June 2022 Activity Book

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Let's now play a popular Japanese puzzle game - SUDOKU! It's on page 12 of our April 2022 PAG-ASA! Can you solve the puzzle? Let's go!

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Mr. Makiguchi spent most of his life as a primary school teacher. He served as the principal in many different elementary schools, even in some of the poorest areas of Tokyo. From his experiences, he was able to see what was wrong with the educational system back then. During those times, students were not given the chance to think freely and creatively. This was Mr. Makiguchi’s vision – he wanted students to be able to create value and happiness in their lives through their education.

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The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) has always given much importance to education. And one of our first mentors (or teachers) in Soka Gakkai is none other than our first Soka Gakkai President Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi.

Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was born on June 6, 1871 in the present Niigata Prefecture in Japan. Even as a young boy, he read and studied a lot. Through his efforts, he was able to enter the Hokkaido Normal School where he trained to become a teacher.

Let's get our April 2022 PAG-ASA and turn to page 10 and 11 to read some guidance from our mentor, Daisaku Ikeda!

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Learning Gongyo

Let's continue practicing the Juryo Chapter! For this month, let's start from 6:32 - 7:26,

When he was 57 years old, he was introduced to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. He immediately embraced this new philosophy since its teachings were very similar to his own ideals about education.

Shortly after taking faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, Mr. Makiguchi and his disciple Mr. Josei Toda established an organization called ‘Soka Kyoiku Gakkai’, or the ‘Value Creating Educational Society.’ Through this organization, Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda continued to share their vision on education as well as Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

President Toda (Left) &amp; President Makiguchi (Right) [Photo from sokaglobal.org]

LETTER U U is for Unity, when we all work as one. With the same goal in mind, we can get so much done! In some ways we're different, in others, the same. Let's join all together, with peace as our aim!

LETTER V V is for Victory, for winning each day. "Never give up!" whether it's work or it's play. Fighting our doubts before they defeat us. Opening our hearts as each challenge meets us.

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Teaching Others Like Nichiren Daishonin Did

Nichiren Daishonin was the first person to teach other people about Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. However, during his time 750 years ago, no one else chanted. Many people did not want to listen to him, and they persecuted him for it.&nbsp;

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As a member of the Boys and Girls Division of SGI, I will strive to:

✔ Try my best to do Gongyo and Daimoku everyday

✔ Believe in myself, and never give up on anything!!!

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Let's have a break first.. It's time for..

Fathers Day  Word Search

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(ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IS NOT TO BE RECORDED, SCREEN SHOT, PRINTED OR SHARED PUBLICLY)

LETTER W W is for Wisdom, which comes from inside. The power to know and to learn and decide. We try to grow wisdom, like growing a plant -- The acorn becomes a big oak as we chant.

Even with this, Nichiren Daishonin never gave up. He believed with all his heart that Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the way for people to attain true happiness. Because he strongly believed in the power of chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, he wanted to share this to everyone else so that everyone can become happy. We can also be like Nichiren Daishonin by teaching others how to chant. By doing this, we will be helping others to be happy, and we will help attain Kosen-rufu or world peace.

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In celebration of Father's Day, what song would you like to dedicate for your father?

Because their ideas were contradicting those of the then Japanese military government, they were both imprisoned and they were asked to give up their beliefs.&nbsp;Mr. Makiguchi, who was already old then, died in prison. But he did not let go of his beliefs until the very end.

When Mr. Toda was released a few years after, he continued the legacy of his mentor, Mr. Makiguchi. He re-established the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai and renamed it into ‘Soka Gakkai.’

So, this is the story of the life of Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a value-creating educator, and the first president of the Soka Gakkai.

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