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Career

Daisaku Ikeda at age 19

Shortly after the end of World War II, in January 1946, Ikeda gained employment with the Shobundo Printing Company in Tokyo. In March 1948, Ikeda graduated from Toyo Trade School and the following month entered the night school extension of Taisei Gakuin (present-day Tokyo Fuji University) where he majored in political science.[8] During this time, he worked as an editor of the children's magazine Shonen Nihon (Boy's Life Japan), which was published by one of Josei Toda's companies.[11][8] Over the next several years, between 1948 and 1953, Ikeda worked for various Toda-owned enterprises, including the Nihon Shogakkan publishing company, the Tokyo Construction Trust credit association, and the Okura Shoji trading company.[11][8]

Youth leadership

In 1953, at the age of 25, Ikeda was appointed as one of the Soka Gakkai's youth leaders. The following year, he was appointed as director of the Soka Gakkai's public relations bureau, and later became its chief of staff.[14][11]

In April 1957, a group of young Soka Gakkai members in Osaka were arrested for allegedly distributing money, cigarettes and candies to support the political campaign of a local electoral candidate (who was also a Soka Gakkai member). Ikeda was later arrested and detained in jail for two weeks, charged with allegedly overseeing these activities. Ikeda's arrest came at a time when Soka Gakkai Buddhist candidates were achieving success at both national and local levels. With the growing influence of this liberal grassroots movement, factions of the conservative political establishment initiated a series of media attacks on the Soka Gakkai, culminating in Ikeda's arrest. After a lengthy court case that lasted until 1962, Ikeda was cleared of all charges.[15] The Soka Gakkai characterized this as a triumph over corrupt tyranny, which galvanized its movement.[3]

Soka Gakkai presidency

In May 1960, two years after Toda's death, Ikeda, then 32 years old, succeeded him as president of the Soka Gakkai. Soon after, Ikeda began to travel overseas to build connections between Soka Gakkai members living abroad and expand the movement globally.[16] The expansion of the Soka Gakkai movement internationally was, in Ikeda's words, "Toda's will for the future."[17] With his assumption of the Soka Gakkai presidency, Ikeda "continued the task begun by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi of fusing the ideas and principles of educational pragmatism with the elements of Buddhist doctrine."[2]

While the Soka Gakkai saw its most dramatic growth after World War II under Toda's leadership, Ikeda led the international growth of the Soka Gakkai and turned it into what is considered the largest, most diverse international lay Buddhist association in the world.[6][18] He reformed many of the organization's practices, including the aggressive conversion style (known as shakubuku) for which the group had become known in Japan, and improved the organization's public image, though it was sometimes still viewed with suspicion in Japan.[19][20][21][22][23] "By the 1970s, Ikeda's leadership had expanded the Soka Gakkai into an international lay Buddhist movement increasingly active in peace, cultural, and educational activities."[24]

Soka Gakkai International founding

On 26 January 1975, a world peace conference was held in Guam, where Soka Gakkai representatives from 51 countries created an umbrella organization for the growing network of members around the world. This became the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Ikeda took a leading role in the global organization's development and became the founding president of the SGI. In his address to the assembly, Ikeda encouraged the representatives to dedicate themselves to altruistic action, stating "Please devote yourselves to planting seeds of peace throughout the world."[11]

The SGI was created in part as a new international peace movement, and its founding meeting was held in Guam in a symbolic gesture referencing Guam's history as the site of some of World War II's bloodiest battles, and proximity to Tinian Island, launching place of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.[25]

Resignation from Soka Gakkai presidency

From 1964 to 1990, Ikeda held the title of Sokoto (lay leader) among Nichiren Shōshū adherents. In 1979, Ikeda resigned as president of the Soka Gakkai (in Japan), accepting responsibility for the organization's purported deviation from Nichiren Shōshū doctrines and accompanying conflict with its priesthood.[26] Nichiren Shōshū was the Buddhist denomination with which the Soka Gakkai had been associated since its founding, but the relationship between the two organizations was often strained. Hiroshi Hojo succeeded Ikeda as Soka Gakkai president, and Ikeda remained president of the Soka Gakkai International. Ikeda was also made honorary president of the Soka Gakkai in Japan.[27]

Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai were excommunicated by Nichiren Shoshu on 28 November 1991[8][28][29][30] and on 11 August 1992.[31][32] Following the group's excommunication, Soka Gakkai members began to describe their group as Buddhism's first Protestant movement.[33]

Philosophy and beliefs

Ikeda's relationship with his mentor Josei Toda shaped his emphasis on dialogue as fundamental to building trust between people and peace in society.[34]

Legacy

Ikeda's leadership "globalized the Soka Gakkai and harnessed its energy to goals that suited new generations in different cultures"[35] and subsequently developed the SGI into a broad-based grassroots peace movement around the world. Ikeda is credited with having fostered among SGI members an ethos of social responsibility and a strong spirit of global citizenship.[36] Ikeda's thoughts and work on a "Buddhist-based humanism"[37] are situated within a broader tradition of East-West dialogue in search of humanistic ideals.[38] In his biography of historian Arnold J. Toynbee, William McNeill describes the aim of the Toynbee-Ikeda dialogues as a "convergence of East and West," positing the pragmatic significance of which would be realized by the "flourishing in the Western world" of the Soka Gakkai organization.[39] Goulah's research into transformative world language learning characterizes Ikeda's Buddhist-inspired refinement of Makiguchi's Soka education philosophy as an approach engendering a "world view of dialogic resistance" that responds to the limitations of a neoliberal world view of education.[40]

Accomplishments

Central to Ikeda's activities, whether they be on an institutional level or as a private citizen, is his belief in "Buddhist principles ... rooted in our shared humanity, ... where faith and human dignity intersect to promote positive change in society."[41] His view of a "Buddhist humanism," the fostering of mutual respect and dignity, emphasizes human agency to engage in dialogue.

