Daisaku Ikeda


Daisaku Ikeda is a Japanese Buddhist philosopher, educator, author, and nuclear disarmament advocate. He has served as the third president and then honorary president of the Soka Gakkai, the largest of Japan's new religious movements. Ikeda is the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International, the world's largest Buddhist lay organization, which declares approximately 12 million practitioners in 192 countries and territories, of whom more than 1.5 million reside outside of Japan as of 2012.
Ikeda was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1928, to a family of seaweed farmers. He survived the devastation of World War II as a teenager, which he said left an indelible mark on his life and fueled his quest to solve the fundamental causes of human conflict. At age 19, Ikeda began practicing Nichiren Buddhism and joined a youth group of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist association, which led to his lifelong work developing the global peace movement of SGI and founding dozens of institutions dedicated to fostering peace, culture and education. His accomplishments are honored internationally through several accolades. However, he aroused controversies for some decades in Japan, particularly concerning his political involvment.
In the 1960s, Ikeda worked to reopen Japan's national relations with China and also to establish the Soka education network of humanistic schools from kindergartens through university level, while beginning to write what would become his multi-volume historical novel, The Human Revolution, about the Soka Gakkai's development during his mentor Josei Toda's tenure. In 1975, he established the Soka Gakkai International, and throughout the 1970s initiated a series of citizen diplomacy efforts through international educational and cultural exchanges for peace. Since the 1980s, he has increasingly called for nuclear disarmament. Ikeda's vision for the SGI has been described by Olivier Urbain, then director of the Toda Peace Institute founded by Ikeda, as a "borderless Buddhist humanism that emphasizes free thinking and personal development based on respect for all life."
By 2015, Ikeda had published more than 50 dialogues with scholars, peace activists and leading world figures. In his role as SGI president, Ikeda has visited 55 nations and spoken on subjects including peace, environment, economics, women's rights, interfaith dialogue and Buddhism and science. Every year on the anniversary of the SGI's founding, 26 January, Ikeda submits a peace proposal to the United Nations.

Early life and background

Ikeda was born in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, on 2 January 1928. Ikeda had four older brothers, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. His parents later adopted two more children, for a total of 10 children. Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Ikeda family had successfully farmed nori, edible seaweed, in Tokyo Bay. By the turn of the twentieth century, the Ikeda family business was the largest producer of nori in Tokyo. However, after the devastation of the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the family's enterprise was left in ruins, and by the time Ikeda was born, his family was financially struggling.
In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted, and Ikeda's eldest brother, Kiichi, was drafted into military service. Within a few years, Ikeda's three other elder brothers were drafted as well. In 1942, while all of his older brothers were overseas in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II, Ikeda's father, Nenokichi, fell ill and was bedridden for two years. To help to support his family, at the age of 14, Ikeda began working in the Niigata Steelworks munitions factory as part of Japan's wartime youth labor corps.
In May 1945, Ikeda's home was destroyed by fire during an Allied air raid, and his family was forced to move to the Ōmori area of Tokyo. In May 1947, after having received no word from his eldest brother, Kiichi, for several years, the Ikeda family, particularly his mother, was informed by the Japanese government that he had been killed in action in Burma.
In August 1947, at the age of 19, Ikeda was invited by an old friend to attend a Buddhist discussion meeting. It was there that he met Josei Toda, the second president of Japan's Soka Gakkai Buddhist organization. As a result of this encounter, Ikeda began practicing Nichiren Buddhism and joined the Soka Gakkai. He regarded Toda as his spiritual mentor and became a charter member of the group's youth division, later stating that Toda influenced him through "the profound compassion that characterized each of his interactions."

Career

Shortly after the end of World War II, in January 1946, Ikeda gained employment with the Shobundo Printing Company in Tokyo. In March 1948, Ikeda graduated from Toyo Trade School and the following month entered the night school extension of Taisei Gakuin where he majored in political science. During this time, he worked as an editor of the children's magazine Shonen Nihon, which was published by one of Josei Toda's companies. Over the next several years, between 1948 and 1953, Ikeda worked for various Toda-owned enterprises, including the Nihon Shogakkan publishing company, the Tokyo Construction Trust credit association, and the Okura Shoji trading company.

