The religious corporation Nichiren Shoshu wishes to state its opinion on the viability of Soka Gakkai as a religious corporation. As explained below, Nichiren Shoshu believes that the religious corporation Soka Gakkai is unqualified to hold that status as per the provisions of Japan's Religious Corporation Law.
1. The Soka Gakkai Acquired Corporate Status on Exceptional Grounds
Soka Gakkai was inaugurated as the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai ("Value-Creating Educational Society") and later became a lay organization of Nichiren Shoshu believers. The group was reinaugurated in 1945 as Soka Gakkai ("Value-Creation Society") and, with the enactment of the Religious Corporation Law, was specially authorized as a religious corporation by the governor of Tokyo on August 27, 1952. The Soka Gakkai's registration as a religious corporation was completed on the following September 8 under exceptional conditions, i.e., despite its being a lay organization of Nichiren Shoshu, another duly incorporated religious entity.
At that time, Soka Gakkai purported that it had been, in the words of its second president Josei Toda, "established as a religious corporation on the premise that Soka Gakkai is an organization of believers within the Nichiren Shoshu sect" whose purpose is to "protect and spread the Buddhism of Nichiren Shoshu as a lay organization and to work for its prosperity" (Kaitei-ban, Soka Gakkai Nyumon ["Introduction to Soka Gakkai, revised edition"], Josei Toda; page 321).
2. The Soka Gakkai is a Lay Organization with No Doctrine of Its Own
When Soka Gakkai's third president, Daisaku Ikeda, now the absolute leader of the organization, was installed as president on May 3, 1960, he affirmed that Soka Gakkai was a lay organization within Nichiren Shoshu. "It goes without saying," he declared, "that Soka Gakkai is an organization of Nichiren Shoshu believers" (Kaicho Koen-Shu ["Collection of Lectures by the President"] Vol. 1, p.1). He stated unequivocally that "Soka Gakkai has advanced . . . with the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu as its foundation" (Seikyo Shimbun, (Soka Gakkai's daily newspaper), May 15, 1983).
Further evidence that Soka Gakkai has traditionally characterized itself as a Nichiren Shoshu lay organization can be found in statements made by Einosuke Akiya, Soka Gakkai's current president. In a panel discussion entitled Soka Gakkai ni Tou ("Ask Soka Gakkai") that appeared in Chuo Koron, a prestigious magazine, he clarified that Soka Gakkai is an organization of lay believers of the Nichiren Shoshu school, saying "Soka Gakkai is a group of Nichiren Shoshu believers." He furthermore made clear that Soka Gakkai has no independent doctrine. His exact words appear on page 290 of the August 1962 special issue, where he elaborated:
"Soka Gakkai is an organization made up of people gathered together in their belief in the faith of Nichiren Shoshu. There are temples affiliated with Nichiren Shoshu throughout Japan, and our members all belong to the congregations of one or another of these temples. Let me explain this simply: temples often have associations (Ko) affiliated with them that are made up of believers who gather to study and polish their faith. Ours is such an organization on a national scale; so Soka Gakkai itself has no doctrine of its own."
This statement means that the object of worship and doctrine that Soka Gakkai provides for itself in Article 3 (Purpose) of the organization's bylaws are exclusively those of Nichiren Shoshu. Article 3 stipulates,
"[Soka Gakkai] takes as its object of worship the DaiGohonzon of the True Sanctuary established by Nichiren Daishonin and follows the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu."
The object of worship indicated here is the one enshrined at Taisekiji Temple, the Head Temple of Nichiren Shoshu, and the doctrine to which the Article refers is that intrinsic to Nichiren Shoshu. This object of worship and this doctrine are those of the religious corporation Nichiren Shoshu and the religious corporations incorporated and operated under its auspices.
On this point, Dr. Inoue Egyo, who was involved in the drafting, enactment, and administration of the Religious Organizations Law, the Religious Corporations Ordinance, and the Religious Corporation Law during his tenure with the Ministry of Education's Bureau of Religious Affairs, wrote that "Soka Gakkai is not a religious organization as defined by the Religious Corporation Law, and Soka Gakkai has itself explained that it cannot be a religious organization as defined by the Law" (Shukyo Hojin Ho no Kisoteki Kenkyu ["A Basic Study of the Religious Corporation Law"], p.335). Dr. Inoue clearly states that Soka Gakkai is merely one of several Nichiren Shoshu lay organizations (a so-called Ko), and that inasmuch as it lacks its own "religious doctrine," a requisite for qualification as a religious organization, it cannot become a religious corporation.
Article 12, Paragraph 1, No. 1 (Purpose) of the Religious Corporation Law defines the purpose of organizations incorporated under this law as follows:
"The purpose of any religious organization, when incorporated, shall be the dissemination of its religious doctrine, the performance of ceremonies and rituals, and the religious instruction of believers. However, this purpose is a compendium of general requirements by which the Religious Corporation Law defines a religious organization."
Consequently, as per the rule that "the activities and work undertaken to achieve the religious purpose, which is the main purpose of the religious organization itself, and other purposes, should be specifically spelled out" (Dr. Omiya Sosaku, Shukyo Hojin Ho Genron ["Principles of the Religious Corporation Law"], p. 93). Soka Gakkai has defined its purpose in Article 3 (Purpose) of its bylaws, which provides that it "follows the doctrine of Nichiren Shoshu."
In essence, the wording of Article 3 determines that the Soka Gakkai must carry out religious activities that "follow the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu," and clearly expresses that, in substance, Soka Gakkai is an internal Nichiren Shoshu organization of persons who believe in Nichiren Shoshu.
In recent years, Soka Gakkai has, however, distinctly deviated from the doctrinal faith of Nichiren Shoshu, and has made no move to correct its deviations despite repeated admonishments. Soka Gakkai was consequently excommunicated by Nichiren Shoshu on November 28, 1991, and is no longer an organization of believers affiliated with Nichiren Shoshu.
Thus Soka Gakkai has lost one of the structural requirements of a religious organization as provided by the Religious Corporation Law in Article 2, i.e., that a religious organization shall "disseminate its religious doctrine." Having lost its affiliation to the body whose doctrine it purports to disseminate, it clearly fails to meet the requirements of a religious organization incorporated under the Religious Corporation Law.
Despite Soka Gakkai's excommunication from Nichiren Shoshu, the wording in Article 3 of its bylaws remains unchanged. It still reads, "[Soka Gakkai] follows the doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu, propagating [Nichiren Shoshu's] teachings and performing its ceremonies and rituals."
The recent revisions to the Religious Corporation Law have placed the religious corporation Soka Gakkai under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Education, so it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the governor of Tokyo. Nichiren Shoshu therefore strongly requests the Minister of Education to take speedy action to disband the religious corporation Soka Gakkai. If this cannot be done, Nichiren Shoshu requests that the Minister at least take measures to have Soka Gakkai's bylaws altered to reflect its dissociation from Nichiren Shoshu.
Respectfully submitted on this day, November 18, 1996
Abe Nikken, representative director (Chief Director) [official seal affixed]
Fujimoto Nichijun, executive director (General Administrator) [official seal affixed]Yoshida Nichiyu, executive director (Director) [official seal affixed]
Nichiren Shoshu, a religious corporation 2057 Kamijo Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
Names and seals of 720 other signatories appended.