May 21, 2008
One Thousand Books Published Abroad
The number of different language editions of Daisaku Ikeda's works published outside of Japan has increased to 1,000, indicating the growing interest in his works worldwide. The book most recently translated and published is Josei ni okuru kotoba sanbyaku-rokuju-go-nichi (tentative translation: 365 Daily Quotations for Women), translated into traditional Chinese and published by Commercial Press (Hong Kong). The book consists of short passages, encouraging quotations from Mr. Ikeda's various speeches and articles of particular relevance to women.
Other books recently translated and published abroad include The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, Volume 1 and The New Human Revolution, Volume 9, published in English by Eternal Ganges, India; Wonderful Encounters: Recollections of Meetings with Unforgettable People Around the World, published in simplified Chinese by Soka Gakkai Malaysia; and A Dialogue between East and West--Looking to a Human Revolution, a dialogue with Club of Rome Honorary President Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner, published in English by I. B. Tauris, London.
The first book by Mr. Ikeda to be translated and published abroad was The Human Revolution, a novelized account of Soka Gakkai's history. On December 2, 1964, Mr. Ikeda wrote the now famous first lines of the novel: "Nothing is more barbarous than war. Nothing is more cruel."
Mr. Ikeda says of his zeal for writing: "Though it has always been a passion, I would say writing, particularly as I grew into adulthood, went beyond the exercise or even the personal satisfaction of the skills to write. It was increasingly aimed at encouraging young people, addressing life's problems and developing my thoughts on society and Buddhism. And so, writing became inseparable from my lifelong endeavors for peace."
Mr. Ikeda's writings span a broad range, from biographical essays of memorable individuals he has encountered, opinion editorials on social issues, university lectures, dialogues with world leaders, proposals on peace, education and the environment, children's books, poetry and advice on life for young people and adults. To date, Mr. Ikeda's books have been translated into some 40 languages and published in 50 countries.
[Adapted from an article in the May 21, 2008, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
