All News
Education | Sep 1 2010
Taiwan Soka Association Establishes Education Counseling Centers
Starting September 1, Taiwan Soka Association (TSA) established education counseling centers at many of its community centers throughout Taiwan. The counseling centers were created for the purpose of providing a venue for young people to receive encouragement, develop ideals and gain hope for the future. Services are currently provided to TSA ... read more
Culture | Aug 29 2010
Guitars Galore at SGI-UK's Taplow Court
The year's second Guitars Galore concert was held at the Ikeda New Century Hall at SGI-UK's Taplow Court Grand Culture Center in Berkshire, UK, on August 29, 2010. Approximately 400 SGI-UK members, guests and visitors attended. The concert included 19 performances ranging from solo classical pieces to rock and jazz. Performers ... read more
Culture | Aug 29 2010
Soka Gakkai Japan-China Youth Friendship Delegation Visits China
From August 23-29, 2010, a Soka Gakkai Japan-China Youth Friendship Delegation visited China, marking the 25th year of these exchanges between the two countries. ... read more
Interfaith | Aug 26 2010
SGI Representatives Participate in Interfaith Dialogue in Thailand
From August 22-26, SGI representatives participated in an interfaith dialogue between Buddhists and Christians, sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At the international conference, 30 representatives from both faiths, including experts from the field of economics, ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 26 2010
SGI Youth Support Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore
From August 14-26, 2010, some 600 Singapore Soka Association (SSA) youth members performed in the opening ceremony of Singapore's 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) at the Float at Marina Bay--the world's largest floating stage. Approximately 3,600 athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 from 204 National Olympic Councils gathered ... read more
Sustainable Development | Aug 23 2010
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"Seeds of Hope" Shown During Singapore 2010 Event
The exhibition, "Seeds of Hope: Visions of sustainability, steps toward change," a joint initiative of SGI and Earth Charter International, opened on August 9 at the Singapore Soka Association (SSA) Headquarters. The exhibition was also displayed at Scape Youth Park from August 15-23 during the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. [Adapted ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Aug 23 2010
SGI-Hong Kong and SGI-Macau Make Financial Donations for Mudslide Relief in China
On February 20, 2010, SGI-El Salvador youth members visited a nursing home in El Salvador City as part of their annual community out-reach efforts. ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 22 2010
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Photo Story: SGI-Bolivia
SGI-Bolivia Men's Group members gathered in La Paz for a general meeting on August 22. ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 22 2010
35th SGI-Europe Summer Sessions Held at Trets, France
In the months of July and August 2010, SGI-Europe held summer training sessions at the SGI European Center in Trets, southern France. Courses were held for Men's and Women's Group members from July 29 to August 2, followed by the Student Group from August 7-10. Youth Group members gathered from ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 22 2010
Soka Gakkai Youth in Hiroshima Organize Lecture by Peace Scholar Johan Galtung
On August 22, 2010, Soka Gakkai youth in Hiroshima, Japan, organized the 138th "Hiroshima Study Lecture Series" at the Soka Gakkai Hiroshima Peace Center. Peace scholar Johan Galtung, also known as the "father of peace studies," talked about the necessity of nuclear abolition and the role of religion. During his lecture ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 15 2010
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Victims Remembered
On August 6, 2010, a service in solemn tribute to war victims was conducted at the Soka Gakkai Hiroshima Peace Memorial Hall, Japan. The event commemorated the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima City. Soka Gakkai representatives attended together with atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha), ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 13 2010
Lotus Sutra Exhibition Shown in Nepal and India
The Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), together with SGI-Nepal, cosponsored the exhibition "Lotus Sutra, A Message of Peace and Harmonious Coexistence" at three venues in Kathmandu, Nepal, from July 31 to August 4, 2010. This was the exhibition's first showing in Nepal, the birthplace of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. The official ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Aug 11 2010
Taiwan Soka Association Supports Local Charitable Organizations
