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The Path of Soka Education

Creating Value in the 21st Century

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The journey to create Soka University of America began over 100 yearsago with the birth of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944). A Japaneseeducator, Makiguchi established the pedagogy of Soka educationbased on his firm belief that the happiness of children should be thepurpose of education. Soka is derived from the Japanese characters“sozo” (creation) and “kachi” (value), and literally means value creation.Soka education seeks to empower students to perceive value in everyaspect of life.

Born to a poor family in Niigata, Japan, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi’s parentsabandoned him at the age of 6, leading him to be adopted by relatives.Though challenged financially throughout his youth, he continued tostudy while working, which ultimately enabled him to graduate from ateacher’s school in Hokkaido, Japan.

“e aim of education is not to transfer knowledge; it is to guide the learning process, to

equip the learner with the methods of research. It is not the piecemeal merchandizing of information;

it is to enable the acquisition of the methods for learning on one’s own; it is the provision of keys to

unlock the vault of knowledge. Rather than encouraging students to appropriate the intellectual

treasures uncovered by others, we should enable them to undertake on their own the process of

discovery and invention.” ~Tsunaesburo Makiguchi

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Value-Creating Education

Despite the political climate in Japan, Makiguchi held fast to radically different educational beliefs from the ones that the Japanese militarist government promoted, and he developed aneducational philosophy based on humanism. He regarded the role of the teacher as a guidewho empowers students by helping them take responsibility for their own learning. Throughsuch empowerment, Makiguchi believed individuals could reveal their fullest potential to createvalue in their own lives and in their communities, and thereby attain happiness and contributeto the betterment of society.

In 1903, Makiguchi published his first major work, titled The Geography of Human Life, declaring that “freedom and rights of the individual are sacred and inviolable.”

Between 1913 and 1932, Makiguchi was the principal at a number of primary schools in Tokyo,which allowed him the opportunity to refine his educational theories into practical form. As aneducator, Makiguchi emphasized that every single child be treated with the utmost respect andcare, especially economically disadvantaged children.

In 1920, Josei Toda was introduced to Makiguchi in Tokyo. The two educators discussed Japan’sfuture and educational theory. Toda was impressed by Makiguchi’s ideas, which were in starkcontrast to the educational practices in Japan at the time aimed at producing obedient subjectsof the state.

“In e futu, we must found a school based on the value-creating (Soka) pedagogy that I have been

formulating. If we can’t do it during my lifetime, please do it in yours.” ~Tsunaesburo Makiguchi

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“Daisaku, let’s establish a univeity, Soka University. I hope

this can be achieved in my lifetime, but that may not be possible. Should

that be the case, Daisaku, I’m counting on you to do it.” ~JoseiToda

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Toda (1900-1958) was born on February 11, 1900,to a family operating a fishing and shipping con-cession in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. At the ageof two, his family moved to Hokkaido, where hegraduated from Atsuta Higher Elementary Schoolwith the highest marks in 1914. At the age of 17,he obtained a teaching license for elementaryschool and started his educational career inYubari, Hokkaido.

With Makiguchi’s help, Toda moved to Tokyo andbegan to work at Nishimachi Elementary School,headed by Makiguchi as principal. For the next23 years, Toda worked for Makiguchi, supportinghim in developing his educational theories.

In 1928, Makiguchi embraced Nichiren Buddhism,finding strong correlations between Buddhismand his educational beliefs. Toda also decided toembrace Buddhism.

In 1930, in a discussion with Makiguchi, Todasuggested the name "Value-Creating (Soka) Peda-gogy" for the educational theory Makiguchi hadbeen developing throughout his career. AcceptingToda’s suggestion, Makiguchi published The System of Value Creating Pedagogy. That sameyear, Toda joined Makiguchi in founding the SokaKyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society),which aimed to reform society through educationbased on the Buddhist principles of peace, humanrights and the sanctity of life.

Makiguchi’s educational philosophy is rooted inthe belief that:

� The purpose of education is the lifelong happiness of the learner.

� Wisdom comes from the awareness that alllife is interrelated.

� Deep respect for the learner unlocks inner-motivated learning.