Youth leadership

In 1953, at the age of 25, Ikeda was appointed as one of the Soka Gakkai's youth leaders. The following year, he was appointed as director of the Soka Gakkai's public relations bureau, and later became its chief of staff.
In April 1957, a group of young Soka Gakkai members in Osaka were arrested for allegedly distributing money, cigarettes and candies to support the political campaign of a local electoral candidate. Ikeda was later arrested and detained in jail for two weeks, charged with allegedly overseeing these activities. Ikeda's arrest came at a time when Soka Gakkai Buddhist candidates were achieving success at both national and local levels. With the growing influence of this liberal grassroots movement, factions of the conservative political establishment initiated a series of media attacks on the Soka Gakkai, culminating in Ikeda's arrest. After a lengthy court case that lasted until 1962, Ikeda was cleared of all charges. The Soka Gakkai characterized this as a triumph over corrupt tyranny, which galvanized its movement.

Soka Gakkai presidency

In May 1960, two years after Toda's death, Ikeda, then 32 years old, succeeded him as president of the Soka Gakkai. Soon after, Ikeda began to travel overseas to build connections between Soka Gakkai members living abroad and expand the movement globally. This growth and development was, in Ikeda's words, "Toda's will for the future." With his assumption of the Soka Gakkai presidency, Ikeda "continued the task begun by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi of fusing the ideas and principles of educational pragmatism with the elements of Buddhist doctrine."
While the Soka Gakkai saw its most dramatic growth after World War II under Toda's leadership, Ikeda led the international growth of the Soka Gakkai and turned it into what is considered the largest, most diverse international lay Buddhist association in the world. He reformed many of the organization's practices, including the aggressive conversion style for which the group had become known in Japan, and improved the organization's public image, though it was sometimes still viewed with suspicion in Japan.
By the 1970s, Ikeda's leadership had expanded the Soka Gakkai into an international lay Buddhist movement increasingly active in peace, cultural, and educational activities.In 1979, Ikeda resigned as president of the Soka Gakkai, accepting responsibility for the organization's purported deviation from Nichiren Shōshū priesthood doctrine and the accompanying conflict. Hiroshi Hōjō succeeded Ikeda as Soka Gakkai president, and Ikeda was made honorary president of the Soka Gakkai in Japan. Ikeda continues to be revered as the Soka Gakkai's spiritual leader.

Soka Gakkai International founding

On 26 January 1975, a world peace conference was held in Guam, where Soka Gakkai representatives from 51 countries created an umbrella organization for the growing network of members around the world. This became the Soka Gakkai International. Ikeda took a leading role in the global organization's development and became the founding president of the SGI. In his address to the assembly, Ikeda encouraged the representatives to dedicate themselves to altruistic action, stating "Please devote yourselves to planting seeds of peace throughout the world."
The SGI was created in part as a new international peace movement, and its founding meeting was held in Guam in a symbolic gesture referencing Guam's history as the site of some of World War II's bloodiest battles, and proximity to Tinian Island, launching place of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

Philosophy and beliefs

Ikeda's relationship with his mentor Jōsei Toda, and influence of Tsunesaburō Makiguchi's educational philosophy, shaped his emphasis on dialogue an education as fundamental to building trust between people and peace in society. This world view is informed by his belief that Buddhism essentially offers a spiritual dimension "where faith and human dignity intersect to promote positive change in society." He interprets the Middle Way as a path between idealism and materialism, an orientation that places "public interest, practical policy, morality and ethics at the forefront so that people can find prosperity and happiness...." Thus his emphasis on linking individual agency and empowerment with society's attainment of peace and happiness, most notably made in his multi-volume The New Human Revolution, revolves around and gives expression to the Buddhist view of life's inherent dignity.
Ikeda refers in several writings to the Nine Consciousness as an important conception for self-transformation, identifiying the ninth one, "amala-vijñāna", with the Buddha-nature. According to him, the "tranformation of the karma of one individual" can lead to the transformation of the entire society and humankind.
In 2018, the book Philosophy and Human Revolution: Essays in Celebration of Daisaku Ikeda’s 90th Birthday was published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing and presents several "philosophical papers" dedicated to the work of Daisaku Ikeda.