Taiwan Soka Association (TSA) purchased NT$100,000 (approximately US$3,145) worth of mooncakes--a festive pastry originally eaten around the time of the autumn equinox in Mandarin-speaking countries and regions, including China, Taiwan and Hong Kong--from several charitable organizations in Taiwan, in support of their efforts. The mooncakes were produced by social welfare groups ... read more
Culture | Aug 9 2010
Singapore Soka Association Members Perform in National Day Parade
On August 9, 2010, members of the Singapore Soka Association (SSA) performed in the 2010 National Day Parade commemorating the 45th year of national independence. Some 27,000 spectators, including Singapore President S.R. Nathan, attended the festival held at Padang Park in downtown Singapore. The 660 SSA women who performed in the ... read more
Buddhism | Aug 8 2010
Pugwash Chairman Speaks at SGI-Denmark's Summer Training Session
From August 6-8, 2010, over 300 SGI-Denmark members attended a training session in Helsingør, Denmark. The course, focused on the Buddhist term "Boddhisattvas of the Earth," offered participants an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Buddhism through the study of Nichiren's writings. A series of study lectures were given by SGI-Denmark ... read more
Sustainable Development | Aug 8 2010
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Members Launch Mud Balls for the Environment
Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) members converged at the Sungai Keluang River in Penang State for the launch of "A Million Apologies to Mother Earth." The event included some 20,000 effective microorganism (EM) mud balls being thrown into the river in the town of Bayan Lepas as part of an effort ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Aug 1 2010
Soka Gakkai Malaysia Supports Humanitarian Activities
Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) regularly sponsors charity events to raise funds for causes such as local orphanages, hearing- and sight-impaired treatment centers and clinics for the treatment of patients with kidney and heart disease. For the past eight years, SGM members have been collecting newspapers every third Sunday of the month ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Aug 1 2010
Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa Youth Hold Peace Summit
On July 31, 2010, Soka Gakkai youth representatives from Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa held their 19th youth peace summit at the Soka Gakkai Hiroshima Ikeda Peace Hall in Hiroshima City, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After remarks from Soka Gakkai Youth Peace Conference Chair ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Jul 31 2010
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Soka Gakkai Malaysia Participates in Hospis Malaysia's Charity Bazaar
Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) members were invited to volunteer for Hospis Malaysia's annual charity bazaar held on July 31. SGM Kuala Lumpur members from around Cheras worked at a food stall and sold bazaar coupons. Cik Rosehayati Noordin, general manager of Hospis Malaysia, stated that events such as the charity ... read more
Education | Jul 29 2010
Taiwan Soka Association Holds Annual Summer Camp for Schools in Rural Areas
Taiwan Soka Association (TSA) sponsored its annual Soka Joy Summer Camp at Alishan Junior High and Elementary School in Chiayi, Taiwan, on July 28 and 29. University students from throughout the country volunteered as camp counselors and organized a series of activities, which included athletic events, science workshops, theater, dance and ... read more
Sustainable Development | Jul 27 2010
Malaysian Students Learn About "Seeds of Hope"
The SGI exhibition "Seeds of Hope: Visions of sustainability, steps toward change" was held in three secondary schools in the states of Perak and Selangor, Malaysia, during July 2010. Jointly initiated by SGI and the Earth Charter International, "Seeds of Hope" stresses the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 25 2010
SGI Members in Africa Hold Training Sessions
SGI members in Mozambique gathered for the first training session held in their country in the city of Namaacha, from July 3-4. SGI-South Africa General Director Loren Braithwaite attended to support this historic meeting, in which participants deepened their understanding of the Buddhist perspective on the mentor disciple relationship and ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 25 2010
SGI Young Women's Day Celebrated in Uruguay and Canada
During the month of July, young women throughout Canada also celebrated the founding of the SGI Young Women's Group. Meetings were held in several cities, including Ontario, Toronto and Vancouver. Approximately 300 participated. On July 11 and 24, young women held meetings in Quebec City and Montreal. Both meetings focused on ... read more
