“Ever since becoming acquainted with Mr Ikeda, I have felt like becoming his disciple.”

Hamid Shirvani, Former Provost and Executive Vice-President of Chapman University, USA

When I visited Japan in 1983, I had an opportunity to read the book about first Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi. I was so moved that I searched for Mr Makiguchi’s books and read them. I learned through reading the books on this Japanese educator that Mr Makiguchi’s disciple is second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda and Mr Toda’s disciple is Mr Ikeda.

I came to know Mr Ikeda’s connection with Mr Makiguchi. When I visited Soka University in 1998, I met Mr Ikeda for the first time in my life and was impressed by him. Ever since becoming acquainted with Mr Ikeda, I have felt like becoming his disciple. I also studied about the idea of global citizenship from Mr Ikeda’s books. I think it is Mr Ikeda who spearheads the dissemination of the concept of global citizenship throughout the world.