Soka Gakkai is a Japanese Buddhist religious movement based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese priest Nichiren as taught by its first three presidents Tsunesaburō Makiguchi, Jōsei Toda, and Daisaku Ikeda. It is the largest of the Japanese new religions and claims the largest membership among Nichiren Buddhist groups. The organization bases its teachings on Nichiren's interpretation of the Lotus Sutra and places chanting Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō at the center of devotional practice. The organization promotes its goals as supporting "peace, culture, and education".
Tsunesaburō Makiguchi, first President of the Sōka Gakkai
Jōsei Toda, second President of the Sōka Gakkai
Daisaku Ikeda, third President of the Soka Gakkai, 2010
Daisaku Ikeda receiving "Leonardo Prize" in 2009 from Alexander Yakovlev
Japanese new religions are new religious movements established in Japan. In Japanese, they are called shinshūkyō (新宗教) or shinkō shūkyō (新興宗教). Japanese scholars classify all religious organizations founded since the middle of the 19th century as "new religions"; thus, the term refers to a great diversity and number of organizations. Most came into being in the mid-to-late twentieth century and are influenced by much older traditional religions including Buddhism and Shinto. Foreign influences include Christianity, the Bible, and the writings of Nostradamus.
The Dai Heiwa Kinen Tō, Peace Tower built by Perfect Liberty Kyōdan
Head office of Oomoto at Kameoka, Japan
Headquarters of Reiyū-kai
Rissho Kosei-kai’s Great Sacred Hall