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News Headlines

News Highlights from Seikyo Shimbun
(the Soka Gakkai's daily newspaper)

  • Toda Peace Institute Holds Seminar on New Agenda for Peace Global Four panelists on stage in front of an audience seated at tables. The panel discussion [© Seikyo Shimbun] Toda Peace Institute Holds Seminar on New Agenda for Peace Global:

    On February 21, the Toda Peace Institute held a public seminar titled “A New Agenda for Peace: Turning the World Away from War” in Tokyo, which was also livestreamed. The newly appointed director of the institute, Stein Tønnesson, a Norwegian scholar in peace research and history, delivered opening remarks. At the first session, which was on peace and security, Senior Research Fellows Kai He and Keith Krause discussed the problematics of polarization by large nations and emphasized that collective action through coordination and cooperation among small and medium-sized states plays a major role in peace and stability. The Toda Peace Institute was founded by President Daisaku Ikeda in 1996.

  • Women’s Leadership Forum Held in Tokyo Japan Four seated women facing an audience. [© Seikyo Shimbun] Women’s Leadership Forum Held in Tokyo Japan:

    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. 

  • Buddhist Study Exams Held in Peru Peru Many people in a hall seated at desks taking exams. Taking the exams at the PSGI Culture Center in Lima [© Seikyo Shimbun] Buddhist Study Exams Held in Peru Peru:

    On February 1, over 900 people took introductory and elementary level Buddhist study exams at 20 venues across Peru. They began studying for the exams in July 2025. The introductory level exams covered Nichiren’s writing "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life" (WND-1, p.216) and the basics of Nichiren Buddhism. The elementary level exam focused on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.