Institutional engagement

Ikeda greets international students at Soka University, March 1990

Ikeda has founded many global institutions for the development of peace, culture and education, including Soka University in Tokyo, Japan, and Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California; Soka kindergarten, primary and secondary schools in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brazil and Singapore; the Victor Hugo House of Literature, in the Île-de-France region of France; the International Committee of Artists for Peace in the United States; the Min-On Concert Association in Japan; the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum in Japan; the Institute of Oriental Philosophy in Japan with offices in France, Hong Hong, India, Russia and the United Kingdom; the Toda Peace Institute in Japan and the United States; and the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue in the United States.[42]

Since 1990, Ikeda has partnered with Rabbi Abraham Cooper and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, to combat anti-Semitism in Japan. In a 2001 interview, Rabbi Cooper stated he was "getting nowhere after reaching out to the Japanese media about anti-Semitism in Japan. The only partners we found to help us bring our concerns to the Japanese public were people from Soka University under the leadership of Daisaku Ikeda. If you ask me who our best friend in Japan is, who 'gets it,' it is Ikeda. He was actually our first visitor to the Museum of Tolerance." Their friendship led to the joint development of a Japanese-language Holocaust exhibition The Courage to Remember, which was seen by more than two million people in Japan between 1994 and 2007. In 2015, a new version of the exhibit opened in Tokyo focusing on the bravery of Anne Frank and Chiune Sugihara.[11][43]

Ikeda was an original proponent of the Earth Charter Initiative, co-founded by Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ikeda has included details of the Charter in many of his annual peace proposals since 1997. The SGI has supported the Earth Charter with production of global exhibitions including Seeds of Change in 2002 that traveled to 27 nations and Seeds of Hope in 2010, correlating with the Earth Charter-related documentary film, A Quiet Revolution, which the SGI has donated to schools and educational programs around the world.[44][45]

Since January 26, 1983, Ikeda has submitted annual peace proposals to the United Nations, addressing such areas as building a culture of peace, gender equality in education, empowerment of women, UN reform and universal human rights with a view on global civilization.[46] Ikeda's proposals for nuclear disarmament and abolishing nuclear weapons submitted to the special session of the UN General Assembly in 1978, 1982 and 1988 built on his mentor Josei Toda's 1957 declaration condemning such weapons of mass destruction as "an absolute evil that threatens the people's right of existence."[47]

Citizen diplomacy

Ikeda's work has been described by academics as citizen diplomacy for his contributions to diplomatic as well as intercultural ties between Japan and other countries, and more broadly among all peoples of the world.[48][49][50] Ikeda's dialogues with scholars, politicians, and cultural figures have increased awareness and support of humanitarian and peace activities, have facilitated deeper international relationships, and generated support for SGI-sponsored work on global issues including the environment and nuclear disarmament.[51][52]

Countries visited by SGI President Ikeda (in blue) outside of Japan (in red)

Academic researchers have suggested the body of literature chronicling Ikeda's diplomatic efforts and his more than 7,000 international dialogues[53] provides readers with a personal education and model of citizen diplomacy and, from a scholarly view, represents "a new current in interculturalism and educational philosophy."[54][55][56][57]

In 1970, Ikeda met several times with Austrian-Japanese politician and philosopher Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, an early pioneer of the European Union. Their discussions included East-West relations and the future of peace work.[58] Between 1971 and 1974, Ikeda conducted multiple dialogues with Arnold J. Toynbee in London and Tokyo. The major topics of their meetings were published as the book Choose Life.[59] In 1974, Ikeda conducted a dialogue with French novelist and Minister of Cultural Affairs Andre Malraux.[60]

In September 1974, Ikeda visited the Soviet Union and met with Premier Alexei Kosygin. During their dialogue, Kosygin agreed with Ikeda, saying "We must abandon the very idea of war. It is meaningless. If we stop preparing for war and prepare instead for peace, we can produce food instead of armaments." He then asked Ikeda, "What is your basic ideology?" Ikeda replied, "I believe in peace, culture and education - the underlying basis of which is humanism." Kosygin said, "I have a high regard for those values. We need to realize them here in the Soviet Union as well."[61][62][63]

The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue located in Cambridge, USA

In January 1975, Ikeda met with Henry Kissinger, the United States Secretary of State, to "urge the de-escalation of nuclear tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union."[4] The same month Ikeda met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Kurt Waldheim. Ikeda presented Waldheim with a petition containing the signatures of 10,000,000 people calling for total nuclear abolition. The petition was organized by youth groups of the Soka Gakkai International and was inspired by Ikeda's longtime anti-nuclear efforts.[64]

Ikeda's meetings with Nelson Mandela in the 1990s led to a series of SGI-sponsored anti-apartheid lectures, a traveling exhibit, and multiple student exchange programs at the university level.[65]

Sino-Japanese relations

Ikeda made several visits to China and met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1974, though Sino-Japanese tensions remained over the brutalities of war waged by the Japanese militarists.[66] The visits led to the establishment of cultural exchanges of art, dance and music between China and Japan and opened academic exchanges between Chinese educational institutions and Soka University.[65] Chinese media describe Ikeda as an early proponent of normalizing diplomatic relations between China and Japan in the 1970s, citing his 1968 proposal that drew condemnation by some and the interest of others including Zhou Enlai.[67][68] It was said that Zhou Enlai entrusted Ikeda with ensuring that "Sino-Japanese friendship would continue for generations to come."[69]

Since 1975, cultural exchanges have continued between the Min-On Concert Association, founded by Ikeda, and institutions including the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.[70][71] After Ikeda's 1984 visit to China and meetings with public figures including Chinese Communist Party Leader Hu Yaobang and Deng Yingchao, academic observers estimated that Ikeda's 1968 proposal moved Japanese public sentiment to support closer diplomatic ties with China and his cultivation of educational and cultural ties helped strengthen state relations.[72]

Accolades

International awards

During a Turin Book Fair-hosted event concluding the 2018 five-day FIRMA-Faiths in Tune festival of religion, music and art, held in 2018 for the first time in Italy, an international jury presented a FIRMA award to Daisaku Ikeda "for his lifelong commitment to interreligious dialogue."[73] Other international awards received by Ikeda include:

Australia: Gold Medal for Peace with Justice from the Sydney Peace Foundation (2009)[74][75]

Australia: Gandhi International Prize for Social Responsibility (2014)[76]

China: International Literary Award for Understanding and Friendship from the China Literature Foundation and Chinese Writersʼ Association (2003)[77]

India: Tagore Peace Award (1997)[78]

India: Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Outstanding Contribution in Promotion of Gandhian Values Outside India by Individuals other than Indian Citizens (2005)[79]

India: Indology Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Indic Research and Oriental Wisdom (2011)[80]

Macedonia: World Prize for Humanism (Macedonian: НА СВЕТСКАТА НАГРАДА ЗА ХУМАНИЗАМ) from the Ohrid Academy of Humanism (2007)[81]

Philippines: Rizal International Peace Award (1998)[82]

Philippines: Golden Heart Award from the Knights of Rizal (2012) [83]

Philippines: Gusi Peace Prize[84]

Russia: Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation (2008)[85]

Singapore: Wee Kim Wee Gold Award (2017)[86]

United Nations: United Nations Peace Medal (1983)[87][88][89]

United States: Rosa Parks Humanitarian Award (1993)[88]

United States: International Tolerance Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center (1993)[88]

United States: Education as Transformation Award from the Education as Transformation Project, Wellesley College (2001)[88]

