I’ll start writing book upon book and with the royalties we’ll build an internationally acclaimed school.

(1960) Mineko listened as Shin’ichi spoke, and then remarked in a concerned tone: “Building a school costs a lot of money. The Gakkai doesn’t have the funds for such a project, does it?” At the time, the Soka Gakkai did not have a strong financial base. It didn’t even have enough community centres for the members to adequately carry out their activities.

Shin’ichi smiled and said to Mineko: “Don’t worry. I’ll earn it. I’ll start writing book upon book and with the royalties we’ll build an internationally acclaimed school.”  When he shared his intention with the top Soka Gakkai leaders, however, he was given a cold reception. “Starting a school is a major undertaking,” they said. “The financial situation of the Gakkai is very tight, and construction of temples and community centres is behind schedule. We simply don’t have the funds to build a school.”

Shin’ichi vision was limitless. “In the future, I would like to establish an elementary school and a kindergarten, and I intend to build schools in places other than Tokyo as well.”

Shin’ichi thought ahead to the 21st century as he spoke. “The value-creating education that President Makiguchi left to us is a great spiritual legacy of humanity. It is not just for the Japanese, but for people the world over. I don’t know when, but I am also determined to someday found a Soka University in the United States that will produce outstanding humanistic leaders dedicated to world peace. I regard education as my final undertaking.”

Soka schools were eventually established around the world.