Political involvment and controversies

Ikeda's political involvment through the party Kōmeitō that he founded in the 1960s have raised controversies for several decades. Some critics blame his "far-reaching political ambitions" and there were some charges claiming that Ikeda controlled the Komeito.
In 1969 and 1970, there was a freedom of speech controversy about the intent to prevent the publication of Hirotatsu Fujiwara's polemical book I denounce Soka Gakkai that vehemently criticized Ikeda, Soka Gakkai and the Komeito. In his May 3, 1970 speech, addressing, among others, Soka Gakkai members, guests and news media, Ikeda responded to the controversy by: apologizing to the nation "for the trouble...the incident caused," affirming the Soka Gakkai's commitment to free speech and religious freedom, announcing a new policy of formal separation between the Soka Gakkai religious movement and Komeito, calling for both moderation in religious conversion practices and democratizing reforms in the Soka Gakkai, and envisioning a Buddhist-inspired humanism. Despite the formal separation, however, some authors consider that there is still a "strong link" and that the Komeito has remained the "political arm" of Soka Gakkai. In October 1982, Ikeda had to appear in court concerning three cases. In 1989 two senior Komeito officals denounced Ikeda's "dictatorial control" over the party.
Daniel Alfred Métraux, professor of Asian Studies, wrote in 1994 that Ikeda is "possibly one of the more controversial figures in Japan's modern history". In 1996, a Los Angeles Times article dealt with controversial aspects of ikeda: "Daisaku Ikeda, leader of the nation’s largest religious organization, has been condemned and praised as a devil and an angel, a Hitler and a Gandhi, a despot and a democrat".
According to the historian Lawrence Carter in 2003 : "Controversy is an inevitable partner of greatness. No one who challenges the established order is free of it. Gandhi had his detractors, as did Dr. King. Dr. Ikeda is no exception."

Legacy

Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai members had been excommunicated by Nikken Abe of the Nichiren Shōshū on. In a scholarly historical comparison to the Protestant Reformation, a key conflict between "priestly and pragmatic forms of religion" has been to "adapt or fail" in response to "great change" in society, and in this area Ikeda is credited with democratic and other structurally modernizing reforms that both appealed favorably within the SGI membership organizations and expanded its institutional programs in the areas of peace, culture and education.
Thus Ikeda's leadership "globalized the Soka Gakkai and harnessed its energy to goals that suited new generations in different cultures" and subsequently developed the SGI into a broad-based grassroots peace movement around the world. Ikeda is credited with having fostered among SGI members an ethos of social responsibility and a strong spirit of global citizenship.'
Ikeda's thoughts and work on a "Buddhist-based humanism" are situated within a broader tradition of East-West dialogue in search of humanistic ideals. In his biography of historian Arnold J. Toynbee, William McNeill describes the aim of the Toynbee-Ikeda dialogues as a "convergence of East and West," positing the pragmatic significance of which would be realized by the "flourishing in the Western world" of the Soka Gakkai organization.
Bilingual-bicultural education specialist Jason Goulah's research into transformative world language learning characterizes Ikeda's Buddhist-inspired refinement of Makiguchi's Soka education philosophy as an approach engendering a "world view of dialogic resistance" that responds to the limitations of a neoliberal world view of education. More than 40 research institutes and initiatives affiliated with universities, including Shanghai Sanda University and DePaul University, formally study Ikeda's philosophy.

Accomplishments

Central to Ikeda's activities, whether they be on an institutional level or as a private citizen, is his belief in "Buddhist principles... rooted in our shared humanity,... where faith and human dignity intersect to promote positive change in society." His view of a "Buddhist humanism," the fostering of mutual respect and dignity, emphasizes human agency to engage in dialogue.

Institutional engagement

Ikeda has founded a number of institutions to promote education in all its forms, cultural exchange and the exchange of ideas on peacebuilding through dialogue. They include: Soka University in Tokyo, Japan, and Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California; Soka kindergarten, primary and secondary schools in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brazil and Singapore; the Victor Hugo House of Literature, in the Île-de-France region of France; the International Committee of Artists for Peace in the United States; the Min-On Concert Association in Japan; the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum in Japan; the Institute of Oriental Philosophy in Japan with offices in France, Hong Hong, India, Russia and the United Kingdom; the Toda Peace Institute in Japan and the United States; and the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue in the United States.
From 1990, Ikeda partnered with Rabbi Abraham Cooper and the Simon Wiesenthal Center to address anti-Semitic stereotypes in Japan. In a 2001 interview, Rabbi Cooper recalled: "The only partners we found to help us bring our concerns to the Japanese public were people from Soka University under the leadership of Daisaku Ikeda. If you ask me who our best friend in Japan is, who 'gets it,' it is Ikeda. He was actually our first visitor to the Museum of Tolerance." Their friendship led to the joint development of a Japanese-language Holocaust exhibition The Courage to Remember, which was seen by more than two million people in Japan between 1994 and 2007. In 2015, a new version of the exhibit opened in Tokyo focusing on the bravery of Anne Frank and Chiune Sugihara.
Ikeda was an original proponent of the Earth Charter Initiative, co-founded by Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ikeda has included details of the Charter in many of his annual peace proposals since 1997. The SGI has supported the Earth Charter with production of global exhibitions including Seeds of Change in 2002 that traveled to 27 nations and Seeds of Hope in 2010, correlating with the Earth Charter-related documentary film, A Quiet Revolution, which the SGI has donated to schools and educational programs around the world.

