HISTORY of SGI

The Soka Gakkai (Society for the Creation of Value) was founded in Japan in 1930 as an educators’ group. Its founder, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, and his closest associate, Josei Toda, both of whom were had converted to Nichiren Buddhism, were imprisoned in 1943 because of their refusal to compromise their beliefs and lend support to the Japanese militaristic regime of the time.

Makiguchi died in prison, but Toda was released at the end of the war and immediately set about rebuilding the Soka Gakkai. In 1960, his successor, Daisaku Ikeda, was inaugurated as president of the Soka Gakkai.

Having also personally experienced the destruction of war, Ikeda is dedicated to building peace. Under his leadership, the Soka Gakkai has taken on an international dimension and broadened its focus. In 1975, the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was founded in response to the needs of an increasingly international membership.