Jōsei Toda
Jōsei Toda (戸田 城聖, Toda Jōsei, 11 February 1900 – 2 April 1958) was a teacher, peace activist and second president of Soka Gakkai from 1951 to 1958. Imprisoned for two years during World War II under violating the Peace Preservation Law and the charge of lèse-majesté from against the war, he emerged from prison intent on rebuilding the Soka Gakkai. He has been described as the architect of the Soka Gakkai, the person chiefly responsible for its existence today.
Jōsei Toda | |
|---|---|
Toda in May 1951 | |
| 2nd President of Soka Gakkai | |
| In office 3 May 1951 - 2 April 1958 | |
| Preceded by | Tsunesaburō Makiguchi |
| Succeeded by | Daisaku Ikeda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 February 1900 Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | 2 April 1958 (aged 58) Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Resting place | Jozai-ji Temple, Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima, Japan (1958–2000) Taiseki-ji Head Temple by Gojunoto Pagoda, (left frontside) Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan (since 2001–Present) |
| Alma mater | |
Toda was the disciple of Tsunesaburō Makiguchi and mentor of Daisaku Ikeda, respectively the first and third presidents of the Soka Gakkai. He used the term "human revolution" to embrace Makiguchi's thoughts on the pursuits of education and happiness in life as "inextricably connected in a lifelong journey toward continual self-development." Toda's leadership in building the Soka Gakkai is the theme of Ikeda's 12-volume roman à clef, "The Human Revolution" ("Ningen kakumei")