Peace proposals

Since 26 January 1983, Ikeda has submitted annual peace proposals to the United Nations, addressing such areas as building a culture of peace, gender equality in education, empowerment of women, UN reform and universal human rights with a view on global civilization.
Ikeda's proposals for nuclear disarmament and abolishing nuclear weapons submitted to the special session of the UN General Assembly in 1978, 1982 and 1988 built on his mentor Josei Toda's 1957 declaration condemning such weapons of mass destruction as "an absolute evil that threatens the people's right of existence."In his 2015 peace proposal, he called on the international community for concerted multilateral action—"shared action"—for protecting human rights of displaced persons including refugees and migrants, ridding the world of nuclear weapons and constructing a global sustainable society. In his 2019 peace proposal, he advocated for multilateral support toward the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, renewed efforts based on Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to de-escalate tensions, and an international framework to ban lethal autonomous weapons.

Citizen diplomacy

Ikeda's work has been described by academics as citizen diplomacy for his contributions to diplomatic as well as intercultural ties between Japan and other countries, and more broadly between peoples of the world. Ikeda's dialogues with scholars, politicians, and cultural figures have increased awareness and support of humanitarian and peace activities, have facilitated deeper international relationships, and generated support for SGI-sponsored work on global issues including the environment and nuclear disarmament.
Academic researchers have suggested the body of literature chronicling Ikeda's diplomatic efforts and his more than 7,000 international dialogues provide readers with a personalized global education and model of citizen diplomacy and, from a scholarly view, represent "a new current in interculturalism and educational philosophy."
First in 1967 then several times in 1970, Ikeda met with Austrian-Japanese politician and philosopher Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder of the Paneuropean Movement. Their discussions which focused on East-West relations and the future of peace work were serialized in the 'Sankei Shimbun' newspaper in 1971. Between 1971 and 1974, Ikeda conducted multiple dialogues with Arnold J. Toynbee in London and Tokyo. The major topics of their meetings were published as the book Choose Life. In 1974, Ikeda conducted a dialogue with French novelist and Minister of Cultural Affairs Andre Malraux.
In September 1974, Ikeda visited the Soviet Union and met with Premier Alexei Kosygin. During their dialogue, Kosygin agreed with Ikeda, saying "We must abandon the very idea of war. It is meaningless. If we stop preparing for war and prepare instead for peace, we can produce food instead of armaments." He then asked Ikeda, "What is your basic ideology?" Ikeda replied, "I believe in peace, culture and education – the underlying basis of which is humanism." Kosygin said, "I have a high regard for those values. We need to realize them here in the Soviet Union as well."
In January 1975, Ikeda met with Henry Kissinger, the United States Secretary of State, to "urge the de-escalation of nuclear tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union." The same month Ikeda met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Kurt Waldheim. Ikeda presented Waldheim with a petition containing the signatures of 10,000,000 people calling for total nuclear abolition. The petition was organized by youth groups of the Soka Gakkai International and was inspired by Ikeda's longtime anti-nuclear efforts.
Ikeda's meetings with Nelson Mandela in the 1990s led to a series of SGI-sponsored anti-apartheid lectures, a traveling exhibit, and multiple student exchange programs at the university level.
Dialogues between Ikeda and Gorbachev, published in 2005 as Moral Lessons of the Twentieth Century, have been described as "erhaps the best starting point from which to examine the search for a new historicity" of the twentieth century and inform the basis of a new humanism in the twenty-first century.

