Peace Monuments of Soka Gakkai International (SGI)

Soka Gakkai International (SGI), SGI Headquarters, Josei Toda International Center, 15-3 Samon-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Not all SGI peace monuments are shown below. Other SGI peace monuments Okinawa (Japan), Kagawa Prefecture (Japan), Rotarua (New Zealand), the Phillippines, and probably elsewhere. The 12 million members of SGI around the world embrace Nichiren Buddhism.

Click here for Wikipedia article on SGI. | Click here for Wikipedia article on SGI president Daisaku Ikeda.

Right click image to enlarge.

1969 - Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo (Japan). Private university founded in 1969, opened to undergraduate students in 1971, & opened a graduate school in 1975. Motto" "Be philosophers of a renaissance of life. Be world citizens in solidarity for peace. Be the pioneers of a global civilization." /// Soka University of America (qv) is a related school located in Aliso Viejo, California (USA) founded in 2001.

1979 - Toda Peace Memorial Hall, Yamashita Park, Yokohama (Japan). "One of seven established across the country as part of Soka Gakkai's effort to promote the message of peace in Japan." Named for Josai Toda [1900-1958]. House was originally constructed in 1922 for the British delegation to Japan.

1993 - Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall, SGI University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Prefecture? (Japan). Click here for air view.

May 1996 - Auditorio de la Paz / Peace Auditorium, SGI-Argentina , Buenos Aires (Argentina). "Serves as a venue not only for SGI activities but also for community events such as concerts & symposia. Designed by Corindo Testa, hailed as one of Argentina's most important architects."

2001 - Soka University of America (SUA), Aliso Viejo, California (USA). "It describes its mission as the fostering of a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life—with an emphasis on principles of pacifism, human rights, and the creative coexistence of nature and humanity. It has a graduate and an undergraduate program. A much larger and older sister school, Soka University of Japan, is located in Hachioji, Tokyo. SUA encompasses a four-year liberal arts college and a graduate school. SUA hosts the Pacific Basin Research Center and the academic journal Annals of Scholarship."

October 13, 2001 - "The Quest for Global Peace," speech by Sir Joseph Rotblat, Topper Theater, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos, New Mexico (USA). On occasion of Rotblat's first visit to Los Alamos since he left in 1944. Event organized by the Los Alamos Study Group (LASG) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Image is "A Quest for Global Peace: Rotblat and Ikeda on War, Ethics and the Nuclear Threat" by Joseph Rotblat & Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI).

May 2002 - Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peace Garden, Leadership Cultural Park, Tinian Island (Northern Mariana Islands). "For the members of Soka Gakkai, an international group that believes in humanistic principles based on Buddhism, the three deserve emulation as they are the paragons of non-violent change." Daisaku Ikeda [right image] is president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI).

August 24, 2004 - World Peace Monument, Korea-Japan Friendship Training Center, Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Cheju Island (South Korea). Has six bronze statues representing the six continents: Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America, South America & Europe.

2005 - Artwork, Soka University of America (SUA), Aliso Viejo, California (USA). "...artwork, which has been on permanent display at Soka University since being unveiled at the Aliso Viejo campus' Peace Day four years ago, depicts 20 martyred peace advocates. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, Medgar Evers, Bishop Oscar Romero, Cesar Chavez, Yitzak Rabin, Anwar Sadat, Abraham Lincoln, JFK, RFK & others are also the subects of the documentary "Satyagraha" [which] is 'more than a simple biography of men & women who sacrificed their lives for peace, justice & nonviolence,' says Tim Leedom. 'Our documentary is a call for peace. War has failed.'"

April 30, 2006 - World Poet Laureates' Monument, SGI's Korea-Japan Friendship Training Center, Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Cheju Island (South Korea). Commemorates May 3, Soka Gakkai Day. Inscribed with a quote from SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. Bronze busts of Indian poet and educator Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Italian poet laureate Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), and British poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) were also unveiled. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Mr. Ikeda's receiving the title of Poet Laureate (1981, by World Congress of Poets) as well as the 11th anniversary of World Poet Laureate Award (1995, by World Poetry Society).

Date? - Peace Monument, Soka Bodhi Garden, Jaipur highway, Gurgaon (India). "Sprawling over an area of 170 acres, the garden is symbolic of Gurgaon's special connection with Japan. Designed by horticulturist Prof Md Shaheer, the garden has a galaxy shape to it with rows of Bodhi trees, also called peepal, encircling a peace monument located at its centre... Interestingly, the Bodhi trees in the garden have all been named after Buddhist families from Japan Maeda family of Nagasaki, Matsumoto family of Kagoshima, and Miyakawa family of Miyazaki. The idea was to honour the families that set an example for the Soka Gakkai members in their adherence to the right path and work for world peace, said Priyadarshini Vig, a Buddhist member from Gurgaon."

