News Headlines

On September 9, the Soka Gakkai donated five million yen (US$33,928) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), contributing to humanitarian assistance for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of the Sudan. Driven by ongoing conflict, the number of internally displaced people in both countries is increasing and, particularly with regard to Sudan, an outbreak of cholera is further exacerbating the situation. UNHCR Japan Representative Fumiko Kashiwa received the donation at a meeting with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada at the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Tokyo. Ms. Kashiwa expressed her gratitude for the donation and for the Soka Gakkai's long-standing support for UNHCR's work.  

On September 6, the eighth Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting was held at the Tokyo Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo. Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada and Masami Nasu, Women’s Division leader for Japan, attended the meeting along with 260 youth leaders from 60 countries and territories who were visiting Japan for a training course. From India, Surabhi Bhandari, the young women’s division leader of Bharat Soka Gakkai, shared her faith experience. In his speech, President Harada talked about his August visit to the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation at the International Islamic University Malaysia (ISTAC-IIUM) and encouraged all present at the meeting to sincerely engage in dialogue with others.     

On September 3, the Soka Gakkai donated two million yen (US$13,460) to Peace Winds Japan, contributing to humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Peace Winds Japan CEO Kensuke Onishi received the donation at a meeting with Soka Gakkai Peace Committee Chair Tomohiko Aishima. Peace Winds Japan is collaborating with other groups and local stakeholders to provide food and water to those in need. This builds on donations made by the Soka Gakkai toward humanitarian aid for people in Gaza in December 2023 and January 2025.

On August 29, the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kazakhstan, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI) and the Qazaq Nuclear Frontline Coalition (QNFC) co-organized an event titled “The Role of Youth in Supporting Global Hibakusha.” Held at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan, the event marked the International Day against Nuclear Tests.

Representatives of SGI youth presented the results of the Youth Peace Awareness Survey on nuclear abolition that was administered in Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Marshall Islands and the United States by the five organizations between January 6 and August 9. The results showed that respondents who had heard testimonies of those affected by the use, production or testing of nuclear weapons were more likely to take action toward nuclear abolition than those who had not.

Anvar Milzatillayev, counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Tokyo, and Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, UNU rector and under-secretary-general of the United Nations, both spoke at the event, which also included a panel discussion.  

On August 17, Soka Gakkai Zambia held a general meeting at its Grand Culture Centre in the capital Lusaka. During the meeting, new leadership appointments were announced, including Juliet Tembo as headquarters leader and Abbie Mwembela as vice headquarters leader. Three members shared their faith experiences, and Masumi Odari, advisor for East Africa, and Ms. Tembo addressed the meeting.      

On August 9, Singapore held its annual National Day Parade at the Padang, a national recreation field, celebrating the 60th year of the country’s independence. Some 600 Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS) members performed in the second act titled "Our Future, Our Aspirations." This marked the 40th time that SGS members have participated in the parade since 1981. The event was attended by 27,000 people including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

On August 26, SGS held a leaders meeting at its headquarters to mark the 30th anniversary of President Daisaku Ikeda’s second visit to Singapore. The meeting was attended by some 1,200 SGS members and leaders from Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan. Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada, SGI Vice President Yoshiki Tanigawa and Ms. Kimiko Nagaishi, women’s division general leader in Japan, also attended the meeting.