Sino-Japanese relations

Ikeda made several visits to China and met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1974, though Sino-Japanese tensions remained over the brutalities of war waged by the Japanese militarists. The visits led to the establishment of cultural exchanges of art, dance and music between China and Japan and opened academic exchanges between Chinese educational institutions and Soka University. Chinese media describe Ikeda as an early proponent of normalizing diplomatic relations between China and Japan in the 1970s, citing his 1968 proposal that drew condemnation by some and the interest of others including Zhou Enlai. It was said that Zhou Enlai entrusted Ikeda with ensuring that "Sino-Japanese friendship would continue for generations to come."
Since 1975, cultural exchanges have continued between the Min-On Concert Association, founded by Ikeda, and institutions including the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. After Ikeda's 1984 visit to China and meetings with public figures including Chinese Communist Party Leader Hu Yaobang and Deng Yingchao, observers estimated that Ikeda's 1968 proposal moved Japanese public sentiment to support closer diplomatic ties with China and his cultivation of educational and cultural ties helped strengthen state relations.

Accolades

International awards

During a Turin Book Fair-hosted event concluding the 2018 five-day FIRMA-Faiths in Tune festival of religion, music and art, held in 2018 for the first time in Italy, an international jury presented a FIRMA award to Daisaku Ikeda "for his lifelong commitment to interreligious dialogue." Other international awards received by Ikeda include:
In 1999, the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel at Atlanta, Georgia-based Morehouse College established the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Institute for Ethics and Reconciliation as one of its programs to foster peace, nonviolence and reconciliation. In 2001, the Institute inaugurated the traveling exhibition Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace, to illustrate parallels in twentieth-century peace activism through the examples of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and Daisaku Ikeda; and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Prize, to recognize individuals whose actions for peace transcend cultural, national and philosophical boundaries. In 2015, the Community Builders Prize went to Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. at the Daisaku Ikeda Ecological Park visitor center in Londrina, Brazil
In 2000, the city of Londrina, Brazil honored Ikeda by naming a 300-acre nature reserve in his name. The Dr. Daisaku Ikeda Ecological Park is open to the public and its land, waterways, fauna and wildlife are protected by Brazil's Federal Conservation Law.
In 2014, the City of Chicago named a section of Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago "Daisaku Ikeda Way," with the Chicago City Council measure passing unanimously, 49 to 0.
The United States House of Representatives and individual states including Georgia, Missouri, and Illinois have passed resolutions honoring the service and dedication of Daisaku Ikeda as one "who has dedicated his entire life to building peace and promoting human rights through education and cultural exchange with deep conviction in the shared humanity of our entire global family." The state of Missouri praised Ikeda and his value of "education and culture as the prerequisites for the creation of true peace in which the dignity and fundamental rights of all people are respected."
The Club of Rome named Ikeda an honorary member, and Ikeda has received more than 760 honorary citizenships from cities and municipalities around the world.
At the International Day for Poets of Peace in February 2016, an initiative launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid World Peace Award, Daisaku Ikeda from Japan along with Kholoud Al Mulla from the UAE, K. Satchidanandan from India and Farouq Gouda from Egypt were named International Poets of Peace. In presenting the honors, Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan described the initiative as reinforcing "the idea that poetry, and literature in general, are a universal language that plays an important role in spreading the message of peace in the world," echoing the sentiments of Dr Hamad Al Shaikh Al Shaibani, chair of the World Peace Award's board of trustees, who cited the role of poets in "promoting a culture of hope and solidarity."

