Jill Rees: Welcome Press

Reaching Out to the World

As I mentioned earlier, on April 24, 1979, I stepped down as the president of the Soka Gakkai. Doubtless you are all aware that behind this turn of events was a malicious plot engineered by a small group of individuals motivated by ambition and envy, individuals who made no attempt to understand my spirit as a person who had given his all to kosen-rufu.

           On returning home after the events of that infamous day when I was essentially forced out of office, my wife greeted me with her usual bright smile. Then she encouraged me warmly, saying: “Now you can visit members around the world,” “At last, you are free,” and “Now you can do your real work.”

            After the general meeting in Hachioji on May 3, which formally marked my stepping down, I didn’t return to the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Shinanomachi, but went to Kanagawa instead. From the Kanagawa Culture Center (in Yokohama), I gazed upon the clear blue sea that seemed to stretch out endlessly.

            The sea leads to all corners of the world. I decided to reach out to the world, too. I didn’t need to limit myself to the tiny nation of Japan. As Mr. Toda’s true disciple, sharing his convictions and vision, I would spread the waves of kosen-rufu throughout the world. That was my powerful determination.

            And today, the SGI network of peace and humanism has grown to encompass 190 countries and territories. World-renowned leaders and thinkers have expressed boundless hope and praise for the people’s movement of the SGI. The victory of the SGI has been my prayer and my victory. Thank you! I can’t tell you how happy I am.

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