International honors

In 1999, the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta honored Ikeda with the creation of the Gandhi King Ikeda Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation. In 2001, a traveling exhibition was created titled Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace that showcases the peace activism of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and Daisaku Ikeda. Also in 2001, Lawrence Carter, an ordained Baptist minister and a dean at Morehouse College in Atlanta, initiated the annual Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Prize as a way of extolling individuals whose actions for peace transcend cultural, national and philosophical boundaries. The 2015 Gandhi King Ikeda award was bestowed upon Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.[90][91][92]

Reflecting pool at the Daisaku Ikeda Ecological Park visitor center in Londrina, Brazil

In 2000, the city of Londrina, Brazil honored Ikeda by naming a 300-acre nature reserve in his name. The Dr. Daisaku Ikeda Ecological Park is open to the public and its land, waterways, fauna and wildlife are protected by Brazil's Federal Conservation Law.[93]

In 2014, the City of Chicago named a section of Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago "Daisaku Ikeda Way," with the Chicago City Council measure passing unanimously, 49 to 0.[94]

The United States House of Representatives and individual states including Georgia, Missouri, and Illinois have passed resolutions honoring the service and dedication of Daisaku Ikeda as one "who has dedicated his entire life to building peace and promoting human rights through education and cultural exchange with deep conviction in the shared humanity of our entire global family." The state of Missouri praised Ikeda and his value of "education and culture as the prerequisites for the creation of true peace in which the dignity and fundamental rights of all people are respected."[95][96][97][98][99]

The Club of Rome has named Ikeda an honorary member,[100] and Ikeda has received more than 760 honorary citizenships from cities and municipalities around the world.[7]

At the International Day for Poets of Peace in February 2016, an initiative launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid World Peace Award, Daisaku Ikeda from Japan along with Kholoud Al Mulla from the UAE, K. Satchidanandan from India and Farouq Gouda from Egypt were named International Poets of Peace.[101] In presenting the honors, Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan described the initiative as reinforcing "the idea that poetry, and literature in general, are a universal language that plays an important role in spreading the message of peace in the world," echoing the sentiments of Dr Hamad Al Shaikh Al Shaibani, chair of the World Peace Award's board of trustees, who cited the role of poets in "promoting a culture of hope and solidarity."[102]

Academic honors

In November 2010, the University of Massachusetts Boston bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Ikeda, marking the 300th academic honor he had received since receipt of his first honorary doctorate in 1975 from Moscow State University.[103] In his message of appreciation to the University of Massachusetts Boston, Ikeda said "The academic honors I have accepted have all been on behalf of the members of SGI around the world. This is recognition of their multifaceted contributions. As a private citizen, I will redouble my efforts to promote peace, cultural exchange and education."[104]

