History of Soka Gakkai & Three Presidents — Part 3
The History of Soka Gakkai & The Three Presidents — Part 3
In the previous parts, we learned about Makiguchi Sensei , the founding of Soka Kyoiku Gakkai and the courageous stand he took for his faith.
We also learned about Josei Toda Sensei , his awakening in prison and his determination to rebuild Soka Gakkai.
This part focuses on the shared struggle of mentor and disciple , the tremendous growth of Soka Gakkai under Toda Sensei's leadership, the challenges they faced and the passing of the baton of kosen-rufu to the next generation.
Shared Struggle of Mentor and Disciple to Rebuild Soka Gakkai
After taking Toda Sensei as his mentor, Daisaku Ikeda deepened his study and understanding of Buddhism and vowed to dedicate his life to the sake of kosen-rufu.
In January 1949 , he began working at Toda Sensei's publishing company as the editor of a magazine for boys.
At the same time, Toda Sensei was facing serious business difficulties.
Ikeda Sensei exerted himself fully to help settle Toda Sensei's business affairs and resolve the financial crisis. He took full responsibility so that Toda Sensei could focus completely on Soka Gakkai and the movement for kosen-rufu .
The relationship worked both ways.
Toda Sensei took complete care of young Ikeda. He personally instructed him and provided him with a broad education.
Ikeda Sensei fondly referred to this education as:
“Toda University.”
Toda Sensei continued to personally instruct and educate Ikeda Sensei until the final years of his life.
Toda Sensei's Vision for the Future
Toda Sensei shared many of his visions for the future with his young disciple.
These included dreams such as:
Establishing Soka University
Developing Seikyo Shimbun into a publication that could contribute to spreading kosen-rufu
Building a strong foundation for the future development of Soka Gakkai
Daisaku Ikeda took each of these visions and dreams deeply to heart.
He would later dedicate himself to making those dreams a reality.
This was the essence of their mentor-disciple relationship : the mentor's vision becoming the disciple's own determination and action.
Toda Sensei's Vow to Achieve 750,000 Households
Having overcome his business troubles, Toda Sensei finally agreed to become the second president of Soka Gakkai on May 3, 1951 .
On the very day he became president, he declared a tremendous vow.
At that time, only approximately 3,000 households were practicing.
Yet Toda Sensei declared his determination to achieve:
750,000 households.
This was an extraordinarily bold goal.
His young disciple, Daisaku Ikeda , watched as his mentor made this declaration.
Ikeda Sensei determined in his heart that he would accomplish this goal—one so bold that some people assumed President Toda must have simply misspoken.
But Toda Sensei trusted his young disciple.
He directed Ikeda Sensei to become the chapter advisor for Kamata Chapter in Tokyo .
The Kamata Campaign
Something remarkable happened in February 1952 .
For the first time, 201 new households joined Soka Gakkai in a single month through one discussion meeting .
This became known as the:
Kamata Campaign
The Kamata Campaign gave tremendous momentum to kosen-rufu activities throughout Japan.
It became a turning point after which Soka Gakkai's progress toward its goal of 750,000 households accelerated rapidly.
Publication of the Gosho
Another important development took place in April 1952 .
The letters of Nichiren Daishonin , which we also call the Gosho , were compiled, edited and published.
This enabled members to base their faith and seek guidance through the writings of Nichiren Daishonin themselves.
The Gosho therefore became an important foundation for members to deepen their understanding and practice of Buddhism.
The Osaka Propagation Campaign
In May 1956 , Ikeda Sensei led a propagation campaign in Osaka Chapter .
The result was unprecedented.
The chapter achieved a membership increase of:
11,111 households in just one month.
This remarkable achievement became another major milestone in the development of Soka Gakkai's movement.
Achieving the 750,000-Household Goal
Finally, in December 1957 , within just six years of Toda Sensei making his vow, Soka Gakkai achieved the target of:
750,000 households.
The organization had grown from approximately 3,000 households to 750,000 households .
Toda Sensei's seemingly impossible goal had become a reality.
