“I’ll continue to protect you even after you leave here….”

Kyoko Kojima, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Kochi University; first graduating class of Kansai Soka Junior High School

April 1973. The first entrance ceremony. “The new school has just embarked. It is as completely blank as photo-sensitive paper,” founder Ikeda told the first students including Kyoko Kojima. “You will project various images onto this blank paper, and thus pictures of the school will be created.” Photosensitive paper cannot be developed without light. The light was the founder. The images were unforgettable.

One day, the door of a classroom opened and Mr Ikeda walked in. He wrote encouragements with chalk on the blackboard. Another day, he played tennis with students. He didn’t hold back because they were children. He smashed strong balls. After the games, he gave out coins, saying, “It’s late. Call home. Never make your parents worry.”

On another occasion, he said, ”You are always on my mind. I’m here to protect you. I’ll continue to protect you even after you leave here. That is what the founder should do.” The ties between an educational “father” and students were strengthened.