On January 26, 1975, Soka Gakkai representatives from 51 countries and territories gathered on the island of Guam for the “First World Peace Conference” that inaugurated the international association, with Ikeda as its founding president. Describing his motivations for establishing the SGI, Ikeda writes, “Everything depends on the people. That is why it is vital to forge a growing network that brings people of goodwill and conscience together.”