Norwegian Peace Scholars Visit Soka Gakkai Headquarters

Japan 2023
Three men seated in chairs having a lively conversation
Professor Alexander Harang (left) and Dr. Asle Toje (right) with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada (in the foreground) [© Seikyo Shimbun]

On June 21, two Norwegian peace scholars, Dr. Asle Toje and Professor Alexander Harang of International Peace and Understanding, visited the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. They met with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada and Vice President Hirotsugu Terasaki and discussed the role of the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) in raising awareness of issues around nuclear disarmament at this time of rising tensions and President Daisaku Ikeda’s call for No First Use. On June 23, the two scholars gave lectures at a peace forum hosted by Soka Gakkai youth members in Okinawa. The lecture marked the 78th anniversary of Okinawa Memorial Day, a day commemorating the lives lost during the Battle of Okinawa.