Academic honors

In November 2010, citing his peacebuilding efforts and promotion of cultural exchange and humanist education, the University of Massachusetts Boston bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Ikeda, marking the 300th such title conferred by higher learning institutions in more than 50 countries, which Ikeda accepted, he said, on behalf of SGI members and in recognition of their contributions to peace, culture and education. He received his first honorary doctorate in 1975 from Moscow State University.
NumberCountryInstitutionTitle conferredPlace and date
1USSRMoscow State Universityhonorary doctorateMay 1975
2PeruNational University of San Marcoshonorary professorshipApril 1981
3BulgariaSofia Universityhonorary doctorateMay 1981
4ChinaPeking Universityhonorary professorshipJune 1984
5ChinaFudan Universityhonorary professorshipJune 1984
6Dominican RepublicAutonomous University of Santo Domingohonorary professorshipFebruary 1987
7ArgentinaUniversity of Buenos Aireshonorary doctorateMarch 1990
8MexicoUniversity of Guanajuatohonorary doctorateMarch 1990
9ChinaWuhan Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1990
10MacauUniversity of Macauhonorary professorshipJanuary 1991
11PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippineshonorary doctorate of lawApril 1991
12ArgentinaUniversity of Palermo honorary doctorateMay 1991
13Hong KongChinese University of Hong Kongdistinguished visiting professorJanuary 1992
14TurkeyAnkara Universityhonorary doctorate of social scienceJune 1992
15ChinaChinese Academy of Social Scienceshonorary research professorOctober 1992
16KenyaUniversity of Nairobihonorary doctorate of lettersDecember 1992
17BrazilFederal University of Rio de Janeirohonorary doctorateFebruary 1993
18ArgentinaNational University of Lomas de Zamorahonorary doctorateFebruary 1993
19ArgentinaNational University of Lomas de Zamorahonorary professorship, faculty of lawFebruary 1993
20ArgentinaNational University of Córdobahonorary professorshipFebruary 1993
21ParaguayNational University of Asunciónhonorary doctorate of philosophyFebruary 1993
22BrazilUniversity of São Paulohonorary visiting professorFebruary 1993
23BrazilFederal University of Paranáhonorary doctorateMarch 1993
24BoliviaDel Valle Universityhonorary doctorateMarch 1993
25ChinaShenzhen Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1993
26ChinaXinjian Uygur Autonomous Region Museumhonorary professorshipJanuary 1994
27RussiaInternational University in Moscowhonorary doctorateMay 1994
28ItalyUniversity of Bolognahonorary doctorateJune 1994
29United KingdomUniversity of Glasgowhonorary doctorateJune 1994
30ChinaXinjiang Universityhonorary professorshipAugust 1994
31ChinaXiamen Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1994
32South AfricaUniversity of the Northhonorary doctorate of educationSeptember 1995
33NepalTribhuvan Universityhonorary doctorate of lettersNovember 1995
34MacauUniversity of Macauhonorary doctorate of social sciencesNovember 1995
35Hong KongUniversity of Hong Konghonorary doctorate of lettersMarch 1996
36ChinaXinjiang Universityhonorary presidentApril 1996
37United StatesUniversity of Denverhonorary doctorate of educationJune 1996
38CubaUniversity of Havanahonorary doctorate of lettersJune 1996
39GhanaUniversity of Ghanahonorary doctorate of lawAugust 1996
40RussiaFar Eastern State Universityhonorary doctorate of international educationNovember 1996
41ChinaZhongshan Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1996
42ChinaJilin Universityhonorary professorshipFebruary 1997
43PhilippinesDe La Salle Universityhonorary doctorate of humane letters March 1997
44Sri LankaUniversity of Kelaniyahonorary doctorate of lettersMay 1997
45ChinaShanghai Universityhonorary professorshipMay 1997
46ChinaInner Mongolia Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 1997
47MongoliaNational University of Mongoliahonorary doctorate of humanitiesNovember 1997
48PhilippinesUniversity of the City of Manilahonorary doctorate of humanitiesFebruary 1998
49ArgentinaUniversidad de Morónhonorary doctorateMarch 1998
50RussiaInstitute for High Energy Physicshonorary doctorateApril 1998
51BrazilRio de Janeiro State Universityhonorary doctorateApril 1998
52Republic of KoreaKyung Hee Universityhonorary doctorate of philosophyMay 1998
53Republic of KoreaChung Cheong Collegehonorary professorshipJuly 1998
54PeruRicardo Palma Universityhonorary doctorateJuly 1998
55PeruAssociation of Doctors of Educationhonorary doctorateJuly 1998
56ChinaYanbian Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1998
57ChinaNankai Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 1998
58BrazilNorthern Paraná Universityhonorary doctorateNovember 1998
59IndiaUniversity of Delhihonorary doctorate of lettersDecember 1998
60ArgentinaUniversity of Floreshonorary doctorateJanuary 1999
