As a staunch proponent and practitioner of dialogue as the foundation of peace, Daisaku Ikeda has engaged in more than 7,000 dialogues with world leaders and scholars from around the world. His belief in dialogue is based on a deep faith in humanity and the recognition that violence can never lead to lasting peace. Among the Malaysians he had carried out discussions with include His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, Tun Dr. Mahathir and Royal Professor Ungku Aziz, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim, Prof. Emeritus Puan Sri Datin Dr. Wan Nafisah Adeeb and Tun Jeanne Abdullah.
His firm belief in the role of culture and art in promoting mutual understanding, trust and friendship has led to the establishment of the Min-On Concert Association and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum. Both institutions have carried out a wide range of cultural exchanges with leading cultural institutions around the world, often bringing world-renowned art collections and performances to Japan.
The Min-On Concert Association’s cultural exchange with Malaysia began in 1986 when the Malaysia National Dance group was invited to Japan for a performance “A Musical Voyage along the Marine Road”, and this subsequently culminated in a Malaysia-Japan Friendship and Cultural Evening at Putra World Trade Centre in February 1988. Such exchanges continued in Pan-Pacific music festival and joint ASEAN dance festivals in the 1990s…Read More
Malaysian institutions of higher education and other institutions that promote art, culture and literature have also lauded the SGI leader for his efforts.
In 2017, the Min-On Concert Association and the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) jointly organised a series of concerts titled ‘Legacy: Fascinating Cultural Exchange Concert of Traditional Music and Dance between Japan and Malaysia’ to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Japan bilateral relations. Three Legacy concerts were held at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTic) and ASWARA’s Experimental Theatre.
In 2003, Daisaku Ikeda’s photography exhibition, ‘Dialogue with Nature’ was held at the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, made possible by the joint efforts of the National Art Gallery Malaysia, Soka Gakkai International and Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM). Around 95,000 people viewed the exhibition and many were encouraged by the message of beauty, peace and harmonious coexistence. His wish in presenting his photographs, is that they may offer viewers a sense of hope and confidence.
Ikeda is also the founder of the Soka education system, which encompasses kindergartens in five countries, elementary to graduate study in Japan and an international university in the USA. Ikeda believes in a humanistic and student-centered educational approach – where each person’s unique creative potential and lifelong growth and development is the focus. In Malaysia, Tadika Seri Soka was established in 1995. Currently, the Soka International School Malaysia is also expected to be completed in 2023. As founder of Soka University, he has encouraged academic exchange programmes between Soka University and more than 100 universities from around the world including University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Open University Malaysia (OUM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Furthermore, many of his books have been donated to the libraries of these universities as well to other educational institutions in Malaysia.
He has made significant contributions in the fields of culture and education in Malaysia and these efforts have been recognised.
List of Honorary Doctorates and Awards
for President Ikeda by Malaysian Institutions
List of Honorary Doctorates and Awards
for President Ikeda by Malaysian Institutions
26 August
Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Awarding Institution: New Era University College Malaysia
[© Soka Gakkai Malaysia]
27 November
Outstanding Contribution in Arts and Culture Award
Awarding Institution: Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA)
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
01 April
World’s Great Poet Award
Awarding Institution: GAPENA
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
02 August
Honorary Doctorate of Humanities
Awarding Institution: University of Malaya (UM)
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
24 February
Honorary Doctorate of Humanities
Awarding Institution: Open University Malaysia
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
20 March
Highest Cultural Award bearing the title “Mahapendeta Sarwa Alam” (Grand Universal Sage)
Awarding Institution: GAPENA (Federation of National Writers Associations)
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
29 November
Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Awarding Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
[© Seikyo Shimbun]
