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Soka Gakkai History

Beginings 1930-1960Soka Gakkai started life as a small group of teachers following the revolutionary educational ideas

of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944). The society, at that point called Soka Kyoiku Gakkai orValue Creation Pedagogy ( named after the theory propounded by Makiguchi), was formally

established on November 18th 1930 and formally inaugurated in 1937.

Makiguchi realised that his "Value Creation" theories were limited and that they could not change

the human condition. He felt such lofty goals could only be achieved by what he considered to be a

true religion. In 1928 he met a fellow educator named Sokei Mitani, a member of he Nichiren

Shoshu Buddhist religion's lay group Hokkeko. After many discussions with Mitani, akiguchieventually took faith in Nichiren Shoshu, as did his close "disciple", a man named Josei Toda

(1900-1958).

During the war, Japan's Shintoist millitary government insisted that the populace install Shinto

Talismans (kamidana) within their homes. Although it went against Nichiren Shoshu beliefs to have

Shinto shrines, the religion apparantly gave permission to it's members to fool the authorities into

thinking that they had accepted this law. Due to a wartime fire at Nichiren Shoshu's head temple

Daisekiji, most records of the era have been lost, but it appears that Nichiren Shoshu members

could accept delivery of the talisman, but were not allowed to worship it. None-the-less Makiguchi

& Toda decided to make a political stand against the government's ruling and were among many

thousands of people, ailed for similar reasons. Makiguchi died in jail, but Toda was released atthe end of the war.

Upon his release Toda, who had maintained faith in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism throughout his

ordeal, decided to re-kindle the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai, but change it's purpose. Instead of being an

educational group, he designated it as a Buddhist group belonging to Nichiren Shoshu's Hokkeko.And changed the name to simply "Soka Gakkai". Toda planned a widespread propagation campaign

and feared that his efforts may incur some controversy. For this reason, in the 1952, he asked

ichiren Shoshu's Chief Priest for permission to make Soka Gakkai a religious corporation,ndependant of Nichiren Shoshu Hokkeko. This was permitted, but on three conditions : 1) That

Soka Gakkai members must also be members of Nichiren Shoshu temples 2) That Soka Gakkai

members must ollow the teachings of Nichiren Shoshu and 3) Soka Gakkai must protect the"Three Treasures" - the Buddha, the Law and the Priesthood. Toda, a devoted Nichiren Shoshu

Buddhist readily agreed to these conditions as the basis of Soka Gakkai. Indeed, he once told

Nichiren Shoshu's Chief Priest of the time : "If ever the Gakkai goes against the priesthood or

interferes with it's internal affairs, please disband the Gakkai".Before he passed away in 1958, Toda achieved his goal of having Soka Gakkai convert 700,000

people to Nichiren Shoshu. He also appointed his successor - Tsugio Ishida. However, as this

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appointment was not entirely public knowledge, a two year power struggle occurred after Toda's

death. The wrangling was finally resolved, when youth division leader Daisaku Ikeda was became

the new President of Soka Gakkai in 1960.

The Ikeda Years 60's, 70's, 80's and 90'sDaisaku Ikeda's leadership has been a double edged sword for Soka Gakkai. During his tenure

Gakkai put on millions of members - though detractors would say that that was more due to the

efforts of members and the allure of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism than the man imself. Despite

refusing to accept contributions from members in the early daysSoka Gakkai became much affluent

under his command. Soka Gakkai attrcted bad press under Toda for being very vigorous in it's

evangelical propagation methods, but the really bad press came during the Ikeda years.

As a sort of precurser of what was to come, Ikeda got into serious trouble with Nichiren Shoshu for

leading a gang of Soka Gakkai youth division members in the attacking of an 80 year old man, a

priest, who they blamed for Toda & Makiguchi's imprisonment. As Toda was head of the Gakkai at

this point, he accepted respnosibility and was banned from Daisekiji for two months. It is not

known what role (if any) Toda played in organising the assault, but his humble apologies certainly

seemed incere. Although he was the actual perpetrator of the violence, Ikeda appeared to getaway with no punishment.

In 1960 Ikeda formed the Komeito (Clean Government) political party in Japan