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SGI President - Daisaku Ikeda
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Daisaku Ikeda is the president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist association of more than 12 million members in 190 countries and territories, and founder of several educational, cultural and research institutions.
He is a prolific writer, poet and peace activist, recognized as one of the leading interpreters of Buddhism, bringing its timeless wisdom to bear on the many contemporary issues confronting humanity.
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May 3, 2007
On May 3, 2007, Maringa Academy of Letters in Paraná State, Brazil, appointed SGI President Daisaku Ikeda as its first foreign non-resident member. Established in 1997, the academy actively promotes literature and learning and reserves 40 seats for official members from among literary luminaries.
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| President Facci (seated 4th from right) entrusts the certificate to Mr. Taguchi (seated 5th from right) |
The academy council voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Ikeda. To date, six Brazilian literary figures have been appointed non-residential members of the academy, but this is the first time membership has been extended to a foreign citizen.
On May 3, Academy President Antonio Facci, himself a renowned writer, officiated at the induction in Maringa City. SGI-Brazil General Director Eduardo Taguchi received the certificate on behalf of Mr. Ikeda. President Facci expressed his pleasure at welcoming Mr. Ikeda, whom he considers humanity's spiritual treasure, as a member of the Maringa Academy, and stated that Mr. Ikeda's membership of the academy was a great honor which will serve as an impetus for its further development.
[Adapted from an article in the May 15, 2007 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
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