61ChinaSichuan Universityhonorary professorshipApril 1999
62PeruFederico Villarreal National Universityhonorary doctorateApril 1999
63Republic of KoreaCheju National Universityhonorary doctorate of Korean language and literatureMay 1999
64BoliviaUniversity of Santa Cruz de la Sierrahonorary doctorateJune 1999
65ChinaNortheastern Universityhonorary professorshipJuly 1999
66KyrgyzstanInstitute of Oriental Languages and Cultures, Kyrgyz State Pedagogical Universityhonorary professorshipAugust 1999
67PeruNational University of Central Peruhonorary doctorateSeptember 1999
68ChinaHunan Normal Universityhonorary professorshipSeptember 1999
69ArgentinaNational University of Lomas de Zamorahonorary professorship, faculty of social sciencesOctober 1999
70ArgentinaNational University of Comahuehonorary doctorateOctober 1999
71ChinaNanjing Universityhonorary professorshipDecember 1999
72RussiaSt. Petersburg State Universityhonorary doctorateJanuary 2000
73United StatesUniversity of Delawarehonorary doctorate of humane lettersTokyo, 16 January 2000
74United StatesQueens College, City University of New Yorkhonorary doctorate of humane lettersJanuary 2000
75Guam University of Guamhonorary doctorate of humane lettersJanuary 2000
76PhilippinesAngeles University Foundationhonorary doctorate of humanitiesFebruary 2000
77ChinaCentral University for Nationalitieshonorary professorshipFebruary 2000
78ChinaGuangdong University of Foreign Studieshonorary professorshipFebruary 2000
79ArgentinaNational University of Nordestehonorary doctorateFebruary 2000
80ChinaNortheast Normal Universityhonorary doctorateMarch 2000
81Sakha Republic Yakutsk State Universityhonorary professorshipMarch 2000
82El SalvadorLatin American Technical Universityhonorary doctorateApril 2000
83ChinaInner Mongolia Art Academypreeminent honorary professorApril 2000
84IndiaSri Sitaramdas Omkarnath Institute of Sanskrit Learninghonorary doctorate April 2000
85MongoliaMongolian Institute of Literature and Social Workhonorary rectorMay 2000
86ChinaBeijing Administrative Collegehonorary professorshipMay 2000
87ChinaYunnan Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2000
88ChinaSouth China Normal Universityhonorary professorshipAugust 2000
89IndiaBundelkhand Universityhonorary doctorate of lettersAugust 2000
90VenezuelaUniversity of Zuliahonorary doctorateSeptember 2000
91PanamaUniversity of Panamahonorary doctorateSeptember 2000
92IndiaBundelkhand Universityhonorary lifetime professor in the Ambedhar School of Social SciencesOctober 2000
93ThailandSiam Universityhonorary doctorate of public administrationNovember 2000
94TongaTonga Institute of Education and Tong Tonga Institute of Schinece and Technologyhonorary professorship of educationNovember 2000
95AustraliaUniversity of Sydneyhonorary doctorate of letters24 November 2000
96MalaysiaPutra University, Malaysiahonorary doctorate of lettersNovember 2000
97Hong KongChinese University of Hong Konghonorary doctorate of social science7 December 2000
98MongoliaMongolian University of Arts and Culturehonorary doctorateDecember 2000
99IndiaPurvanchal Universityhonorary doctorate of lettersJanuary 2001
100ChinaGuangdong Province Academy of Social Scienceshonorary professorshipFebruary 2001
101ChinaNorthwest Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2001
102ChinaAnhui Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2001
103Puerto RicoCarlos Albizu Universityhonorary doctorate of humane letters in behavioral sciencesMay 2001
104MongoliaKharakhorum Universityhonorary doctorateMay 2001
105ChinaFujian Normal Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2001
106ChinaHuaqiao Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2001
107ChinaJinan Universityhonorary professorshipJuly 2001
108Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Northern Marianas Collegehonorary professorshipJuly 2001
109ChinaSoochow Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2001
110ChinaLiaoning Normal Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2001
111PhilippinesUniversity of Southern Philippines Foundationhonorary doctorate of humanitiesOctober 2001
112ChinaGuangzhou Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 2001
113Republic of KoreaKyongju Universityhonorary professorshipDecember 2001
114Republic of KoreaChangwon National Universityhonorary doctorate of educationDecember 2001
115KazakhstanInternational Kazakh-Turkish Universityhonorary professorshipDecember 2001
116Dominican RepublicSantiago Technical Universityhonorary doctorateFebruary 2002
117UzbekistanNational Institute of Arts and Design honorary professorshipFebruary 2002
118ChinaLiaoning Academy of Social Sciencessenior research professorMarch 2002
119PhilippinesGregorio Araneta University Foundationhonorary doctorate of humanitiesMarch 2002
120CambodiaRoyal University of Phnom Penhhonorary professorshipMarch 2002
