News Headlines

On February 14, the Soka Gakkai Women's Peace Committee hosted an event, attended by some 1,600 people both in-person and online, titled “Women’s Leadership Forum—I Will Change the Future ” in Tokyo. Naoe Yakiya, director of the UN Women Japan Liaison Office, gave a keynote lecture. She emphasized the importance of recognizing unconscious biases as well as those imposed by society and, regardless of gender, building allies to create an environment in which women can take up leadership roles and gender bias can be reduced. 

At the panel discussion that followed, Sachie Joto, founder of a children’s community cafeteria, graduate student in development economics Yuki Nihei and human rights educator Aiki Matsukura shared their diverse experiences and perspectives of leadership. Ms. Matsukura was featured in the Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators documentary.

On February 4, Soka Gakkai Vice President Hirotsugu Terasaki attended the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony in Abu Dhabi. Religious leaders from around the world also attended the ceremony. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that work to bridge divides and create human connection, contributing to human fraternity, coexistence and peace.

The day before the award ceremony, Mr. Terasaki met with Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, and delivered a letter for His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb from Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada. During their exchange, Judge Abdelsalam emphasized the importance of heart-to-heart exchanges between people.

On December 28, 2025, Soka Gakkai Indonesia opened a new center in Pagarawan Village on Bangka Island, off the east coast of Sumatra. The ceremony was attended by 115 people including Village Head Ahmad Zainudin, Soka Gakkai Indonesia members, local residents and guests. Village Head Zainudin shared his high expectations for the positive contributions the center would make to the local community.