Number Country Institution Title conferred Place and date 1 USSR Moscow State University honorary doctorate May 1975[105] 2 Peru National University of San Marcos hon. professorship April 1981[citation needed] 3 Bulgaria Sofia University honorary doctorate May 1981[citation needed] 4 China Peking University honorary professorship June 1984[citation needed] 5 China Fudan University honorary professorship June 1984[citation needed] 6 Dominican Republic Autonomous University of Santo Domingo honorary professorship February 1987[citation needed] 7 Argentina University of Buenos Aires honorary doctorate March 1990[citation needed] 8 Mexico University of Guanajuato honorary doctorate (Maestro Emérito) March 1990[citation needed] 9 China Wuhan University honorary professorship November 1990[citation needed] 10 Macau University of Macau honorary professorship January 1991[106] 11 Philippines University of the Philippines honorary doctorate of law April 1991[citation needed] 12 Argentina University of Palermo honorary doctorate May 1991[citation needed] 13 Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong distinguished visiting professor January 1992[107] 14 Turkey Ankara University honorary doctorate of social science June 1992[citation needed] 15 China Chinese Academy of Social Sciences honorary research professor October 1992[citation needed] 16 Kenya University of Nairobi honorary doctorate of letters December 1992[108] 17 Brazil Federal University of Rio de Janeiro honorary doctorate February 1993[citation needed] 18 Argentina National University of Lomas de Zamora honorary doctorate February 1993[citation needed] 19 Argentina National University of Lomas de Zamora honorary professorship, faculty of law February 1993[citation needed] 20 Argentina National University of Córdoba honorary professorship February 1993[citation needed] 21 Paraguay National University of Asunción honorary doctorate of philosophy February 1993[citation needed] 22 Brazil University of São Paulo honorary visiting professor[dubious – discuss] February 1993[citation needed] 23 Brazil Federal University of Paraná honorary doctorate March 1993[citation needed] 24 Bolivia Del Valle University honorary doctorate March 1993[citation needed] 25 China Shenzhen University honorary professorship November 1993[citation needed] 26 China Xinjian Uygur Autonomous Region Museum honorary professorship January 1994[citation needed] 27 Russia International University in Moscow honorary doctorate May 1994[citation needed] 28 Italy University of Bologna honorary doctorate June 1994[citation needed] 29 United Kingdom University of Glasgow honorary doctorate June 1994[109] 30 China Xinjiang University honorary professorship August 1994[citation needed] 31 China Xiamen University honorary professorship November 1994[citation needed] 32 South Africa University of the North honorary doctorate of education September 1995[citation needed] 33 Nepal Tribhuvan University honorary doctorate of letters November 1995[citation needed] 34 Macau University of Macau honorary doctorate of social sciences November 1995[110] 35 Hong Kong University of Hong Kong honorary doctorate of letters March 1996[111] 36 China Xinjiang University honorary president April 1996[citation needed] 37 United States University of Denver honorary doctorate of education June 1996[citation needed] 38 Cuba University of Havana honorary doctorate of letters June 1996[citation needed] 39 Ghana University of Ghana honorary doctorate of law August 1996[citation needed] 40 Russia Far Eastern State University honorary doctorate of international education November 1996[citation needed] 41 China Zhongshan (Sun Yat-Sen) University honorary professorship November 1996[citation needed] 42 China Jilin University honorary professorship February 1997[citation needed] 43 Philippines De La Salle University honorary doctorate of humane letters (international education) March 1997[citation needed] 44 Sri Lanka University of Kelaniya honorary doctorate of letters May 1997[citation needed] 45 China Shanghai University honorary professorship May 1997[citation needed] 46 China Inner Mongolia University honorary professorship October 1997[citation needed] 47 Mongolia National University of Mongolia honorary doctorate of humanities November 1997[citation needed] 48 Philippines University of the City of Manila honorary doctorate of humanities February 1998[citation needed] 49 Argentina Universidad de Morón honorary doctorate March 1998[citation needed] 50 Russia Institute for High Energy Physics honorary doctorate April 1998[citation needed] 51 Brazil Rio de Janeiro State University honorary doctorate April 1998[citation needed] 52 Republic of Korea Kyung Hee University honorary doctorate of philosophy May 1998[citation needed] 53 Republic of Korea Chung Cheong College honorary professorship July 1998[citation needed] 54 Peru Ricardo Palma University honorary doctorate July 1998[citation needed] 55 Peru Association of Doctors of Education honorary doctorate July 1998[citation needed] 56 China Yanbian University honorary professorship November 1998[citation needed] 57 China Nankai University honorary professorship November 1998[citation needed] 58 Brazil Northern Paraná University honorary doctorate November 1998[citation needed] 59 India University of Delhi honorary doctorate of letters December 1998[citation needed] 60 Argentina University of Flores honorary doctorate January 1999[citation needed] 61 China Sichuan University honorary professorship April 1999[citation needed] 62 Peru Federico Villarreal National University honorary doctorate April 1999[citation needed] 63 Republic of Korea Cheju National University honorary doctorate of Korean language and literature May 1999[citation needed] 64 Bolivia University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra honorary doctorate June 1999[citation needed] 65 China Northeastern University honorary professorship July 1999[citation needed] 66 Kyrgyzstan Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures, Kyrgyz State Pedagogical University honorary professorship August 1999[citation needed] 67 Peru National University of Central Peru honorary doctorate September 1999[citation needed] 68 China Hunan Normal University honorary professorship September 1999[citation needed] 69 Argentina National University of Lomas de Zamora honorary professorship, faculty of social sciences October 1999[citation needed] 70 Argentina National University of Comahue honorary doctorate October 1999[citation needed] 71 China Nanjing University honorary professorship December 1999[citation needed] 72 Russia St. Petersburg State University honorary doctorate January 2000[citation needed] 73 United States University of Delaware honorary doctorate of humane letters Tokyo, 16 January 2000[112] 74 United States Queens College, City University of New York honorary doctorate of humane letters January 2000[citation needed] 75 Guam (United States) University of Guam honorary doctorate of humane letters January 2000[citation needed] 76 Philippines Angeles University Foundation honorary doctorate of humanities February 2000[citation needed] 77 China Central University for Nationalities honorary professorship February 2000[citation needed] 78 China Guangdong University of Foreign Studies honorary professorship February 2000[citation needed] 79 Argentina National University of Nordeste honorary doctorate February 2000[citation needed] 80 China Northeast Normal University honorary doctorate March 2000[citation needed] 81 Sakha Republic (Russia) Yakutsk State University honorary professorship March 2000[citation needed] 82 El Salvador Latin American Technical University honorary doctorate April 2000[citation needed] 83 China Inner Mongolia Art Academy preeminent honorary professor April 2000[citation needed] 84 India Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath Institute of Sanskrit Learning honorary doctorate (Mahamahopadhyaya) April 2000[citation needed] 85 Mongolia Mongolian Institute of Literature and Social Work honorary rector May 2000[citation needed] 86 China Beijing Administrative College honorary professorship May 2000[113] 87 China Yunnan University honorary professorship June 2000[citation needed] 88 China South China Normal University honorary professorship August 2000[citation needed] 89 India Bundelkhand University honorary doctorate of letters August 2000[citation needed] 90 Venezuela University of Zulia honorary doctorate September 2000[citation needed] 91 Panama University of Panama honorary doctorate September 2000[citation needed] 92 India Bundelkhand University honorary lifetime professor in the Ambedhar School of Social Sciences October 2000[citation needed] 93 Thailand Siam University honorary doctorate of public administration November 2000[citation needed] 94 Tonga Tonga Institute of Education and Tong Tonga Institute of Schinece and Technology honorary professorship of education November 