind these gatherings, which represent a concentrated effort to build authentic friendships and community.
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MARCH 8 WORLD TRIBUNE
Life’s Greatest Treasure
With the ongoing focus on friendship, the World Tribune sits down with SGI-USA Many Treasures Group representatives Matilda Buck and Guy McCloskey to discuss the true meaning of friendship.
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MARCH 8 WORLD TRIBUNE
Ikeda Center Hosts Nuclear Disarmament Seminar
On Jan. 22, the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue hosts a seminar bringing together 12 students from Soka University of America with representatives from International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
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MARCH 15 WORLD TRIBUNE
Grand Opening of Soka International School Malaysia
Soka International School Malaysia holds its grand opening ceremony at its campus in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan State, on Feb. 22, welcoming 138 students from nine countries and territories.
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APRIL 5 WORLD TRIBUNE
March Youth Peace Festivals
At the chapter-led March Youth Peace Festivals, focused on community-based efforts to fortify friendships and counteract the fraying connections among youth, more than 11,000 young people participate in the 550 festivals held across the country, speaking openly about their dreams and challenges, and forming friendships.
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APRIL 12 WORLD TRIBUNE
A Summer of Expansion From Our Neighborhoods
In its first quarterly conference of the year, held virtually on March 9, the SGI-USA Central Executive Committee unites on a vision: a summer of expansion, rooted in and launching from our neighborhoods.
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APRIL 19 WORLD TRIBUNE
70,000 Youth Gather for Future Action Festival
Aimed at sparking action toward nuclear weapons abolition and the climate crisis based on a shared commitment to create a peaceful future, some 70,000 young people gather for the historic Future Action Festival on March 24, at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
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MAY 3 WORLD TRIBUNE
The ‘Ikeda Sun Group’ Relaunched
The SGI-USA men’s division announces the reestablishment of the Ikeda Sun Group—a behind-the-scenes support group composed of men’s division members who have retired and are able to actively support daytime activities at our Buddhist centers on weekdays.
The purpose is threefold: to further reopen our community centers; to provide opportunities for the men’s division in their golden years to continue building fortune through protecting our members and our kosen-rufu movement; and to keep our precious legacy with our mentor alive.
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MAY 3 WORLD TRIBUNE
Study We Can Apply
In April, roughly 1,500 participants across the SGI-USA take the Introductory Exam in English or Spanish, introducing them to profound Buddhist principles that empower them to overcome life’s challenges and achieve their dreams.
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MAY 10 WORLD TRIBUNE
Toward a Century of Life
On April 27, 270 youth gather at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to commemorate the anniversary of Sensei’s lecture, “The Enduring Self,” delivered at UCLA 50 years earlier. Keynote speaker Edward M. Feasel, president of Soka University of America, touches on essential themes from Sensei’s lecture.
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MAY 10 WORLD TRIBUNE
Member Resources Portal Updated
In April, the SGI-USA releases new leadership features in the Member Resources Portal, making it easier for leaders to see their organization’s status and where it’s headed. This includes separate Personal and Organizational sections, personalized intuitive dashboards and key statistics.
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JUNE 7 WORLD TRIBUNE
Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada Meets Pope Francis
President Harada meets with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace on May 10. The two confirm that, amid these tumultuous times, religions that seek peace can transcend their differences and work together based on a shared love for humanity. Then, on behalf of the Ikeda family, President Harada conveys appreciation for the condolences extended by Pope Francis on the passing of Ikeda Sensei.
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JUNE 7 WORLD TRIBUNE
King Castle Group
The SGI-USA men’s division rename the men’s safety and security group the King Castle Group (Ojokai) after the group created by Sensei in Japan and introduce new guidelines, plus a dress code and logo.
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JUNE 14 WORLD TRIBUNE
Become Champions of Peace in Your Communities
Soka University of America (SUA), in Aliso Viejo, California, graduates the Class of 2024—the first class to begin college amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the first to graduate since the passing of university founder Daisaku Ikeda.
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JUNE 21 WORLD TRIBUNE
Expanding Happiness in Our Communities
At the SGI-USA Central Executive Committee Conference on June 8, representative leaders talk about how they can create a wave of joy in the Summer of Shakubuku campaign—a concentrated, chapter-led effort from June to August to spread Buddhism in local communities as a means for transforming the trajectory of our country. They also discuss the importance of making real individual connections with those around us and showing actual proof as human beings based on our Buddhist practice.
