Daisaku Ikeda, the former head of Soka Gakkai International, has died at the age of 95.
He was also the founder of the precursor to Japan's Komeito political party, the current government's junior coalition partner.
Ikeda was instrumental in the group's international expansion, which now claims a membership of over 8.27 million households worldwide.
Daisaku Ikeda, the former head and honorary president of Soka Gakkai International, a large Japanese Buddhist group, has passed away at the age of 95. Ikeda was instrumental in the group's international expansion, which now claims a membership of over 8.27 million households worldwide, including 2.8 million members in over 190 countries.
Ikeda joined Soka Gakkai at the age of 19 and became its third president in 1960. He was a prolific writer, publishing numerous books on Buddhism and engaging in dialogues with intellectuals. His leadership and influence extended beyond the religious sphere, as he was also the founder of the precursor to Japan's Komeito political party, the current government's junior coalition partner.
The Soka Gakkai organization has faced criticism for allegedly failing to separate religion and state since the creation of the Komeito political party in 1964. However, the organization has successfully sued several publications and individuals over allegations of wrongdoing by the group or Ikeda. The impact of Ikeda's death on the group's activities and the management of Komeito remains to be seen.
Ikeda led the group's international expansion and became the honorary president of its global wing, Soka Gakkai International, which claims 2.8 million members in over 190 countries.
The group has faced criticism for allegedly failing to separate religion and state since the creation of the Komeito political party in 1964.