All News
Peace and Disarmament | Sep 13 2008
SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center Hosts Peace Event
On September 13, 2008, the SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, hosted a "Building a Culture of Peace" symposium, attended by over 200 people. Hiro Sakurai, SGI representative to the United Nations in New York, spoke during the event about how his work at the United Nations relates ... read more
Interfaith | Sep 12 2008
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Participates in Interfaith Prayer for Peace
On September 12, 2008, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) was one of various religious groups invited by the Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi (SFA), Cheras, Malaysia, to participate in the interfaith event "Understanding World Religions." SFA organized the event to promote greater understanding of the various faith traditions ... read more
Buddhism | Sep 12 2008
Russian Academy of Sciences and IOP Host Joint Symposium in Moscow
On September 11 and 12, 2008, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), Japan, and the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russia, hosted a symposium in Moscow titled "Buddhist Philosophy in Multicultural Context." Leading Russian researchers and scholars on oriental philosophies and Buddhist philosophy presented their ... read more
Buddhism | Sep 10 2008
Taiwan Soka Association Recognized as Excellent Community Organization for 15th Consecutive Time
The Interior Ministry of Taiwan has chosen Taiwan Soka Association (TSA) as an Excellent Community Organization. TSA was selected from among over 8,000 organizations as having contributed the most to Taiwanese society during the past two years. This was TSA's 15th consecutive recognition since 1991, one year following its ... read more
Culture | Sep 8 2008
Student Forum Commemorates 40th Anniversary of SGI President’s Proposal for Normalizing Sino-Japanese Relations
September 8, 2008, marked the 40th anniversary of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s proposal for normalizing Sino-Japanese relations. To commemorate the occasion, Soka Gakkai students held a peace forum at the Tokyo Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo, Tokyo, inviting renowned journalist Kazuteru Saionji to lecture. An advisor to the national ... read more
Culture | Sep 7 2008
SGI-Brazil Members Participate in Independence Day Festivals
SGI-Brazil (BSGI) young men's Taiyo (Sun) Brass Band and young women's Nova Era (New Age) Fife-and-Drum Corps participated in festivals celebrating September 7, Brazil Independence Day, in 18 cities throughout the country. On September 5, 2008, at the invitation of the state of Amazonas, local BSGI members in Manaus participated ... read more
Buddhism | Sep 7 2008
Study Exams Held in Taiwan and Argentina
On September 7, 2008, Taiwan Soka Association held an examination on Nichiren Buddhism for intermediate-level lecturers at 11 venues throughout Taiwan. Over 600 candidates were tested on their knowledge and understanding of Nichiren Buddhism, including "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land," one of Nichiren's ... read more
Culture | Sep 7 2008
Soka Renaissance Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps Wins at National Competition
On September 7, 2008, the Soka Renaissance Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps won top honors for the fifth time in the Japan Cup Marching Band and Baton Twirling National Competition held at the Sendagaya Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo. The band, with a performance titled "Tribal Conquest," also received the ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Sep 7 2008
SGI-USA Holds Block Party in New York City
On September 7, 2008, SGI-USA New York Zone closed off the street facing the New York Culture Center in New York City, New York, USA, for a day-long event titled "Creating a New Peace." More than 2,000 attended the open house and block party that featured tours of the ... read more
Human Rights | Sep 6 2008
UNICEF Representative to Malaysia Lectures at Soka Gakkai Malaysia Headquarters
On September 6, 2008, Youssouf Oomar, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative to Malaysia lectured at the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) Grand Culture Center in Kuala Lumpur. Titled "Quality Education for All," Mr. Oomar's talk focused on the importance of treating each child as a human being in totality, ... read more
Buddhism | Sep 6 2008
SGI Members Meet in Fiji and Russia
On August 16, 2008, SGI-Fiji members gathered for a district meeting in Lautoka, the second largest city in Fiji. Two members shared how their Buddhist practice positively impacted their daily lives. SGI-Oceania Chair Richard Sasaki encouraged everyone to challenge to develop into a person who is trusted in society. ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 31 2008
