Toda Josei

Religious leader. The second president of the Soka Gakkai. Born in Enuma County (Kaga City), Ishikawa Prefecture. His real name was Jinichi. In 1903 (Meiji 36), his family moved to Hokkaido. After graduating from elementary school, he self-studyed and became a teacher in Hokkaido. In 1920 (Taisho 9), he moved to Tokyo and studied under Makiguchi Tsunesaburo, an elementary school principal from Hokkaido, but later quit teaching and became involved in the management of the cram school "Jishu Gakkan" and publishing. In 1928 (Showa 3), he converted to Nichiren Shoshu and in 1930, he founded the "Soka Kyoiku Gakkai" with Makiguchi (the official founding ceremony was in 1937) and supported the dissemination of Makiguchi's Soka Kyoiku doctrine and the educational religion movement, but was arrested in 1943 in a case of suppression of the association. Still unwavering, he was released on bail in July 1945, just before Japan's defeat in World War II, and re-established the organization as Soka Gakkai, becoming its president in 1951. He developed a vitalist interpretation of the Lotus Sutra and a theory of merit, and promoted shakubuku (proselytizing), or religious evangelism, in an organized manner. He also published the "Obutsu Myogo Theory" and the "Declaration for the Abolition of Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs," which established the ideals for the organization's political and social activities, and built the foundation for its subsequent development.

[Takeshi Nakano June 19, 2018]

"Complete Works Publishing Committee, ed., 'Complete Works of Josei Toda,' 9 volumes (1981-1990, Seikyo Shimbunsha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

宗教家。創価学会第2代会長。石川県江沼郡（加賀市）に生まれる。本名は甚一。1903年（明治36）一家は北海道に移住。尋常小学校卒業後、独学で小学校准訓導の資格を取得し北海道で教員となる。1920年（大正9）上京し、北海道出身の小学校校長牧口常三郎(まきぐちつねさぶろう)を頼って師事したが、のちに教員を辞め学習塾「時習学館」の経営や出版業などに携わる。1928年（昭和3）日蓮正宗(にちれんしょうしゅう)に入信し、1930年に「創価教育学会」を牧口と設立（正式な発会式は1937年）して彼の創価教育学説の普及と教育宗教運動を援助したが、1943年同会の弾圧事件で検挙された。不退転のまま第二次世界大戦の敗戦直前の1945年7月に保釈出所した彼は、同会を創価学会として再建し、1951年（昭和26）会長となった。『法華経(ほけきょう)』の生命論的解釈や功徳(くどく)論を展開して折伏(しゃくぶく)＝布教を組織的に推進したほか、「王仏冥合(おうぶつみょうごう)論」や「原水爆禁止宣言」を発表して同会の政治的・社会的活動を理念づけ、その後の発展の基盤を築いた。

［中野　毅　2018年6月19日］

『全集出版委員会編『戸田城聖全集』全9巻（1981～1990・聖教新聞社）』

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