The determination of the mentor had been transformed into the action and achievement of the disciple.
Soka Gakkai's Entry into Politics
In April 1955 , Soka Gakkai decided to enter elections based on the principle of:
“On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.”
The remarkable increase in propagation activities, particularly in places such as Kansai and Osaka , was attracting widespread attention.
Major daily newspapers in Japan began covering Soka Gakkai's propagation activities and its entry into politics.
In a subsequent election, three candidates endorsed by Soka Gakkai were elected to the House of Councillors .
The sudden emergence of a growing grassroots network capable of influencing national politics was viewed as a threatening development by elements of the political establishment.
Vested powers and interests began attempting to find ways to stop the Soka Gakkai organization.
The Yubari Coal Mining Incident — June 1957
The next major challenge occurred in Yubari , an area dominated by coal mines and unions.
A Soka Gakkai candidate won an election, defeating a candidate supported by the union.
The union, feeling threatened by this development, initiated a campaign of intimidation and media propaganda against Soka Gakkai members and their families.
Most of the affected members worked in or were in some way affiliated with the coal mines.
Soka Gakkai members working in the mines were:
Harassed
Threatened
Subjected to pressure concerning their livelihoods
In some cases, the houses of Soka Gakkai members were marked and their prayer meetings were disrupted.
Door-to-door visits were also organized to persuade members to renounce their faith.
Many members felt that their livelihoods were being threatened.
Ikeda Sensei Goes to Yubari
Toda Sensei dispatched Ikeda Sensei to Yubari to resolve the situation.
Under his leadership, the local Soka Gakkai members rallied together.
They openly challenged the constitutionality of the union's actions and called upon the union to justify what they regarded as an assault against the freedoms of:
Speech
Religion
Unable to publicly defend its actions, the union eventually backed down and ceased its harassment.
But this was merely the beginning of the struggles facing Soka Gakkai.
The Osaka Incident — July 3, 1957
Immediately after leaving Yubari, Ikeda Sensei faced another serious challenge.
On July 3, 1957 , he was arrested by the Osaka Police.
Several Soka Gakkai members had been charged with soliciting votes during an election, and Ikeda Sensei was arrested as the main accused.
This became known as the:
Osaka Incident
A number of Soka Gakkai members had been charged with violating the vote-solicitation provisions of the Election Law, and prosecutors accused Ikeda Sensei of responsibility.
Protecting His Mentor
Ikeda Sensei was subjected to 15 days of intense interrogation .
He was threatened that unless he admitted the crime, the authorities would arrest President Toda .
Toda Sensei was already very frail at that time.
Ikeda Sensei was deeply concerned that arresting Toda Sensei and subjecting him to imprisonment and interrogation could seriously endanger his life.
To protect his mentor and Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda temporarily admitted the charges.
Finally, on July 17, 1957 , he was released from prison.
However, the struggle did not end there.
For the next four and a half years, Ikeda Sensei continued to fight the case in court.
Finally, on January 25, 1962 , he was pronounced guilty of all charges.
March 16 — Kosen-Rufu Day
The story now reaches another extremely significant moment in the history of Soka Gakkai.
On March 16, 1958 , just a few months after the achievement of the 750,000-household goal, approximately 6,000 youth gathered at the Grand Lecture Hall at Taiseki-ji.
They had been called together from throughout Japan at the request of their mentor, Josei Toda Sensei .
At this ceremony, Toda Sensei entrusted the youth with the responsibility for every aspect of kosen-rufu .
It was the moment when the baton of kosen-rufu was passed on to the young successors .
They were entrusted with the great wish and vow for kosen-rufu.
This day is celebrated in Soka Gakkai as:
Kosen-Rufu Day
Toda Sensei's Passing
Just a few weeks later, on April 2, 1958 , Toda Sensei passed away.
He was 58 years old .
Toda Sensei had based his life on the profound awakening he experienced while in prison.
He had rebuilt Soka Gakkai from near ruin and constructed an indestructible foundation for kosen-rufu .