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JULY 5 WORLD TRIBUNE
A Dream for the Future
SoCal-Pacific Territory holds its first quint zones Soka Family Day at SUA on June 9, with some 300 future division members and parents hailing from the five local zones.
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JULY 12 WORLD TRIBUNE
Buddhist Bookcast First Episode
A new podcast series offering quick reviews of SGI-USA books from World Tribune Press and Middleway Press launches with an interview with Naoko Leslie, SGI-USA women’s leader, on Sensei’s The Immeasurable Power of Prayer.
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JULY 12 WORLD TRIBUNE
The Power of Informed People
The World Tribune highlights the SGI’s varied efforts for nuclear disarmament education, sharing the consistent message that ordinary people have the power to lead lives of great value and positively influence their communities, society and the world.
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JULY 19 WORLD TRIBUNE
Toward New Heights!
The Junior High and High School Conference themed “Toward 2030: Triumphantly Marching Toward New Heights of Victory!” is held June 21–24 at SUA, in Aliso Viejo, California, with the conference planned entirely by a junior high and high school planning board. Participants express tremendous joy upon meeting friends from across the SGI-USA and being inspired by Sensei’s encouragement.
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AUG. 2 WORLD TRIBUNE
Standing Up With Sensei for Peace
With the determination to carry on their mentor’s legacy, some 260 youth representing 60 countries and territories, including 18 from SGI-USA, gather from June 26 to July 2 in Tokyo for the first SGI Youth Training Course since Sensei’s passing. In conjunction with the training course, the Third Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial is held at the Tokyo Toda Memorial Hall. At this hall, a portrait of Sensei is displayed for the first time alongside those of Soka Gakkai presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda. Soka Gakkai Senior Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda unveils Sensei’s calligraphies: “Twenty-First Century” and “Courageous Dance,” reflecting Sensei’s trust in the youth of Soka.
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AUG. 15 WORLD TRIBUNE
60 Years as the Voice of Courage and Hope
The 45-page commemorative issue chronicles the history of the kosen-rufu movement in America covered by the World Tribune, the flagship newspaper of the SGI-USA that published its first issue on Aug. 15, 1964. The issue gleans key moments in our history, broken down into five eras: A Time of Construction; Ushering in a Global Movement Based on Dialogue; Soka Renaissance; Affirming the Bonds of Mentor and Disciple; and The Era of Successors.
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SEPT. 6 WORLD TRIBUNE
‘Peace for Us Always’
In Hagatna, Guam, thousands of residents gather on July 21, for the 80th Liberation Day Parade themed “Todu i Tiempo i Pas Para Hita,” a CHamoru phrase meaning “Peace for Us Always.” SGI-USA members in Guam participate in the parade, sharing the humanistic philosophy of Buddhism with over 6,000 people in their community.
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SEPT. 6 WORLD TRIBUNE
For the Happiness of All People, Eternally With Our Mentor
From Aug. 23–26, 185 representative leaders from the SGI-USA and SGI-Canada gather for the SGI North America Study Conference, led by SGI Study Department Leader Seiichiro Harada, in the first study conference to be held at the FNCC since 2019. Over the four-day conference, Mr. Harada presents on key themes of faith including the unity of “many in body, one in mind” and the oneness of mentor and disciple.
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SEPT. 13 WORLD TRIBUNE
The SGI-USA Statistics Department Marks 20 Years
The SGI-USA celebrates the 20th anniversary of the statistics and member care program and officially designates September as “Member Care Month,” with a focus on visiting each new member to see how their Buddhist practice is progressing.
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SEPT. 20 WORLD TRIBUNE
‘It’s Time to Join Hands and Stand Up Together’
SGI-USA representatives were among the 134 members from eight countries to attend an SGI training course in Tokyo. Discussing how to mark Nov. 15, the first anniversary of Sensei’s passing, the national leadership unite on gathering 50,000 members and guests at the most encouraging, well-attended and joyful November district general meetings.
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OCT. 4 WORLD TRIBUNE
Friendship, Community and Successors
The Central Executive Committee and Executive Council holds its third quarterly conference of the year in New York on Sept. 14. There they discuss and vote on the key focus of the next phase of dynamic development: Buddhist dialogue rooted in friendship; strengthening our youth; and strengthening our community. SGI Vice President Yoshiki Tanigawa, who offered guidance at the conference, stresses the importance of trust and friendship when sharing Buddhism and of doing gongyo with the youth and imparting the spirit behind it in our efforts to raise successors.