SGI Associations Throughout Latin America Hold Commemorative Meetings
During August 2008, SGI men throughout Latin America met at their respective locales to celebrate August 24, one of the SGI's commemorative days as well as the day SGI President Daisaku Ikeda joined the Soka Gakkai in 1947. On August 23 and 24, 212 SGI-Mexico men and young ... read more
Interfaith | Aug 30 2008
Singapore Soka Association Participates in "From Tolerance to Acceptance" Interfaith Forum
"Tolerance is more than being fair, it is about appreciation, respect and understanding," said Associate Professor Syed Farid Alatas from the Department of Malay Studies at the National University of Singapore, one of the speakers at an interfaith forum titled "From Tolerance to Acceptance," held on August 30, 2008, ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 30 2008
SGI-USA Opens New Community Center in Riverside, California
On August 30, 2008, nearly 600 SGI-USA members and guests came together to celebrate the opening of a new community center in Riverside, California, USA. In a congratulatory message, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda encouraged the gathering of old and young members, who also represented diverse cultural backgrounds, to use ... read more
Human Rights | Aug 29 2008
SGI Representative Attends Human Rights Conference in Austria
From August 28 to 29, 2008, an International Expert Conference on Human Rights was held in Vienna, Austria, organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The conference served to review the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights and to reaffirm the extant challenges for ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 27 2008
SGI-Brazil Appoints New General Director
On August 27, 2008, SGI-Brazil (BSGI) national leaders met at the BSGI Ikeda Culture Center in São Paulo, where new BSGI leaders were announced. Julio Kosaka was appointed as general director and Naoto Yoshikawa as senior vice general director. Former BSGI General Director Eduardo Taguchi will serve as the ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 25 2008
"Harmonizing Religion, Creating Peace" Symposium Held in New Delhi, India
On August 25, 2008, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) cohosted a symposium titled "Harmonizing Religion, Creating Peace" based on SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's 2008 peace proposal of the same title. Over 400 scholars and guests participated in the event. ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 25 2008
SGI Leaders from North, Central and South America Attend Study Conference in Florida, USA
From August 22-25, 2008, more than 200 SGI leaders from nine countries met at the SGI Florida Nature and Culture Center in Weston, Florida, USA, to attend the North, Central and South America SGI Leaders Study Conference led by Soka Gakkai Study Department Leader Masaaki Morinaka. Mr. Morinaka presented ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 24 2008
Third SGI-Oceania Conference Held in Australia
The third SGI-Oceania Peace Conference was held in Gold Coast, Australia, on August 22-24, 2008. Some 370 SGI representatives gathered for the meeting from 14 countries and territories throughout Oceania, including New Zealand, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 24 2008
SGI-Cambodia Men Meet
On August 24, 2008, SGI-Cambodia men gathered for their fourth men's meeting. Three representatives shared their sense of fulfillment in overcoming difficulties and hardships through applying Nichiren's Buddhist philosophy in their daily lives. SGI-Cambodia Men's Leader Vandeth Pang stated that finding common ground is a key to gaining society's understanding ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 23 2008
SGI-USA and SGI-Canada Members Appeal for Peace in Their Local Communities
SGI members continue to involve themselves in their local communities to spread the message of Victory Over Violence (VOV), a youth-driven initiative begun by SGI-USA youth in 1999 to help young people identify and counteract the root causes of violence in their lives and their communities with a broader goal ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 23 2008
Summer Gatherings Held at SGI-Nepal Peace Center
On August 23, 2008, over 75 SGI-Nepal men gathered at the SGI-Nepal Peace Center in Kathmandu. Four men travelled from Pokhara, 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, to attend. Two members recounted how their practice of Nichiren Buddhism had positively impacted their daily lives. SGI-Nepal Men's Vice Leader Krishna Dawadee spoke ... read more
Culture | Aug 23 2008
SGI-USA Chicago Hosts SIFA Africa Children's Choir Performance
On August 23, 2008, the SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center was the venue for a performance by the SIFA Africa Children's Choir from Masaka, Uganda. SIFA--Swahili for "praise"--is composed of children representing fellow orphans in Uganda and other displaced children throughout Africa. The choir has been touring the United States since ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 20 2008