His life demonstrated the power of:
Awakening → Determination → Mentor-Disciple Struggle → Achievement → Entrusting the Future
The baton of kosen-rufu had now been passed to the next generation.
The Mentor-Disciple Spirit
Looking back at this period, one can see a powerful thread running through the relationship between Toda Sensei and Ikeda Sensei .
Toda Sensei had a vision.
Ikeda Sensei embraced that vision.
Toda Sensei made a seemingly impossible vow of 750,000 households .
Ikeda Sensei determined to accomplish it.
Toda Sensei faced challenges.
Ikeda Sensei stood beside his mentor and fought together with him.
And finally, Toda Sensei entrusted the future of kosen-rufu to the youth.
The mentor had planted the seed.
The disciple had nurtured it through dedicated action.
And the next generation was entrusted with carrying it forward.
Key Points to Remember
Daisaku Ikeda took Toda Sensei as his mentor and vowed to dedicate his life to kosen-rufu.
In January 1949 , Ikeda Sensei began working at Toda Sensei's publishing company.
Ikeda Sensei helped Toda Sensei overcome his business difficulties.
Toda Sensei personally educated and guided Ikeda Sensei, an education Ikeda Sensei fondly called “Toda University.”
Toda Sensei became the second president of Soka Gakkai on May 3, 1951 .
He made a vow to achieve 750,000 households , when approximately 3,000 households were practicing.
The Kamata Campaign achieved 201 new households in February 1952.
The Gosho was compiled, edited and published in April 1952 .
In May 1956 , Ikeda Sensei led the Osaka propagation campaign and achieved an increase of 11,111 households in one month .
In December 1957 , Soka Gakkai achieved the goal of 750,000 households .
Soka Gakkai entered elections in April 1955 , based on the principle of On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land .
The Yubari Coal Mining Incident occurred in June 1957.
Toda Sensei dispatched Ikeda Sensei to Yubari to resolve the situation.
Ikeda Sensei was arrested in Osaka on July 3, 1957 , in what became known as the Osaka Incident .
He was subjected to 15 days of intense interrogation.
He was released on July 17, 1957 .
On January 25, 1962 , he was pronounced guilty of the charges.
On March 16, 1958 , approximately 6,000 youth gathered at Taiseki-ji.
Toda Sensei entrusted the youth with the responsibility for kosen-rufu.
March 16 is celebrated as Kosen-Rufu Day .
Toda Sensei passed away on April 2, 1958 , at the age of 58.
He left behind an indestructible foundation for kosen-rufu .
Timeline
1949
January — Ikeda Sensei begins working at Toda Sensei's publishing company.
1951
May 3 — Toda Sensei becomes the second president of Soka Gakkai and makes the 750,000-household vow.
1952
February — Kamata Campaign achieves 201 new households.
April — Gosho is compiled, edited and published.
1955
April — Soka Gakkai enters elections based on the principle of On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land .
1956
May — Ikeda Sensei leads the Osaka campaign and achieves an increase of 11,111 households in one month.
1957
June — Yubari Coal Mining Incident.
July 3 — Ikeda Sensei is arrested in the Osaka Incident.
July 17 — Ikeda Sensei is released.
December — Soka Gakkai achieves 750,000 households.
1958
March 16 — Approximately 6,000 youth gather at Taiseki-ji. Toda Sensei entrusts them with the future of kosen-rufu.
April 2 — Toda Sensei passes away at age 58.
1962
January 25 — Ikeda Sensei is pronounced guilty of the charges related to the Osaka Incident.
The Baton of Kosen-Rufu
The significance of this period can be summed up in one image:
The baton of kosen-rufu being passed from mentor to disciple and then to the next generation.
Toda Sensei inherited the mission from Makiguchi Sensei .
He rebuilt Soka Gakkai and entrusted its future to the youth.
Among those youth was his disciple, Daisaku Ikeda .
The story of the first three presidents therefore continues—not simply as a history of three individuals, but as a story of mentor and disciple sharing a common vow and carrying that vow forward from one generation to the next .