Soka Gakkai Founded in 1930

The Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value Creation Education Society) was founded on November 18, 1930, by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda. Born in 1871, Makiguchi was an educator and author passionately dedicated to educational reform. The theory of Soka (value-creating) Education was first set out by Makiguchi in the book Value Creating Pedagogy, in which he voiced criticisms of the Japanese pre-war education system, many of which continue to be leveled today. Makiguchi asserted that the purpose of education is the development of the unique creative potential of each child - not the "manufacture" of obedient servants of the state. Makiguchi's relentless critique of existing philosophies in his search for a basis for his educational views eventually led him to take faith, in 1928, in the Buddhism of Nichiren. Josei Toda, a young teacher, had met Makiguchi around 1920 and joined his mentor in his conversion. The Soka Kyoiku Gakkai was founded in order to promote humanistic education based on Buddhist principles.