Whereas truth is an objective unvarying recogni-tion of things as they are, value is a subjective,emotional bond between self and object.Makiguchi explains that there are three elementsof value:

� Beauty is an emotional and temporary value,derived through the five senses.

� Benefit is an individual gain which is not exclusive to monetary profit but related to the whole of one’s life.

� Good is the personal conduct of an individualthat intentionally contributes to the formationand development of a unified society.

Makiguchi emphasizes that the value of benefitmust be pursued in harmony with the value ofgood, and that persuading people to this conceptis the function of education.

In the midst of the heightening tensions of World War II, the Japanese militaristic governmentenforced Shintoism as the state religion. However,Makiguchi refused to surrender his religious beliefs and courageously stood up against theJapanese militaristic authorities.

As a result, in July 1943, Makiguchi and Todawere arrested as thought criminals. Makiguchieventually died in prison on November 18th,1944, at the age of 73.

The Soka Gakkai is a lay Buddhist organizationbased on the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, a13th century Japanese Buddhist reformer. The corephilosophy of the Soka Gakkai is the concept ofhuman revolution or as Ikeda has described, a self-motivated inner change of a single individual canpositively affect change in society, in a country oreven the world. Today the Soka Gakkai has becomeone of the world’s largest lay Buddhist organizationswith members working for peace, culture and edu-cation in over 190 countries and territories.

Toda’s dream was to eliminate suffering from allhumankind. He renamed the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai(Value-Creating Education Society), the small edu-cation society Makiguchi founded in 1930, as theSoka Gakkai (Value-creation Society). He extendedits membership from only educators to embrace allpeople. In turn, he raised an enthusiastic successorwho would carry on the dreams of both Toda andMakiguchi.

Daisaku Ikeda was born the fifth of eight children,in Tokyo, Japan, on January 2, 1928 to a family ofseaweed farmers. At the age of 19, he met Todawho was giving a lecture at a Soka Gakkai discus-sion meeting. Ikeda displayed immense fervor insearching for the meaning of life. Deeply moved by Toda’s sincerity and his wartime imprisonmentexperience, Ikeda decided to become Toda’s directprotégé and joined the Soka Gakkai.

In 1949, Ikeda started working for Toda’s publishingcompany. Due to the post-war economic depression,Toda’s company experienced many financial diffi-culties. To support the reconstruction of Toda’sbusiness, Ikeda gave up going to college and in return, Toda gave him a university-level education withemphasis on reading history, literature, philosophy,economics, science and organizational theory.

In 1958, Toda’s health became exceedingly fragile.AsToda sensed his impending death, with absolutetrust, he passed to Ikeda his dream to build Sokaschools and to achieve global peace.

In April of that year, Toda passed away. Firmly determined to fulfill his mentor’s dream, Ikeda em-barked on a new phase of his life – a life dedicatedto global peace, culture and education.

Daisaku Ikeda has dedicated his life to actualizing hismentor’s dreams by carrying out various initiativesto promote peace, culture and education. His effortshave gained him worldwide recognition as a Buddhistphilosopher, peace builder, author, poet, and educator.

A strong proponent of dialogue as the foundationto achieve peace, Ikeda has met with more than1,600 global leaders and thinkers to discuss a varietyof topics from economics, science, and politics, tothe arts and humanities. Among the individuals withwhom Ikeda has met are former Soviet presidentMikhail Gorbachev, Nobel Peace Prize-winning

Value-Creating Society

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“Whatever hardship may be imposed on me…I wi dedicate mylife to carrying out my mentor’s instructions.” ~Daisaku Ikeda

“In founding SUA, I have been possessed by a burning, impassioned desire to foster many proud, confident

leaders for world peace, people of a statue like that of great, majestic trees and ose effos wibenet humanity 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 years into the future.” ~Daisaku Ikeda

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scientists and peace activists Linus Paulingand Joseph Rotblat, and former SouthAfrican president and civil rights leader Nelson Mandela. His dialogues seek tobridge differences among religions, nations,and ethnicities, and address pressing issuesfacing humanity today. To date, Ikeda’s dialogues have been published into morethan 50 books and translated into 34 different languages.

