Significant Dates
This date in November marks the Soka Gakkai's official Founding Day and, coincidentally, the day its first president, Makiguchi, died in prison.
1. May 3
2. July 3
3. November 18
What is November 18?
Daisaku Ikeda made his first stop on his initial world journey in this U.S. state.
1. California
2. Hawaii
3. New York
What is Hawaii?
Josei Toda was the disciple of this man, the Soka Gakkai's first president, who died in prison.
Who is Tsunesaburo Makiguchi?
Soka Gakkai members chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and base their practice on this specific body of writings by Nichiren Daishonin.
What are the Gosho (or his writings/letters)?
This specific day in May is commemorated as Soka Gakkai Day and also Mother's Day, celebrating the inaugurations of the second and third presidents and the contributions of women members.
What is May 3?
Besides the U.S. and Canada, this South American country was part of the first overseas trip by Daisaku Ikeda in October 1960 and now has a large SGI presence.
1. Brazil
2. Peru
3. Colombia
What is Brazil?
Soka Gakkai members often use this Japanese honorific title to refer to their three founding presidents, emphasizing the deep respect for their leadership.
What is Sensei?
A famous quote from Nichiren Daishonin promises that, no matter the challenges, this season "always turns into" another, symbolizing hope.
What is "winter always turns to spring"?
On this date in 1960, Daisaku Ikeda departed Japan on his first overseas journey, a day now known as World Peace Day.
1. January 2
2. June 6
3. October 2
What is October 2?
The first Soka Gakkai community center outside of Japan was officially opened in this city, in the USA in January 1963.
1. San Francisco
2. New York
3. Los Angeles
What is Los Angeles?
In 1958, Josei Toda entrusted the future of the Soka Gakkai and the mission of kosen-rufu to this division of Soka Gakkai members, who were his successors.
What are the youth?
Nichiren Daishonin wrote, "If you want to understand what causes existed in the past, look at the results that are manifest in the present." He also noted, "If you want to understand what results will be manifest in the future, look at the causes that are manifest in the" present. This concept is the Buddhist law of...
What is cause and effect (or causality)?
This day in January is celebrated as SGI Day, commemorating the founding of the Soka Gakkai International in Guam in 1975.
1. January 2
2. January 15
3. January 26
What is January 26?
The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was formally established at a conference held on this Pacific island territory in 1975.
What is Guam?
In Soka Gakkai, the mentor and disciple relationship is often compared to a needle and this item, which ultimately remains and holds everything together.
What is a thread?
In the Gosho, Nichiren encourages staying the course despite obstacles, writing, "The three obstacles and four devils... will invariably appear, and [one should] rejoice at this". This demonstrates a practitioner's correct attitude towards...
What is persecution (or challenges/obstacles)?