Peace Institutes Founded
Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue
(formerly the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century)
Daisaku Ikeda founded the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century in 1993 as part of his vision to support the establishment of a global network of individuals developing cultures of peace through dialogue and scholarship. The center was renamed the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue in 2009 (in a wish to reflect its "long-standing values and objectives as well as [a] profound respect for Mr. Ikeda and his inclusive, humanistic vision"). The center engages scholars, activists and social innovators in the search for the ideas and solutions that will assist in the peaceful evolution of humanity during the twenty-first century. Programs include public forums and scholarly seminars that are organized collaboratively and offer a range of perspectives on key issues in global ethics, including an annual forum for intercultural dialogue. The center’s books on education and the many dimensions of peace building have been used in more than 900 college and university courses to date. [www.ikedacenter.org]
Toda Peace Institute
(formerly Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research)
Ikeda founded the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research in honor of his mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, and his vision of safeguarding the peace of all humanity. Renamed Toda Peace Institute in 2017, the institute brings together peace researchers, policymakers and community activists in the promotion of conflict resolution and peace initiatives at local, national and regional levels. Its activities focus on:
- Human Security and Global Governance
- Nonviolence and Peacebuilding
- Arms Control and Disarmament
- Mediation, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation
- Religion and Peacebuilding
- Music, Arts and Peace
[www.toda.org]
Min-On Concert Association
Daisaku Ikeda founded the Min-On Concert Association to promote international cultural exchange and peace through music. As Ikeda has written: "Music speaks directly to the heart. This response, this echo within the heart, is proof that human hearts can transcend the barriers of time and space and nationality. Exchanges in the field of culture can play an important role in enabling people to overcome mistrust and prejudice and build peace." In February 2015, the Min-On Music Research Institute was launched to investigate how music can contribute to peacebuilding from the perspectives of psychology, sociology, education and ecology.
Another mandate of Min-On--which is short for minshu ongaku, or "music for the people"--is to offer all people the opportunity to enjoy the world's finest music and performing arts at affordable prices. Perhaps the largest private, non-profit performing arts promoter of its kind in the world today, Min-On is supported by a membership of one million and has conducted exchanges with over 100 countries. Min-On also sponsors the Tokyo International Music Competition and organizes free concerts for schools.
The Min-On Culture Center in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, houses the Min-On Music Museum with a library containing over 120,000 LPs and CDs, 45,000 music scores and about 30,000 reference books. The museum also has on display a collection of antique pianos and music boxes, and folk instruments from around the world. [www.min-on.org]
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
The Tokyo Fuji Art Museum is another initiative of Daisaku Ikeda, together with the Min-On Concert Association, to harness the power of culture for the promotion of peace. Originally established in Shizuoka and now based in Tokyo, the museum has a collection of some 30,000 artworks from various periods and cultures. The museum collaborates with museums around the world to host exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. In 1990, it received an official commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. [www.fujibi.or.jp/en/]
