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Josei Toda
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Josei Toda (1900-1958) was an educator, publisher and entrepreneur who, as second president of the Soka Gakkai, revived the lay Buddhist organization after World War II, building it into a dynamic, popular movement.
Encountering his Mentor
Arriving in Tokyo from the northern Island of Hokkaido in his early twenties, Toda started teaching at a school where Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was Principal.Impressed by Makiguchi's educational ideals, he soon became Makiguchi’s protégé. In 1928 he followed Makiguchi in his decision to practice Nichiren Buddhism. The two later co-founded the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai, forerunner of the Soka Gakkai.
Imprisonment
When Japan entered World War II, Toda and Makiguchi were arrested and imprisoned for opposing the militarist government's policies.
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In prison, Toda devoted himself to the practice and study of Nichiren Buddhism, gaining a profound grasp of its principles. His efforts brought him to a clear realization that Buddhahood is a potential inherent in all life, and deepened his confidence that all people could manifest this enlightened life condition through practicing Nichiren's teachings.
Building the Soka Gakkai
On his release from prison at the end of World War II, Toda began to reconstruct the collapsed Soka Kyoiku Gakkai, renaming it the Soka Gakkai (Society for the Creation of Value).
Toda taught that through Buddhist practice and inner-motivated change, or "human revolution", all people can change their destiny for the better. This message resonated powerfully among the many people suffering from poverty, illness and other challenges in the chaos of post-war Japan. Moreover, Toda's unshakable confidence in the power of Nichiren's philosophy and his ability to translate the profound concepts of Buddhism into practical guidance for daily life re-ignited people's hope and courage.
By the time of his death in 1958 Toda had built an organization of nearly one million members and laid the foundation for the dramatic spread of Nichiren Buddhism abroad.
Peace Legacy
Toda is also remembered for his uncompromising stance against nuclear weapons, In 1957, shortly before his death, Toda called on the youth of the world to work for the elimination of nuclear weapon. Toda termed the use of such weapons, for what ever purpose, an impermissible violation of the most fundamental of human rights – that of survival – and condemned the “demonic” nature of their use under any circumstances.
This call is seen as the starting point of Soka Gakkai’s peace movement.
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