"Children and a Culture of Peace" Exhibition Opens in Sri Lanka
From August 18-20, 2008, SGI's exhibiton "Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World" was shown at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Exhibition organizers were the University of Peradeniya's Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies and Soka Gakkai Lanka Buddhist Association (SGI-Sri Lanka). ... read more
Interfaith | Aug 17 2008
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Hosts Lecture on Buddhism in an Islamic Society
On August 17, 2008, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) hosted a lecture entitled "Buddhism in an Islamic State: Religious Tolerance and Harmony" by Prof. Mohamed Yusoff Ismail, dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at Open University Malaysia (OUM). Some 160 attended the event at the SGM Culture Centre ... read more
Culture | Aug 16 2008
Children of Japan and China Celebrate Japan-China Youth Friendship Exchange Year
This year, 2008, marks the 30th anniversary of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty as well as the 40th anniversary of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's proposal calling for the normalization of the diplomatic relations between China and Japan. On August 16, 2008, Soka Gakkai youth representatives welcomed a youth delegation from ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 15 2008
Soka Gakkai Youth Renew Pledge for World Peace on War Memorial Day
On August 15, 2008, the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War II, Soka Gakkai youth conducted their 36th annual prayer for world peace and memorial for victims of war at the Soka Culture Center in Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Beginning in 1973, Soka Gakkai youth representatives have regularly ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 15 2008
Soka Gakkai Youth Renew Pledge for World Peace on War Memorial Day
On August 15, 2008, the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War II, Soka Gakkai youth conducted their 36th annual prayer for world peace and memorial for victims of war at the Soka Culture Center in Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Beginning in 1973, Soka Gakkai youth representatives have regularly attended ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 9 2008
Soka Gakkai Holds Memorial Services for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Victims
Yasuko Fujita, who at age of 14 was exposed to the bomb five kilometers from the epicenter while at work as a mobilized student, shared her experience. She recalled a blinding flash, being physically blown away by the force of the explosion, and then losing consciousness. When she came to, ... read more
Culture | Aug 9 2008
SSA Members Perform at Singapore National Day Parade 2008
On August 9, 2008, Singapore Soka Association (SSA) youth performed at Singapore's 43rd National Day Parade at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium. SSA has participated in the annual event at the invitation of the Singaporean government for the past 23 years. Singapore President S.R. Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 9 2008
Soka Gakkai Holds Memorial Services for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Victims
Yasuko Fujita, who at age of 14 was exposed to the bomb five kilometers from the epicenter while at work as a mobilized student, shared her experience. She recalled a blinding flash, being physically blown away by the force of the explosion, and then losing consciousness. When she came to, ... read more
Human Rights | Aug 9 2008
Celebrating Diversity in Iceland
On August 9, 2008, SGI-Iceland participated in Reykjavík's annual gay pride parade, the main event held during Iceland's nationwide week of celebrating diversity. Some 40 SGI-Iceland members marched in the parade, together with six members from SGI-Europe's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Group, representing various European countries. The marchers ... read more
Culture | Aug 5 2008
SGI-Korea and SGI-Taiwan Fife-and-Drum Corps Participate in International Festivals
The Arirang Fife-and-Drum Corps, SGI-Korea's young women's band, was one of 13 groups from ten countries invited to perform at the 7th annual Gangneung International Junior Art Festival in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The festival, held this year from August 2-5, 2008, was initiated seven years ago and ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 5 2008
Costa Rican Ambassador to Japan Lectures on Peace in Hiroshima
On August 5, 2008, Soka Gakkai youth in Hiroshima, Japan, sponsored the 128th in a series of "Lectures on Hiroshima" at the Soka Gakkai Hiroshima Ikeda Peace Hall in Hiroshima City, commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. With a speech titled "Costa Rica--Country of Peace," ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 3 2008