2000[citation needed] 95 Australia University of Sydney honorary doctorate of letters 24 November 2000[114] 96 Malaysia Putra University, Malaysia honorary doctorate of letters November 2000[citation needed] 97 Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong honorary doctorate of social science 7 December 2000[115] 98 Mongolia Mongolian University of Arts and Culture honorary doctorate December 2000[citation needed] 99 India Purvanchal University honorary doctorate of letters January 2001[citation needed] 100 China Guangdong Province Academy of Social Sciences honorary professorship February 2001[citation needed] 101 China Northwest University honorary professorship April 2001[citation needed] 102 China Anhui University honorary professorship April 2001[citation needed] 103 Puerto Rico Carlos Albizu University honorary doctorate of humane letters in behavioral sciences May 2001[citation needed] 104 Mongolia Kharakhorum University honorary doctorate May 2001[citation needed] 105 China Fujian Normal University honorary professorship June 2001[citation needed] 106 China Huaqiao University honorary professorship June 2001[citation needed] 107 China Jinan University honorary professorship July 2001[citation needed] 108 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States) Northern Marianas College honorary professorship July 2001[citation needed] 109 China Soochow University honorary professorship October 2001[citation needed] 110 China Liaoning Normal University honorary professorship October 2001[citation needed] 111 Philippines University of Southern Philippines Foundation honorary doctorate of humanities October 2001[citation needed] 112 China Guangzhou University honorary professorship November 2001[citation needed] 113 Republic of Korea Kyongju University honorary professorship December 2001[citation needed] 114 Republic of Korea Changwon National University honorary doctorate of education December 2001[citation needed] 115 Kazakhstan International Kazakh-Turkish University honorary professorship December 2001[citation needed] 116 Dominican Republic Santiago Technical University honorary doctorate February 2002[citation needed] 117 Uzbekistan National Institute of Arts and Design (Uzbekistan) honorary professorship February 2002[citation needed] 118 China Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences senior research professor March 2002[citation needed] 119 Philippines Gregorio Araneta University Foundation honorary doctorate of humanities March 2002[citation needed] 120 Cambodia Royal University of Phnom Penh honorary professorship March 2002[citation needed] 121 China Liaoning University honorary professorship April 2002[citation needed] 122 United States Morehouse College honorary doctorate of humane letters April 2002[citation needed] 123 China Qingdao University honorary professorship April 2002[citation needed] 124 India Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University honorary doctorate of letters April 2002[citation needed] 125 Kenya Kenyatta University honorary doctorate of humane letters May 2002[citation needed] 126 China Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences honorary professorship May 2002[citation needed] 127 Russia Moscow State University honorary professorship June 2002[citation needed] 128 China Nanjing Normal University honorary professorship June 2002[citation needed] 129 Republic of Korea Sorabol College honorary professorship June 2002[citation needed] 130 India Himachal Pradesh University honorary doctorate of literature August 2002[citation needed] 131 China Renmin University of China honorary professorship September 2002[116] 132 China University of Science and Technology of China honorary professorship October 2002[citation needed] 133 China Zhejiang University honorary professorship November 2002[117] 134 Mongolia Shihihutung Law School honorary doctorate November 2002[citation needed] 135 Ukraine Kiev National University of Trade and Economics honorary doctorate November 2002[citation needed] 136 Republic of Korea Dong-A University honorary doctorate of philosophy December 2002[citation needed] 137 China Shanghai International Studies University honorary professorship December 2002[citation needed] 138 China Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences honorary professorship December 2002[citation needed] 139 India Bharathidasan University honorary doctorate of literature January 2003[citation needed] 140 Peru National University of Piura honorary doctorate February 2003[citation needed] 141 Taiwan Chinese Culture University honorary doctorate of philosophy March 2003[citation needed] 142 China Dalian University of Foreign Languages honorary professorship April 2003[citation needed] 143 Paraguay Columbia University of Paraguay honorary doctorate of sociology April 2003[citation needed] 144 Peru Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University honorary doctorate September 2003[citation needed] 145 China Northwest Normal University honorary professorship October 2003[citation needed] 146 Republic of Korea Gwangju Women's University honorary professorship October 2003[citation needed] 147 China Shanghai Jiao Tong University honorary professorship October 2003[citation needed] 148 United States Chapman University honorary doctorate of humane letters December 2003[citation needed] 149 China Zhaoqing University honorary professorship December 2003[citation needed] 150 Sakha Republic (Russia) Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts honorary professorship January 2004[citation needed] 151 India Rabindra Bharati University honorary doctorate of literature February 2004[citation needed] 152 United States Mineral Area College honorary professorship of humanities February 2004[citation needed] 153 China National Prosecuters College honorary professorship March 2004[citation needed] 154 Taiwan National Pingtung University honorary doctorate of agricultural sciences March 2004[citation needed] 155 Republic of Buryatia (Russia) Buryat State University honorary professorship April 2004[citation needed] 156 Brazil Londrina State University honorary doctorate April 2004[citation needed] 157 Bolivia University of San Francisco Xavier of Chuquisaca honorary doctorate May 2004[citation needed] 158 China China University of Petroleum honorary professorship May 2004[citation needed] 159 Philippines Capitol University honorary doctorate of humanities June 2004[citation needed] 160 China Sanda University honorary professorship June 2004[citation needed] 161 Jordan University of Jordan honorary doctorate of humane letters July 2004[citation needed] 162 Mexico University of Guadalajara honorary doctorate September 2004[citation needed] 163 China Fujian Academy of Social Sciences honorary professorship September 2004[citation needed] 164 China Changchun University honorary professorship October 2004[citation needed] 165 China Qufu Normal University honorary professorship October 2004[citation needed] 166 Kyrgyzstan Osh State University honorary professorship November 2004[citation needed] 167 Republic of Korea Paekche Institute of the Arts honorary professorship November 2004[citation needed] 168 Mongolia Otgontenger University honorary doctorate December 2004[citation needed] 169 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States) Northern Marianas College honorary president January 2005[citation needed] 170 Peru Enrique Guzman y Valle National University of Education honorary doctorate January 2005[citation needed] 171 Belarus Minsk State Linguistic University honorary professorship February 2005[citation needed] 172 Philippines Batangas State University honorary doctorate of pedagogy March 2005[citation needed] 173 China Shanghai University of Finance and Economics professor emeritus of humanities April 2005[118] 174 Paraguay National University of Itapua honorary doctorate April 2005[citation needed] 175 China Beijing Language and Culture University honorary professorship May 2005[119] 176 Brazil Cornélio Procópio College of Philosophy, Science, and Letters honorary doctorate May 2005[citation needed] 177 China Huazhong Normal University honorary professorship June 2005[citation needed] 178 China Guangxi Normal University honorary professorship July 2005[citation needed] 179 Mongolia Mongolian Academy of Sciences Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law honorary professorship, philosophy September 2005[citation needed] 180 Vietnam Vietnam National University, Hanoi honorary doctorate September 2005[120] 181 China East China University of Science and Technology honorary professorship October 2005[citation needed] 182 Serbia and Montenegro Braca Karic University honorary doctorate October 2005[citation needed] 183 Russia Academy of Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement honorary professorship December 2005[citation needed] 184 India Symbiosis International Educational Centre (Deemed University) honorary