The first three presidents of the Soka Gakkai—Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda and Daisaku Ikeda—are known as the founding presidents and are the mentors of the organisation.
Daisaku Ikeda[© Seikyo Shimbun]
Daisaku Ikeda (1928 – 2023)
Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023) joined the Soka Gakkai at the age of 19 after an encounter with Josei Toda. Taking Toda as his lifelong mentor, he worked closely with him to develop the organisation, becoming its third president in 1960. In 1975, the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was established as an international association of the Soka Gakkai, linking constituent Soka Gakkai organisations around the world, and Ikeda became its president. He remains active in efforts to develop a multifaceted international network for peace, culture and education.
Read MoreJosei Toda[© Seikyo Shimbun]
Josei Toda (1900 – 1958)
Josei Toda (1900–58), Makiguchi’s disciple and a fellow educator, co-founded the forerunner of the Soka Gakkai and was imprisoned together with his mentor during the war. On his release from prison he re-established the Soka Gakkai and developed a membership of some 750,000 households throughout Japan by the time of his death.
Read MoreTsunesaburo Makiguchi[© Seikyo Shimbun]
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871 – 1944)
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871–1944) founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (the forerunner of the Soka Gakkai) on November 18, 1930, together with his disciple Josei Toda and served as the organisation’s first president. An educator and philosopher, he was imprisoned during World War II for opposing the policies of Japan’s militarist government and died in prison.
Read More