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OCT. 4 WORLD TRIBUNE
The ‘Sun of Hope’ Rises in Philadelphia
On Sept. 15, a Philadelphia leaders meeting is held at their local Buddhist Center with SGI Vice President Yoshiki Tanigawa, where the members vow to pioneer a new history in the kosen-rufu movement.
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OCT. 11 WORLD TRIBUNE
Courage, Prayer and Unity—the Starting Point
The ever-victorious chapter through territory leaders from the Tri-state area converge on the SGI-USA New York Culture Center on Sept. 16 for a powerful guidance meeting with SGI Vice President Yoshiki Tanigawa and SGI Youth Leader Mitsuo Nishikata. In their words, they stress the spirit of taking full responsibility to propel kosen-rufu and daimoku as the starting point of victory.
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OCT. 11 WORLD TRIBUNE
Orlando Bloom on Buddhability
Orlando Bloom opens up about his Buddhist practice in Buddhability’s first video podcast.
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OCT. 11 WORLD TRIBUNE
Sensei’s Two Calligraphies Introduced
At the Fourth Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting, Soka Gakkai Senior Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda introduces two calligraphic works by Sensei: “Rissho Ankoku” (Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land) and “Kyosen no Chikai” (Vow of Shared Struggle).
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OCT. 18 WORLD TRIBUNE
Illuminating an Age of Misinformation
The World Tribune sits down with SGI-USA youth representatives to discuss what Buddhism has to say about misinformation and how to identify and combat it with faith.
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NOV. 1 WORLD TRIBUNE
Connect and Reconnecting With Everyone Toward Our November District Meetings
With the focus on connecting and reconnecting with people—members, friends, everyone—and meeting together at their district general meetings, the World Tribune speaks with district leaders to hear about their efforts toward this end.
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NOV. 15 WORLD TRIBUNE
The Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide
The Soka Gakkai’s theme for 2025 is announced, based on the spirit that the Soka Gakkai will soar higher as a world religion as each member lives with the spirit to never be defeated in the face of even the harshest winds.
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NOV. 15 WORLD TRIBUNE
Memories of My Eldest Brother, Kiichi, Being Sent Off to War
In the issue marking the first anniversary of Sensei’s passing, the World Tribune reprints an essay by Sensei where he intimately shares his thoughts on his personal war-time experience and why he so adamantly opposes war.
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DEC. 6 WORLD TRIBUNE
The New Human Revolution, vol. 28
The long-awaited volume 28 of The New Human Revolution is published, signaling the near completion of Sensei’s epic, 30-volume series in English.
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DEC. 13 WORLD TRIBUNE
New SGI-USA Youth Leadership
On Dec. 1, the SGI-USA kicked off toward 2025 with new national and territory-level youth leadership appointments.
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DEC. 13 WORLD TRIBUNE
The Mentor-Disciple Journey for Peace Will Continue Forever
Marking the first anniversary of Sensei’s passing, 280 SGI representatives from 75 countries and territories converge in Tokyo from Nov. 14 to 18 for the first SGI Autumn Training Course to be held in five years. Underscoring the significance of the moment, the Soka Gakkai introduced two revisions to its Constitution: 1) Ikeda Sensei’s achievements in opening the great path of worldwide kosen-rufu are without precedent in the history of Buddhism. The Soka Gakkai thus regards Ikeda Sensei as the mentor of worldwide kosen-rufu and the President and spiritual leader of the Soka Gakkai International in perpetuity; and 2) With the unity of “many in body, one in mind,” the SGI will promote worldwide kosen-rufu based on the guidance and spirit of the three founding presidents, especially of the SGI president, Daisaku Ikeda, centering itself around the Soka Gakkai president and assisted by the SGI general director. Based on these changes, the Soka Gakkai discontinued the role of SGI vice president and appointed Yoshiki Tanigawa as the SGI general director. Minoru Harada remains the Soka Gakkai president.
In addition, at the Fifth Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting held on Nov. 17, 2024, Soka Gakkai Senior Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda presented three calligraphies from Sensei: “Eternal Life,” “Comrades in All Lifetimes and Existences” and “Great Vow.”
December 20, 2024, World Tribune, pp. 4–10
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