Culture | Jul 25 2010
"Rock the Era" Festivals
The festival at the Long Beach Arena was attended by some 16,000 SGI-USA members and guests, while 8,000 came from 20 states to join that held at the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion. Temple University’s Liacouras Center hosted some 11,700 people in Philadelphia, and 2,600 converged at the Neal ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jul 21 2010
Seminar on SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's Peace Proposals Held at University in Mexico
From June 28-29 and on July 5 and 21, 2010, SGI-Mexico and the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico, cosponsored a series of seminars titled "Ikeda Seminar: For Sustainable Peace and Human Rights" at the university. The ongoing series, first started in 2008, provides students with an opportunity to study ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 19 2010
South America Celebrates Founding of Youth Groups
The month of July marks the anniversaries of the founding of the Young Men's Group (July 11, 1952) and Young Women's Group (July 19, 1951), and youth throughout the world held commemorative meetings to celebrate the dates. Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, who created the youth groups, ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 18 2010
SGI-Sierra Leone Members Vow to Create Peace
On July 18, 2010, a commemorative district meeting was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The event included a presentation on the life of Nichiren and one of his closest disciples, Nikko, as well as on second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda and his disciple Daisaku Ikeda. Members also shared their own ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jul 17 2010
ICAP Awards Betty Williams
The International Committee of Artists for Peace (ICAP) presented Betty Williams, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of World Centers of Compassion for Children International, with its Humanity in the Arts Peace Award at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 16. Festival founder and past ICAP award ... read more
Interfaith | Jul 17 2010
SGI-Australia Youth Leaders Participate in Interfaith Exchange
On July 17, 2010, twenty-eight SGI-Australia (SGIA) youth leaders of the newly formed SGIA Peace Culture Education Department (PCE) joined twenty-six Muslim counterparts from La Trobe University Center for Dialogue Young Muslim Leadership Program for an interfaith exchange titled "Celebrating the Dignity of Life." This was the third such dialogue ... read more
Culture | Jul 11 2010
Lijian River School Paintings Shown in Hong Kong and Macau
From June 11-20, 2010, a painting exhibition containing work from the Lijian River School, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, was shown at the SGI-Hong Kong Culture Center. The show was co-organized and sponsored by the Guangxi Art Institute, Lijian Painting Style Promotion Association and SGI-Hong Kong. The paintings depict scenes of ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jul 10 2010
SGI-Australia and Toda Institute Participate in IPRA Conference
On July 7, 2010, in conjunction with the International Peace Research Association (IPRA), SGI-Australia sponsored a workshop with peace scholar Johan Galtung in Sydney, Australia. The workshop was held at Customs House, one of the city's historic landmarks. Professor Galtung, the founder of modern international peace studies and of IPRA, shared ... read more
Interfaith | Jul 8 2010
SGI Representatives Attend Interfaith Conference in Cuba
From July 5-8, 2010, SGI-Mexico General Director Roberto Rios and SGI-Cuba General Director Joannet Delgado de la Guardia took part in the Sixth International Meeting on Socio-Religious Studies held by the Center for Psychological and Sociological Research (CIPS), an affiliate of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), in ... read more
Buddhism | Jul 4 2010
SGI-Dominican Republic and Argentina Hold Leaders Meetings
On July 4, 2010, some 285 participated in a leaders meeting held at the SGI-Dominican Republic Culture Center in Santo Domingo. SGI-Dominican Republic General Director Pedro Familia attended and encouraged members to deepen their understanding of the shared commitment of mentor and disciple and to continue striving to achieve great personal ... read more
Sustainable Development | Jun 29 2010
SGI-Netherlands Displays "Seeds Of Hope" at Earth Charter +10 Event in the Netherlands
On June 29, 2010, the "Seeds of Hope--Visions of Sustainability, Steps Toward Change" exhibition was on display during the "Earth Charter +10" celebrations and conference held at the Peace Palace Academy in The Hague in the Netherlands. Held ten years to the day after the launch of the Earth Charter at ... read more
Humanitarian Activities | Jun 27 2010
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Soka Gakkai Malaysia Youth Reach Out to Elderly
