CategoryOur History

Chronicling Sensei’s visit to Honolulu in 1975.

On June 19, 1996, during what was to become Ikeda Sensei’s last visit to America, the SGI-USA Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC), in Weston, Florida, opened. Nestled on 125 acres of restored wetlands at the edge of the Everglades, the FNCC is the site of various SGI-USA conferences held throughout the year for each

Chronicling Ikeda Sensei’s visit to Denver in June 1996.

by Naoko Leslie  SGI-USA Women’s Leader Just a month after his inauguration as the second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda established the women’s division to initiate the kosen-rufu movement. Seventy-three years have passed since then (June 10, 1951). Carrying on his mentor’s determination to rid misery from the face of this planet, Ikeda Sensei continued

Chronicling Ikeda Sensei’s visit to Anchorage, Alaska, in May 1983.

Installment 15: The Sado Exile—Part 3

Motivated by his unwavering compassion and commitment to eradicate suffering, Nichiren establishes the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

This Month in Soka Gakkai History 4/2 Josei Toda’s Passing In 1958, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda’s noble life of 58 years came to a close. Carrying on the final injunction of founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Mr. Toda rebuilt the Soka Gakkai and achieved his lifetime membership goal of 750,000 households. (See

Chronicling the 50th Anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s UCLA Lecture

After years of struggle, he had achieved the impossible. Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda realized his lifetime goal of expanding the Soka Gakkai’s movement to 750,000 households in late 1957. Alongside his monumental achievement, however, Mr. Toda’s health declined rapidly. In March 1958, sensing his life was coming to an end, Mr. Toda suggested

3/5 Founding of the Men’s Division In 1966, 750 representatives gathered with Ikeda Sensei at the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Tokyo, marking the establishment of the men’s division. On that occasion, he said, “If the men’s division develops remarkably and establishes a solid framework for kosen-rufu, our organization will remain secure forever” (The New Human

Chronicling the 50th Anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s March 1974 Visit to New Orleans

Installment 14: The Sado Exile—Part 2

Recounting Ikeda Sensei’s contributions to global peace, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada calls on us to carry on our mentor’s work.

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

Installment 13: The Sado Exile—Part 1

Chronicling Ikeda Sensei’s Visit to Dallas 40 years ago.

The February Campaign  In February 1952, 24-year-old Daisaku Ikeda led Kamata Chapter in achieving the unprecedented monthly propagation result of 201 new households. This victory adorned second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda’s birth month with a significant milestone in propagation. (See The Human Revolution, “Dashing Forward” chapter and The New Human Revolution, vol. 3, “Light

A far-reaching vision for world peace.

1/3 75 years since Ikeda Sensei started working at Nihon Shogakkan, Josei Toda’s publishing company (1949) 3/30 70th anniversary of Sensei’s appointment as youth division chief of staff (1954) 4/1 50th anniversary of Sensei’s first overseas university lecture at the University of California, Los Angeles (1974) 5/3–5 45 years since Sensei inscribed the Calligraphies “Justice”