January 16, 2010 - "Peace Monument," Tamuning Park, Tamuning (Guam). "Soka Gakkai International (SGI) members from Guam, the US mainland, Oceania & Japan gathered to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of SGI (January 26, 1975) [and] to unveil a monument dedicated to the SGI's founding & to world peace. On one side of the monument are the opening lines from Mr. Ikeda's novel, The Human Revolution: 'Nothing is more barbarous than war. Nothing is more cruel. And yet, the war dragged on.' On the opposite side are the opening lines from The New Human Revolution: 'Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness. Peace is the most basic starting point for the advancement of humankind.' In the center of the monument are words from Mr. Ikeda, stating 'Rather than seeking after your own praise or glory, I hope that you will dedicate your noble lives to sowing the seeds of peace throughout the entire world. I shall do the same.'"

May 3, 2010 - World Peace Monument, Soka Bodhi Tree Garden, on outskirts of New Delhi (India). "One hour's drive away from Delhi International Airport. Spread over 170 acres of land enveloped by a 4.5-kilometer-long boundary wall. The formal opening of the garden took place on September 12, 1993, with the planting of hundreds of bodhi, or peepul, trees. The garden is still being developed. So far approximately 2,500 trees have been planted, many of which have been named after various countries, cities & individuals, including friends of BSG (Bharat Soka Gakkai). Renaissance Hall was the first building to be completed, with a 150-seat capacity. Subsequently, an Open Air Theatre was constructed which seats 2,500. A magnificent building designed by a well-known Indian architect was inaugurated in 1997 and named the BSG Ikeda Friendship Center. In February 2000, the Soka Bodhi Tree Auditorium, seating 800-900 people, was added, along with beautiful lawns and pavilions. The garden has also attracted many rare birds. There are more than 100 peacocks, ducks and pigeons who live there..."

February 2011 - "Stupa," Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Gaya district, Bihar (India). A unique mound-like structure called 'Stupa' made of empty cartridges from the Sri Lankan civil war has turned a major draw for tourists in Bodhgaya. The Stupa was established to spread message of peace among the people in the world. "A military group from Sri Lanka donated a Stupa made of empty cartridges. Like there was a war situation in Sri Lanka for the past 30 years and everybody all over the world was worried because of it. So we pray, that such kind of war never takes place, not only in our country but also no where in the world and peace prevails in the society," said Bhante Sivli Thero, a priest at Mahabodhi temple. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, which is located in the temple complex." It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick and still standing. It is 52 meters high and has a 24 meters high Buddha statue. The 1949 Bodhgaya Act recognised the site as a Buddhist holy place and in 2002, UNESCOdeclared the Mahabodhi Temple [sic].

2011? - "Peace and Justice," Peace Park, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois (USA). "The park features a rustic stone fountain, currently shut off for repairs, & a white post with inscriptions on each of its four sides: “May peace be in Chicago; May peace be in Illinois; May peace be in the United States; May peace prevail on Earth.” In the center of the garden, almost directly below the expressway, stands “Peace and Justice” by local artist Margot McMahon, showing two young boys, one African-American & one Caucasian, holding a ball aloft. On the front of the trapezoidal granite base a plaque reads: 'Erected in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Daisaku Ikeda’s life long struggle for peace, justice and human rights. Walking through Lincoln Park on October 9, 1960, the young president of the Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda witnessed a painful act of racial discrimination toward a young child, crystallizing his lasting commitment to rid the world of needless suffering and enabling the human dignity of all to shine.'"

January 16, 2012 - World Peace Monument, Soka Bodhi Tree Garden, New Delhi (India). "Commemorating the 50th anniversary of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's first visit to India [in 1961], some 1,000 Bharat (India) Soka Gakkai members from throughout India unveiled a World Peace Monument. SGI General Director Yoshitaka Oba & SGI Women's Leader Kayoko Asano attended the unveiling festivities on January 16, which included a commemorative meeting at the main auditorium of the Soka Bodhi Tree Garden."

Future - "Peace Offering," Artist's studio, Hopkinton, Massachusetts (USA). Bench in form of a dove with outstretchd hands and the tail of a hawk (representing hostility). By Michael Malfano. "This sculpture represents some of the many aspects of attaining peace. It is a expression of Michael's Soka Gakkai Buddhist practice, with the intention of contributing to peace and culture." (5'7" x 2'9" x 1'7" Bronze, $25,000, Ltd. Ed. of 25, Resin, $6,000, Ltd. Ed. of 100)