Ikeda’s efforts to fulfill his mentor’s vision ofa peaceful world have led him to establisha number of nonprofit research institutionspromoting peace, the arts, and interculturaland academic exchanges. These include:

� The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning,and Dialogue

� The Toda Institute for Global Peace andPolicy Research

� The Institute of Oriental Philosophy

� The Min-On Concert Association

� The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum

Since 1974, Ikeda has been invited to delivernumerous addresses to university audiencesworldwide. Reflecting on his university lectures, Ikeda has said: “My enduring

wish for peace and a better world prevailedas I accepted each invitation to speak. Icherished the chance to share my beliefsand ideas with others.” Ikeda has lecturedat 32 universities and institutions spanning18 different countries.

Ikeda has also been awarded more than 295honorary degrees by institutions of higherlearning in 47 countries in recognition of hismultifaceted efforts in promoting education,enhancing cross-cultural understanding andpeace, championing dialogue, empoweringordinary people, and bridging the East andthe West.

Ikeda has published an extensive body ofwork to explore his ideas on various subjects,from peace proposals and poetry to children’sbooks and photographic collections. Hiswritings are currently used in university-level course materials in countries as diverse as Argentina, the United States,and China.

Since 1983, Ikeda has authored annualpeace proposals, which he has submittedto the United Nations to enhance globalhuman security and to achieve peaceful solutions to global challenges through aBuddhist lens. His proposals focus on

“The starting point and eence of Soka education is the spirit to treasure each student’s

individuality so that they can become happy and enjoy a glorious future. Education does not exist for the

sake of a nation, for business, or for religion. The aim of Soka education is the happiness of oneself and

others, as well as society as a whole, and peace for all humanity.” ~Daisaku Ikeda

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topics such as poverty and development,abolition of nuclear weapons, environmentalprotection, and initiatives for conflict reso-lution. He has also written proposals on educational reform, the environment andsustainable development, and reform ofthe United Nations.

In 2009, Ikeda proposed a US-Russia Nuclear Non-proliferation Summit as an opportune chance to progress toward nuclear abolition. Ikeda has also proposed a special UN agency responsible for sustainable energy, and the establishmentof a World Food Bank to stabilize food markets in crisis.

Ikeda has also earned recognition for hispoetry. In 1981, he was awarded the titleof “Poet Laureate” by the World Academyof Arts and Culture. His second collectionof poetry, Fighting for Peace, was a finalistin the 2005 Benjamin Franklin Awards’ Poetry and Literary Criticism category. The World Poetry Society Intercontinentalawarded him the title, “World People’sPoet” in October 2007.

Ikeda writes children’s books as a way tofoster children’s unlimited potential. Hisworks include collaborative efforts withworld-renowned artists, such as British illustrator Brian Wildsmith, and several ofthem were made into animated videos.

SOKA KINDERGARTENS

Sapporo Soka Kindergarten (Hokkaido, Japan (1976)

Hong Kong Soka Kindergarten (Hong Kong, China, 1992)

Singapore Soka Kindergarten (Singapore, 1993)

Malaysia Soka Kindergarten (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1995)

Brazil Soka Kindergarten (São Paulo, Brazil, 2001)

Soka Happiness Kindergarten (Seoul, South Korea, 2008)

SOKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Tokyo Soka Elementary School (Tokyo, Japan, 1978)

Kansai Soka Elementary School (Osaka, Japan, 1982)

Brazil Soka Elementary School (São Paulo, Brazil, 2002)

SOKA JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLS

Soka Junior and Senior High Schools (Tokyo, Japan, 1968)

Kansai Soka Junior and Senior High Schools (Osaka,Japan, 1973)

SOKA UNIVERSITIES

Soka University (Tokyo, Japan, 1971)

Soka Women’s College (Tokyo, Japan, 1985)

Soka University of America (California, 1987)

The Soka institutions founded by Ikeda are all based onthe philosophy of creating value, and strive to applySoka education in a way that reflects the cultural andsocietal contexts of their respective locations.