On June 27, more than 50 Soka Gakkai Malaysia youth members visited the Ping Hua senior citizens center in Klang, Malaysia. The young people cleaned the facility. They also met with the center's director and discussed the need for society to support facilities for the elderly. Before they left, the ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 27 2010
SGI-Ecuador Holds Women's General Meetings
On June 19 and 27, SGI-Ecuador held women's meetings in the cities of Quito and Guayaquil. At the meetings, women engaged in group discussions about how to live cheerfully and with vitality and watched a DVD celebrating women and mothers. SGI-Ecuador women's leader Chiemi Hanzawa encouraged participants to engage in heartfelt ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 27 2010
SGI-Argentina and Bolivia Hold Leaders Training Courses
On June 26 and 27, 2010, some 360 gathered for an SGI-Argentina leaders training course held in Buenos Aires. During the meetings, SGI-Argentina General Director Yo Minagawa spoke about SGI-Argentina's development over the years and how participation at discussion meetings increased dramatically between 2007 and 2010. He attributed this growth to SGI-Argentina members' ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 26 2010
SGI-Czech Republic Women's General Meeting held in Prague
On June 26, 2010, SGI-Czech Republic women and young women gathered for a women's general meeting in Prague, Czech Republic. Included in the meeting was a presentation from a young woman who shared how she used her Buddhist practice to overcome her weak-heartedness and build a more solid foundation for her ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jun 25 2010
SGI-New Zealand Organizes "Victory Over Violence" Workshop for High School Students
On June 25, 2010, SGI-New Zealand held a "Victory Over Violence" (VOV) workshop for 160 high school students from Reporoa College in New Zealand. The workshop, initiated by youth, helps young people identify and counteract the root causes of violence in their lives and their communities and is coupled with a ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 17 2010
SGI-Thailand Publishes Thai Language Version of The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol.3
Recently, SGI-Thailand published the Thai language version of The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra--A Discussion on Religion in the Twenty-first Century, vol. 3, written by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. Current translations of this book include, Chinese, Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Volume 3 examines chapters 11 through ... read more
Culture | Jun 14 2010
"Victory Over Violence" Tours High Schools in USA with the International Committee of Artists for Peace
From April 30 to May 14 and from June 1-14, 2010, the International Committee of Artists for Peace (ICAP), in partnership with "Victory Over Violence," presented the musical "iChoose" at junior and senior high schools throughout New York and New Jersey, USA. With an aim of empowering youth to make positive ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 13 2010
SGI-Switzerland Hosts Summer Training Course in France
From June 10-13, 2010, some 150 participated in SGI-Switzerland's Summer Training Course held at the SGI-European Center in Trets, located in the south of France. The training course focused on the value of raising and encouraging capable leaders for the future, incorporating the concept of a shared spirit of mentor and ... read more
Buddhism | Jun 13 2010
SGI-Finland Holds Summer Training Course
On June 12 and 13, 2010, SGI-Finland held a Summer Training Course in the city of Espoo. A total of 87 attended. The training course consisted of a study session on "Lessening One's Karmic Retribution" from SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's study lecture series "Learning from the Gosho: The Hope-Filled Writings of ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jun 13 2010
SGI-Argentina Youth Organize Exhibitions
From June 1-11, 2010, SGI-Argentina youth members organized the showing of the SGI and Earth Charter's joint initiative exhibition "Seeds of Change: The Earth Charter and Human Potential" in Allen, Rio Negro, Argentina, in conjunction with the city's 100th anniversary. On the exhibition's opening day, guests included José Luis Ulloa Larenas, ... read more
Peace and Disarmament | Jun 13 2010
SGI-Spain Youth Organize Peace Forum, Exhibition and Concert
On May 12, 2010, SGI-Spain youth members sponsored a forum focusing on peace and based on A Dialogue Between East and West: Looking to a Human Revolution, a dialogue between Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner, Club of Rome honorary president, and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. The event was held at the Can Fabra ... read more
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