doctorate of literature December 2005[citation needed] 185 Russia Ural State University honorary doctorate January 2006[citation needed] 186 Laos National University of Laos honorary professorship of humanities February 2006[citation needed] 187 Philippines Pampanga Agricultural College honorary doctorate of humanities March 2006[citation needed] 188 China Hunan University honorary professorship April 2006[citation needed] 189 Ukraine National Technical University of Ukraine "KPI" honorary doctorate April 2006[citation needed] 190 China East China Normal University honorary professorship May 2006[citation needed] 191 China Nanjing Arts Institute honorary professorship May 2006[citation needed] 192 India Visva-Bharati honorary doctorate of literature May 2006[citation needed] 193 China China Southwest University of Political Science and Law honorary professorship June 2006[citation needed] 194 United States Southern Illinois University Carbondale honorary doctorate of humane letters June 2006[121] 195 United States Los Angeles Southwest College honorary professorship June 2006[citation needed] 196 China Shaoguan University honorary professorship June 2006[citation needed] 197 Republic of Korea Dong Shin University honorary doctorate of public administration June 2006[citation needed] 198 Thailand Maejo University honorary doctorate of administration July 2006[citation needed] 199 Brazil Catholic College of Economic Science of Bahia honorary doctorate September 2006[citation needed] 200 China Beijing Normal University honorary professorship October 2006[citation needed] 201 Philippines University of Rizal System honorary doctorate of humanities 24 November 2006[citation needed] 202 China Dalian University of Technology honorary professorship 8 December 2006[citation needed] 203 Republic of Korea Dongju College honorary professorship 6 February 2007[citation needed] 204 China Guizhou University honorary professorship 26 February 2007[citation needed] 205 Russia Baikal National University of Economics and Law honorary professorship 13 March 2007[citation needed] 206 Venezuela Rafael Belloso Chacin University honorary doctorate 20 March 2007[citation needed] 207 Venezuela Santa María University honorary doctorate of law 20 March 2007[citation needed] 208 Italy University of Palermo honorary doctorate of communication sciences 23 March 2007[citation needed] 209 Brazil Brazilian Academy of Philosophy honorary doctorate 2 April 2007[109] 210 United States University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee honorary doctorate of humane letters 17 April 2007[citation needed] 211 China Harbin Engineering University honorary professorship 18 April 2007[citation needed] 212 Brazil Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul honorary doctorate 29 April 2007[citation needed] 213 China Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences honorary professorship 5 May 2007[citation needed] 214 Taiwan Southern Taiwan University of Technology honorary doctorate of engineering 28 May 2007[citation needed] 215 Russia Russian State University for the Humanities honorary doctorate 31 May 2007[citation needed] 216 Peru National University of El Santa honorary doctorate 23 June 2007[citation needed] 217 Sakha Republic (Russia) The Yakut State Agricultural Academy honorary professorship 4 July 2007[citation needed] 218 Russia Far Eastern State Technical University honorary professorship 9 July 2007[citation needed] 219 Philippines University of Southeastern Philippines honorary doctorate of education 13 September 2007[citation needed] 220 China Shaanxi Normal University honorary professorship 6 October 2007[109] 221 Mexico University of Humanistic Integration honorary doctorate of human sciences 8 October 2007[citation needed] 222 Brazil Ingá University (UNINGÁ) honorary professorship 10 October 2007[citation needed] 223 China China Youth University for Political Sciences honorary professorship 21 October 2007[citation needed] 224 Mongolia Mongolian State University of Education honorary doctorate 24 October 2007[citation needed] 225 China Wenzhou Medical College honorary professorship 30 November 2007[citation needed] 226 China Shanghai Normal University honorary professorship 17 December 2007[citation needed] 227 Dominican Republic Autonomous University of Santo Domingo honorary doctorate 19 January 2008[citation needed] 228 Taiwan National Yunlin University of Science and Technology honorary doctorate of philosophy in management 21 January 2008[citation needed] 229 Philippines Laguna State Polytechnic University honorary doctorate of philosophy in humanities 26 January 2008[citation needed] 230 China Hunan University of Science and Technology honorary professorship 1 March 2008[citation needed] 231 Kyrgyz Republic I. Arabaev Kyrgyz State University honorary doctorate 21 March 2008[citation needed] 232 China Jiaying University honorary professorship 31 March 2008[122] 233 Russia Tula Lev Tolstoy State Pedagogical University honorary professorship 2 April 2008[citation needed] 234 China Hebei University honorary professorship 13 April 2008[citation needed] 235 China Yan'a University honorary professorship 4 May 2008[123] 236 China Eastern Liaoning University lifetime honorary professorship 30 May 2008[citation needed] 237 China Changchun University of Technology honorary professorship 2 June 2008[citation needed] 238 Brazil Centro Universitário de Goiás honorary doctorate 17 June 2008[citation needed] 239 Brazil Centro Universitário Ítalo Brasileiro honorary doctorate 20 June 2008[citation needed] 240 Philippines Benguet State University honorary doctorate of humanities 10 July 2008[citation needed] 241 Taiwan Chungyu Institute of Technology honorary professorship 22 July 2008[citation needed] 242 Taiwan Tainan University of Technology honorary professorship 24 July 2008[citation needed] 243 Philippines Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry hon doc of education in ancient learning, culture and world peace Sep 2008[citation needed] 244 Philippines Universidad de Manila hon doc of humanities Oct 2008[citation needed] 245 Mongolia Mongolian University of Science and Technology hon doc of humanities Oct 2008[citation needed] 246 China Dalian University hon prof Dec 2008[124] 247 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts hon prof Jan 2009[citation needed] 248 Malaysia Open University Malaysia hon doc of arts (humanities) Feb 2009[125][126] 249 Santa Cruz, Bolivia University of Aquino-Bolivia (Udabol) hon doc Mar 2009[127] 250 Denmark University College South Denmark honorary doctorate 21 March 2009[citation needed] 251 Republic of Korea Korea Maritime University University Professor 2 April 2009[citation needed] 252 Kyrgyzstan Issyk-Kul State University hon prof Apr 2009[citation needed] 253 China Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University hon prof Apr 2009[citation needed] 254 China Henan Normal University hon prof Apr 2009[citation needed] 255 Northern Ireland, UK Queen's University Belfast hon doc of laws May 2009[128] 256 China Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics hon prof May 2009[citation needed] 257 Philippines Southern Luzon State University hon doc of humanities Jun 2009[citation needed] 258 Brazil Federal University of Rondônia hon doc Jul 2009[citation needed] 259 Republic of Korea Hongik University hon doc of literature Sep 2009[citation needed] 260 Macau, China Asia International Open University (Macau) honorary doctorate of philosophy Sep 2009[citation needed] 261 Brazil Maranhão School of Government honorary professorship Sep 2009[citation needed] 262 Brazil Silva e Souza Integrated College honorary doctorate of architecture and urban engineering Sep 2009[citation needed] 263 Indonesia Universitas Indonesia Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy and Peace Soka University, 10 October 2009[129] 264 China Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering hon prof Oct 2009[citation needed] 265 China Dalian Polytechnic University emeritus prof Oct 2009[citation needed] 266 Sakha Republic, Russia Yakutsk Teacher-training College No.1 hon prof Oct 2009[citation needed] 267 China Southwest Jiaotong University hon prof Nov 2009[citation needed] 268 China Xi'an University of Technology hon prof Nov 2009[citation needed] 269 China Ningxia University hon lifetime prof Nov 2009[citation needed] 270 Taiwan Yu Da University hon prof Dec 2009[citation needed] 271 Mexico Enrique Díaz de León University hon doc Dec 2009[citation needed] 272 China Xi'an Peihua University hon prof Dec 2009[citation needed] 273 Guam, USA Guam Community College hon prof Jan 2010[citation needed] 274 China Anhui University of Science and Technology hon prof Jan 2010[citation needed] 275 Uzbekistan Institute of Fine Arts, Uzbeki Academy of Sciences hon doc Feb 2010[citation needed] 276 China Xi'an International University hon prof Feb 2010[citation needed] 277 China Guangdong