Value Creating Society. The lay organization that promotes Nichiren Daishoin’s teachings for peace and happiness. The Soka Gakkai was founded in 1930 in Japan and the SGI, its international version, was established in 1975 on Guam.

 Tsunesauro Makiguchi (1871-1944) was the first Soka Gakkai president. An educator and scholar, he developed the philosophy of value creation (soka)  from which the Soka Gakkai gets its name. Together with Josei Toda (1900-1958) he founded the Soka Gakkai in 1930 and taught that practicing Nichiren Daishoin’s teaching was the means for leading a life of the highest value and greatest good. Both Makiguchi and Toda were imprisoned by the Japanese wartime government. The elderly Makiguchi died during his incarceration. Toda became the second president in 1951. After World War II he led the reconstruction of Soka Gakkai, taking the membership from 3000 to more than 750000. Toda’s closest disciple, Daisaku Ikeda became the third president in 1960. He took office as the first SGI president in 1975. Under his leadership, Nichiren Daishoin’s Buddhism has spread to nearly 200 countries.