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Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) was a reformist educator, author and philosopher who founded the Soka Gakkai (Society for the Creation of Value), in 1930, along with Josei Toda, a teacher and entrepreneur. Originally called Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value Creating Education Society), the name was taken from Makiguchi’s education theory, which defines the principal purpose of education as the creation of Value. It is centered on a belief in the unlimited potential and creativity of every child.
His life was characterized by confrontation with repressive authorities in Japan. Makiguhchi’s emphasis on independent thinking over rote learning, and self-motivation over blind obedience, directly challenged the Japanese authorities of the time – who saw the goal of education as the molding of docile subjects of state.
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Makiguchi was a man with righteous anger and active tolerance. His anger however was never tainted with hatred. He continued his struggle against the authorities that refused to respect human rights. Staking his life in the struggle against the Japanese militarist government, he was imprisoned for opposing their policies. He ultimately died in prison in order to protect the freedom and dignity of human spirit at the age of 73. .
As a teacher known for his warmth and consideration, he strove to introduce a more humanistic, student-centered approach to education. He fiercely opposed corrupt educational practices and was forced into an early retirement as a result.
In recent years his humanistic educational theories have been attracting increasing international attention.
Educational Ideas
For most of his life Makiguchi's central concern had been to reform the education system that, he felt, discouraged independent thinking and stifled students' happiness and creativity. He believed that “education” should serve the happiness of the students, rather than the needs of the state.
One of Makiguchi’s writings – “Education for Creative Living”, containing his educational theories
based on humane competition, value creation and fostering the inherent capabilities of individuals, has been published by the National book trust in 7 Indian Languages i.e. Hindi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Urdu and Punjabi. It is book with an important message for teachers.
Religious Revolution
In 1928, at the age of 57, Makiguchi encountered Nichiren Buddhism, finding within it a holistic philosophy that accorded with his own thinking. Two years later, he and his colleague Josei Toda founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Society for Value-creating Education), the predecessor to the modern day Soka Gakkai and the
SGI.
Originally a small group of educators dedicated to educational reform, the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai gradually developed into an organization with a broad-based membership focusing on the propagation of Buddhism. This happened as Makiguchi and Toda became increasingly convinced that Nichiren's philosophy, with its focus on the transformation of society through the individual's transformation, was the means to achieving the fundamental social reform that they had been trying to accomplish through their educational efforts.
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