SPECIAL TALKS

To expand the horizon of the youths through words of wisdom from individuals from all fields, numerous talks have been organized in the recent years: 

“Global Citizen: Daisaku Ikeda as seen from a non-SGI Friend”  (10 January 1999)        
“In Pursuit of Peace, Culture and Education – the Tenets of the SGI”  (28 May 1999 ) both by Dr Alfred Balitzer
The Jewish professor who taught government studies at the Claremont Mckenna College in South California is active in humanist movement for peace and happiness.  The friendship between Dr Balitzer and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, has brought about many important events that champion the rights of humanity, among the, “The Courage to Remember: Anne Frank and the Holocaust Exhibition” shown in more that 40 locations around Japan.  At the talks, he reiterated to the some 900 present at each session, that peace and global citizenship, both the pursuits of the SGI and also of all humanity, starts from the heart and mind.  

“A Personal Perspective of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi’s
Theory of Value” by Professor Koichi Murao
8 September 1998   - “The true entity of life is manifested when one exerts himself in the struggle to create value everyday, month and year of his life and in his contribution of value to the society.”  This was a conclusion reached by Professor Murao, who teaches at Japan Ehime University’s Department of Agriculture, at the talk which aims at establishing the guideline and principle of life.

“The Relevance of Nichiren’s Rissho Ankoku Ron to the Modern World” by Dr Daniel Metraux
3 July 1998 - Professor of Asian Studies with Mary Baldwin College in the United States, Dr Metraux gave an objective evaluation of the goals and ideals of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), parent organization of SSA, and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.  He called upon the youth present to make the world a more peaceful, harmonious and beautiful pleace to live in the 21st century through applying the humanistic principles of Buddhism.

 “The Promise of Youth” by Dr Gwee Yee Hean
23 March 1998 - A well-known academic and educator, and former Honorary President of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Dr Gwee has great love and expectation of youth.  On this occasion, he emphasized on the importance of living one’s life, especially one’s youth, with great meaning and value, urging the some 800 present to become strong and capable youth who will lead others to the great path of humanism.