In 1994, Soka University of America began a graduatedegree program in Second and Foreign Language Education in Calabasas, California. Just seven yearslater, the university opened its second campus in AlisoViejo, California, in 2001 with an undergraduate program.In 2005, the university graduated its first class of undergraduate students and twelfth class of graduatestudents, and attained accreditation from the WesternAssociation for Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2007,the Graduate School moved to Aliso Viejo, where boththe university’s undergraduate and graduate programsare now housed.

Education for Global Citizenship

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MISSION

The mission of Soka University of America is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.

MOTTOS

� Be philosophers of a renaissance of life

� Be world citizens in solidarity for peace

� Be the pioneers of a global civilization

PRINCIPLES

� To foster leaders of culture in the community

� To foster leaders of humanism in society

� To foster leaders of pacifism in the world

� To foster leaders for the creative coexistenceof nature and humanity

Daisaku Ikeda has brought Makiguchi’s educa-tional philosophy into modern context, explainingthe notion of being a global citizen. According toIkeda, global citizenship is not merely determinedby the number of languages one speaks or thenumber of countries to which one has traveled,but rather, it reflects the people who are genuinelyconcerned for the peace and prosperity of theworld. Namely, global citizenship refers to thosewho possess the following characteristics:

� The wisdom to perceive the interconnectednessof all life and living beings.

� The courage not to fear or deny differencesbut to respect people of different cultures andto grow from encounters with them.

� The compassion to maintain an imaginativeempathy that reaches beyond one’s immediatesurroundings and extends to those sufferingin distant places.

In order to foster global citizens, Ikeda proposedto incorporate the following academic curriculum:

Peace education: to teach the cruelty and folly ofwar so that students embrace nonviolence inhuman society.

Environmental education: to study current ecological realities and means of protecting theenvironment.

Developmental education: to focus attention onissues of poverty and global justice.

Human rights education: to awaken the aware-ness of human equality and dignity.

Soka University of America at a Glance

“It is my hope and desire that the waves of world citizens, united and awakened to

a genuine global ethic, will spread without cease into an ever more brilliant future.” ~Daisaku Ikeda

President Danny Habuki

speaks with SUA Students.

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Expanding the Path

Since the graduation of the first undergraduate class in 2005, alumni have striven to live acontributive life in their respective fields in accordance with the mission statement of theYoung Founders Alumni Association:

� Be global citizens committed to living a contributive life. Live up to our mission as leadersof our times for the sake of the people.

� Be proud supporters of SUA, build networks or friendship for the sake of Soka education.

� Our greatest honor to repay our debt of gratitude to our Alma Mater.

� Be forever Young Founders. Protect and preserve SUA’s Founding Spirit.

Soka University of America is led by President Daniel Y. Habuki (Tokyo Soka High SchoolClass of 1971, Soka University of Japan Class of 1975, Ph.D, Economics, Washington StateUniversity Class of 1984). Habuki defines a Soka education by the experience and under-standing of the students. “As one who has received Soka education since high school, I be-lieve Soka education means always remembering that none of us develop in isolation fromothers. All of us live in this world supported by many people, nature, and all living beings.By receiving a Soka education, students come to recognize that they are an integral part ofthe world. They learn their inherent ability to influence others and the environment. Theyalso awaken to their personal responsibility to develop their own lives and contribute to thebetterment of society. Learners of Soka education, therefore, develop a deep awarenessthat the education they receive is not only for themselves but also for others, especiallythose who never had the opportunity to receive such an education. This is a fundamental,underlying principle of Soka education.”

Leadership

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Soka is a private, non-profit, four year liberal arts college offering a non-sectarian curriculum in Orange County, California.

Areas of study: Eastern and Western thought meet on our campusand are taught across a broad liberal arts curriculum.

The concentrations we offer are:

� Environmental Studies

� Humanities

� International Studies

� Social and Behavioral Sciences

Study Abroad is required for all undergraduates and is included intuition. Choose from 25 cities.

Athletics: A member of NAIA, Soka competes in Soccer,Track andField, Cross Country and Swimming.

FOR ADMISSIONS INFORMATION:

Office of Admission

1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Phone: 888-600-SOKA

E-mail: admission@soka.edu

TO MAKE A DONATION:

Linda Kennedy

Director of Philanthropy

Phone: 949-480-4072

E-mail: lkennedy@soka.edu