University of Business Studies hon prof Mar 2010[citation needed] 278 Aragua, Venezuela Bicentennial University of Aragua hon doc of education Mar 2010[citation needed] 279 Aragua, Venezuela Bicentennial University of Aragua hon prof Mar 2010[citation needed] 280 China Xi'an Jiaotong University hon prof Mar 2010[citation needed] 281 Philippines Ramon Magsaysay Technological University centennial hon prof Mar 2010[citation needed] 282 Armenia Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and Artists honorary doctorate Japan, 2 April 2010[130] 283 Sichuan, China Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences hon prof Apr 2010[citation needed] 284 Xinjiang, China Xinjiang Medical University hon prof Apr 2010[citation needed] 285 Guangxi, China Guangxi Arts Institute lifetime hon prof Apr 2010[citation needed] 286 Zhejiang, China Shaoxing University hon prof Apr 2010[citation needed] 287 Canada Université Laval honorary doctorate of education 4 May 2010[131] 288 Beijing, China Tsinghua University hon prof May 2010[citation needed] 289 Beijing, China Beijing City University hon prof May 2010[citation needed] 290 Zhejiang, China Ningbo University hon prof June 2010[citation needed] 291 Zhejiang, China Zhejiang Ocean University hon prof June 2010[citation needed] 292 Virginia, USA George Mason University hon doc of humane letters July 2010[132] 293 New Taipei, Taiwan National Taiwan University of Arts hon prof July 2010[citation needed] 294 Kaohsiung, Taiwan National University of Kaohsiung hon prof July 2010[citation needed] 295 Malaysia University of Malaya honorary doctorate of humanities 2 August 2010[133] 296 Osh, Kyrgyzstan Osh Humanitarian Pedagogical Institute hon prof August 2010[134] 297 Osh, Kyrgyzstan Osh Agricultural Institute hon prof August 2010[134] 298 Chile Universidad Pedro de Valdivia honorary doctorate Soka University, 30 August 2010[135] 299 Philippines University of Southern Mindanao honorary doctorate of humanities 9 October 2010[citation needed] 300 United States University of Massachusetts Boston honorary degree Shinjuku, Tokyo, 18 November 2010[136] 301 Amazonas, Brazil Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Amazonas hon doc November 2010[citation needed] 302 Liaoning, China Dalian Maritime University hon prof December 2010[citation needed] 303 São_Paulo, Brazil São Paulo Metropolitan University hon prof December 2010[citation needed] 304 Mato Grosso, Brazil Federal University of Mato Grosso hon doc December 2010[137] 305 Yunlin County, Taiwan National Formosa University hon doc December 2010[citation needed] 306 South Chungcheong, Republic of Korea Konyang University hon doc of business administration December 2010[citation needed] 307 Macau Macao Polytechnic Institute hon prof January 2011[citation needed] 308 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz-Russian Academy of Education hon prof March 2011[citation needed] 309 Taipa, Macau Macau University of Science and Technology hon prof May 2011[citation needed] 310 Hainan, China Hainan Normal University hon prof May 2011[citation needed] 311 North Chungcheong, Republic of Korea Chungju National University hon doc of business administration July 2011[citation needed] 312 Pangasinan, Philippines Pangasinan State University hon doc of humanities July 2011[citation needed] 313 Busan, Republic of Korea Pukyong National University hon doc of international and area studies September 2011[citation needed] 314 Lusaka, Zambia University of Zambia hon doc of laws September 2011[citation needed] 315 Nueva Ecija, Philippines Central Luzon State University hon lifetime prof October 2011[citation needed] 316 Jiangxi, China Jinggangshan University hon prof October 2011[citation needed] 317 UK University of Buckingham Honorary Doctorate of Literature 25 October 2011[138] 318 China Jimei University Honorary Professor 9 November 2011[citation needed] 319 Moscow, Russia Russian State University of Trade and Economics hon doc November 2011[citation needed] 320 Tashkent, Uzbekistan Termez State University hon prof December 2011[citation needed] 321 Beijing, China Central University of Finance and Economics hon prof January 2012[citation needed] 322 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Humanities University hon doc March 2012[citation needed] 323 Bataan, Philippines Bataan Peninsula State University hon doc of humanities March 2012[citation needed] 324 Santa Cruz, Bolivia Private Technological University of Santa Cruz (Utepsa) hon doc March 2012[139] 325 Taipei, Taiwan Taipei College of Maritime Technology hon prof April 2012[citation needed] 326 Lima, Peru Technological University of Peru hon doc May 2012[citation needed] 327 Lima, Peru Technological University of Peru professor emeritus, Faculty of Law, Political Science and International Relations May 2012[citation needed] 328 Guizhou, China Guizhou Normal University hon prof May 2012[citation needed] 329 Taipei, Taiwan National Taiwan Normal University hon prof, College of Arts June 2012[citation needed] 330 Liaoning, China Bohai University hon prof June 2012[citation needed] 331 Ontario, Canada University of Guelph hon doc of laws September 2012[140] 332 Paraná, Brazil Dom Bosco College of Higher Education hon doc September 2012[citation needed] 333 Almaty, Kazakhstan Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hon prof October 2012[citation needed] 334 Táchira, Venezuela National Experimental University of Táchira hon doc November 2012[citation needed] 335 Pando, Bolivia Amazonian University of Pando hon doc February 2013[citation needed] 336 Osh, Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz-Chinese Humanitarian Economic Institute hon prof February 2013[citation needed] 337 Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines Nueva Vizcaya State University hon doc of humanities March 2013[citation needed] 338 South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Doctor of Social Science honoris causa Apr 2013[141] 339 Bangkok, Thailand Thammasat University hon doc of philosophy August 2013[citation needed] 340 Armenia Yerevan State University hon doc September 2013[citation needed] 341 Aklan, Philippines Aklan State University hon doc of humanities October 2013[citation needed] 342 Liaoning, China Dalian Art College hon prof October 2013[citation needed] 343 Peru Universidad Peruana de las Americas/Peruvian University of the Americas hon doc November 2013[citation needed] 344 Ulan Bator, Mongolia University of the Humanities hon doc of humanities November 2013[citation needed] 345 Moscow, Russia Pushkin State Russian Language Institute hon doc November 2013[citation needed] 346 Córdoba, Argentina National University of Villa María hon prof extraordinary February 2014[citation needed] 347 Jharkhand, India Satyendra Narayan Sinha Institute of Business Management hon prof March 2014[142] 348 Isabel, Philippines Isabela State University hon doc of humanities April 2014[citation needed] 349 Tianjin, China Tianjin Foreign Studies University hon prof May 2014[citation needed] 350 Lima, Peru National University of Engineering hon doc May 2014[citation needed] 351 Heilongjiang, China Harbin Normal University hon prof July 2014[citation needed] 352 Sakha Republic, Russia Yakutsk Teacher-training College hon prof September 2014[citation needed] 353 Manila, The Philippines University of the East hon doc of humanities September 2014[143] 354 China Nanjing University of Science and Technology honorary professorship October 2014[144] 355 Russia People's Friendship University of Russia honorary doctorate November 2014[145] 356 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University honorary doctorate February 2015[citation needed] 357 India Madurai Institute of Social Sciences honorary professor, Social Sciences April 2015[146] 358 South Korea (Republic of Korea) University of North Korean Studies honorary chair professor May 2015[147] 359 China Foshan University honorary professor May 2015[148] 360 Bolivia Autonomous University of Beni (Universidad Autónoma del Beni) honorary doctorate June 2015[citation needed] 361 Brazil Castelo Branco University honorary doctorate June 2015[149] 362 South Korea (Republic of Korea) Kyungnam University honorary doctorate of philosophy in education September 2015[150] 363 Taiwan (Republic of China) Chienkuo Technology University honorary lifetime professor November 2015[151] 364 India Jagran Lakecity University honorary doctorate of humane letters November 2015[152] 365 Bhopal, India Barkatullah University honorary doctorate of letters January 2016[153] 366 Kyrgyzstan Uzgen Institute of Technology and Education, Osh Technological University (Uzgen) honorary doctorate March 2016[154] 367 Argentina National University of Tucumán honorary doctorate August 2016[155] 368 United States DePaul University honorary doctorate of Humane Letters December 2016[156] 369 Brazil Universidade Federal do Acre "honoris causa" March 2017[157]