SGI Youth Celebrate the Month of Youth
From July 6-13, some 2,500 SGI-Thailand young men met at five venues throughout the country. At a meeting in Nonthaburi Province on July 6, one young man joyfully shared how he is now able to appreciate and use his hardships for his personal growth as a result of Nichiren ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 3 2008
SGI-Panama Women and Young Women Meet
On August 2 and 3, 2008, SGI-Panama women and young women gathered for their first combined meeting in Chitré. Some 40 members from Panama City, Colón, Herrera, Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro attended. Referencing the example of Kaneko Ikeda, wife of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, participants discussed the importance of each ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 1 2008
Inter Press Service Interviews SGI President on Nuclear Disarmament
Inter Press Service (IPS), a news agency that specializes in development and human rights issues, recently interviewed SGI President Daisaku Ikeda on nuclear disarmament and the need to revive and re-energize efforts to achieve this goal. In the interview, he calls for a return to the original spirit of the ... read more
Education | Jul 29 2008
Indian Council of Gandhian Studies Chairman Speaks at Fourth SSA Student Peace Lecture
On July 29, 2008, Dr. N. Radhakrishnan, chair of the Indian Council of Gandhian Studies in New Delhi, India, spoke on "The Dynamics of Orienting Today's Education for the Sake of Peace" at the Fourth Singapore Soka Association (SSA) Student Division Peace Lecture. The event, held at the Singapore Management ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jul 26 2008
Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa Youth Hold Peace Summit
On July 26, 2008, Soka Gakkai youth representatives from Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa gathered for a youth peace summit at the Soka Gakkai Okinawa International Peace Center in Naha, Okinawa. Soka Gakkai's respective Youth Peace Conferences (YPC) and Young Women's Peace and Culture Conferences (YWPCC) from the three prefectures have ... read more
Culture | Jul 26 2008
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Hosts Culture Show in Kuala Lumpur
On July 26, 2008, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) Kuala Lumpur sponsored a culture show at SJK Batang Kali multipurpose hall in Ulu, Selangor, attended by around 1,800 residents. Titled "Melam Mesra Muhibah (An Evening of Harmony) 2008," the show served to promote goodwill and cooperation in the community. Guest of ... read more
Culture | Jul 25 2008
Iranian and Egyptian Ambassadors to Japan Meet with Soka Gakkai President Harada, Respectively
On July 24, 2008, Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan, met with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada at the Seikyo Press Building in Shinanomachi, Tokyo. Ambassador Araghchi expressed his hopes that the Soka Gakkai would continue in its efforts of promoting mutual understanding ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 20 2008
SGI-Europe Summer Study Session Held in Milan, Italy
July 17-20, 2008, some 450 SGI members from 30 countries in Europe gathered for the SGI-Europe summer study session in a suburb of Milan, Italy. Together with SGI Study Department Chief Katsuji Saito, participants studied "On the Buddha's Prophecy" and "Letter to the Brothers" from Nichiren's writings. Mr. Saito also ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Jul 20 2008
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Johor in Batu Pahat Conducts Blood Donation Drive
On July 20, 2008, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) Johor held a one-day blood donation drive at the SGM Johor Culture Centre in Batu Pahat. A total of 134 packs of blood were donated to a local blood bank. This was the sixth blood donation drive SGM Johor had organized ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jul 19 2008
Toda Institute Holds International Advisory Council Meeting in Belgium; New Director Appointed
On July 19, 2008, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research held an international advisory council meeting at the University of Leuven, Belgium. The meeting took place on the last day of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) conference. Some 30 scholars from 16 countries attended the meeting ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Jul 18 2008
Taiwan Soka Association Members Assist Flood Victims
On July 17 and 18, 2008, Typhoon Kalmaegi struck Taiwan, bringing heavy flooding and landslides to the central and southern parts of the country. Kalmaegi, the first typhoon to hit Taiwan this year, brought torrential downpours said to be the worst in a decade. The typhoon left at least 20 ... read more
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