Personal life

Ikeda lives in Tokyo with his wife, Kaneko Ikeda (née Kaneko Shiraki), whom he married on 3 May 1952. The couple had three sons, Hiromasa (vice president of Soka Gakkai),[158] Shirohisa (died 1984),[159] and Takahiro.[160]

Public image

American Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks chose as her favorite photograph an image from her first meeting with Ikeda in 1993. She explained:

I can't think of a more important moment in my life ... said this meeting, between the two of us, was very special for him. It was for me, too. In his concern for human rights, Dr. Ikeda is ahead of many people in this century. He is a calm spirit, a humble man, a man of great spiritual enlightenment. We met for about an hour and talked about my life and challenges concerning the youth in our countries ... Our meeting can serve as a model for anyone. So the photograph of our first meeting is very important because it is history in the making.[161]

An article in Daily News and Analysis called him "the natural successor to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. as a global spiritual leader."[162] The Chairman of India's Council of Gandhian Studies, Professor N. Radhakrishnan, has hailed Ikeda as "one of the most profound thinkers of our time."[163]

In 1984, British journalist and political commentator Polly Toynbee visited Ikeda in Japan at his invitation conveyed by Richard Causton, SGI leader of the UK. According to Peter Popham, writing about Tokyo architecture and culture, Polly Toynbee once wrote that she had never met "anyone who exudes such an aura of absolute power as Mr. Ikeda" to describe an unsettling opulence with which she was received by him.[164] In The Guardian in May 1984, she wrote that others she had talked to about Ikeda "felt they had been drawn into endorsing him" and that she wished her grandfather had not similarly endorsed Choose Life: A Dialogue, his dialogue with Ikeda.[165] In his response letter to The Guardian, Richard Causton described her reflections as honest and understandable, given the "culture shock" of being hosted as a distinguished guest by Ikeda in a Japanese cultural setting and the "religious shock" of encountering Buddhists as ordinary people, all during a hectic 10-day schedule of interviews with prominent figures arranged by Soka Gakkai at her request.[166]

In 1995, Michelle Magee wrote a critical article in the San Francisco Chronicle in which she stated that the Soka Gakkai in Japan had been accused of "heavy-handed fund raising and proselytizing, as well as intimidating its foes and trying to grab political power."[167] The article quoted Takashi Shokei, a professor at Meisei University, who called Ikeda "a power-hungry individual who intends to take control of the government and make Soka Gakkai the national religion."

In 1996, Los Angeles Times writer Teresa Watanabe described Ikeda as a "puzzle of conflicting perceptions," with her interview subjects expressing vastly differing opinions of him, ranging from "a democrat," "a man of deep learning" and "an inspired teacher," to "a despot," "a threat to democracy" and "Japan's most powerful man." Watanabe reported that "Japanese tabloid coverage has affected his public image and blurred the lines between suspicion and fact, imagination and reality ..." concluding that "Nevertheless, there is no question that Ikeda spreads goodwill - and transforms stereotypes."[168]

In 2003, Dr. Lawrence Carter, Dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel at Morehouse College, praised Ikeda as a Japanese social reformer, stating: "Controversy is an inevitable partner of greatness. No one who challenges the established order is free of it. Gandhi had his detractors, as did Dr. King, and Dr. Ikeda is no exception. Controversy camouflages the intense resistance of entrenched authority to conceding their special status and privilege. Insults are the weapons of the morally weak; slander is the tool of the spiritually bereft. Controversy is testament to the noble work of these three individuals (Gandhi, King and Ikeda) in their respective societies."[90][169]

Books

Ikeda is a prolific writer, peace activist and interpreter of Nichiren Buddhism.[170] His interests in photography, art, philosophy, poetry and music are reflected in his published works. In his essay collections and dialogues with political, cultural, and educational figures he discusses, among other topics: the transformative value of religion, the universal sanctity of life,[171] social responsibility, and sustainable progress and development.

The 1976 publication of Choose Life: A Dialogue (in Japanese, Nijusseiki e no taiga) is the published record of dialogues and correspondences that began in 1971 between Ikeda and British historian Arnold J. Toynbee about the "convergence of East and West"[172] on contemporary as well as perennial topics ranging from the human condition to the role of religion and the future of human civilization. Toynbee's 12-volume A Study of History had been translated into Japanese, which along with his lecture tours and periodical articles about social, moral and religious issues gained him popularity in Japan. To an expat's letter critical of Toynbee's association with Ikeda and Soka Gakkai, Toynbee wrote back: "I agree with Soka Gakkai on religion as the most important thing in human life, and on opposition to militarism and war."[173] To another letter critical of Ikeda, Toynbee responded: "Mr. Ikeda's personality is strong and dynamic and such characters are often controversial. My own feeling for Mr. Ikeda is one of great respect and sympathy."[174] As of 2012, the book had been translated and published in twenty-six languages.[175]

Ikeda's children's stories are "widely read and acclaimed," according to The Hindu, which reported that an anime series of 14 of the stories was to be shown on the National Geographic Channel.[176][177] In the Philippines, DVD sets of 17 of the animated stories were donated by Anak TV to a large school, as part of a nationwide literacy effort.[178]

In 2003, Japan's largest English-language newspaper, The Japan Times, began carrying periodic essays by Ikeda on global issues including peacebuilding, nuclear disarmament, and compassion.[179] As of 2015, The Japan Times had published 26 essays by Ikeda, 15 of which were also published in a bilingual Japanese-English book titled "Embracing the Future."[180]

The Human Revolution

Ikeda's most well-known publication is the novel The Human Revolution (Ningen Kakumei), which was serialized in the Soka Gakkai's daily newspaper, the Seikyo Shimbun. The book's original English-edition foreword was written by British philosopher and historian Arnold J. Toynbee. The Human Revolution has been translated into English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Dutch and has sold over seven millions copies worldwide.[181] In the preface to The Human Revolution, the author describes the book as a "novelized biography of my mentor, Josei Toda."[182] The author's official website describes the book as an "historical novel portrays the development of the Soka Gakkai in Japan, from its rebirth in the post-World War II era to the last years of its second president, Josei Toda."[183] In the preface to the 2004 edition, the author stated the narrative was edited to bring it in line with recent developments in the history of Nichiren Buddhism, and that he hoped "such revisions will help readers to better appreciate the original message of the book."[182]

Selected works by Ikeda