121ChinaLiaoning Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2002
122United StatesMorehouse Collegehonorary doctorate of humane lettersApril 2002
123ChinaQingdao Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2002
124IndiaChhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj Universityhonorary doctorate of lettersApril 2002
125KenyaKenyatta Universityhonorary doctorate of humane lettersMay 2002
126ChinaHeilongjiang Academy of Social Scienceshonorary professorshipMay 2002
127RussiaMoscow State Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2002
128ChinaNanjing Normal Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2002
129Republic of KoreaSorabol Collegehonorary professorshipJune 2002
130IndiaHimachal Pradesh Universityhonorary doctorate of literatureAugust 2002
131ChinaRenmin University of Chinahonorary professorshipSeptember 2002
132ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology of Chinahonorary professorshipOctober 2002
133ChinaZhejiang Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 2002
134MongoliaShihihutung Law Schoolhonorary doctorateNovember 2002
135UkraineKyiv National University of Trade and Economics honorary doctorateNovember 2002
136Republic of KoreaDong-A Universityhonorary doctorate of philosophyDecember 2002
137ChinaShanghai International Studies Universityhonorary professorshipDecember 2002
138ChinaShanghai Academy of Social Scienceshonorary professorshipDecember 2002
139IndiaBharathidasan Universityhonorary doctorate of literatureJanuary 2003
140PeruNational University of Piurahonorary doctorateFebruary 2003
141TaiwanChinese Culture Universityhonorary doctorate of philosophyMarch 2003
142ChinaDalian University of Foreign Languageshonorary professorshipApril 2003
143ParaguayColumbia University of Paraguayhonorary doctorate of sociologyApril 2003
144PeruJorge Basadre Grohmann National Universityhonorary doctorateSeptember 2003
145ChinaNorthwest Normal Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2003
146Republic of KoreaGwangju Women's Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2003
147ChinaShanghai Jiao Tong Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2003
148United StatesChapman Universityhonorary doctorate of humane lettersDecember 2003
149ChinaZhaoqing Universityhonorary professorshipDecember 2003
150Sakha Republic Arctic State Institute of Culture and Artshonorary professorshipJanuary 2004
151IndiaRabindra Bharati Universityhonorary doctorate of literatureFebruary 2004
152United StatesMineral Area Collegehonorary professorship of humanitiesFebruary 2004
153ChinaNational Prosecutors Collegehonorary professorshipMarch 2004
154TaiwanNational Pingtung Universityhonorary doctorate of agricultural sciencesMarch 2004
155Republic of Buryatia Buryat State Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2004
156BrazilLondrina State Universityhonorary doctorateApril 2004
157BoliviaUniversity of San Francisco Xavier of Chuquisacahonorary doctorateMay 2004
158ChinaChina University of Petroleumhonorary professorshipMay 2004
159PhilippinesCapitol Universityhonorary doctorate of humanitiesJune 2004
160ChinaSanda Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2004
161JordanUniversity of Jordanhonorary doctorate of humane lettersJuly 2004
162MexicoUniversity of Guadalajarahonorary doctorateSeptember 2004
163ChinaFujian Academy of Social Scienceshonorary professorshipSeptember 2004
164ChinaChangchun Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2004
165ChinaQufu Normal Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2004
166KyrgyzstanOsh State Universityhonorary professorshipNovember 2004
167Republic of KoreaPaekche Institute of the Artshonorary professorshipNovember 2004
168MongoliaOtgontenger Universityhonorary doctorateDecember 2004
169Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Northern Marianas Collegehonorary presidentJanuary 2005
170PeruEnrique Guzman y Valle National University of Educationhonorary doctorateJanuary 2005
171BelarusMinsk State Linguistic Universityhonorary professorshipFebruary 2005
172PhilippinesBatangas State Universityhonorary doctorate of pedagogyMarch 2005
173ChinaShanghai University of Finance and Economicsprofessor emeritus of humanitiesApril 2005
174ParaguayNational University of Itapuahonorary doctorateApril 2005
175ChinaBeijing Language and Culture Universityhonorary professorshipMay 2005
176BrazilCornélio Procópio College of Philosophy, Science, and Lettershonorary doctorateMay 2005
177ChinaHuazhong Normal Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2005
178ChinaGuangxi Normal Universityhonorary professorshipJuly 2005
179MongoliaMongolian Academy of Sciences Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Lawhonorary professorship, philosophySeptember 2005
180VietnamVietnam National University, Hanoihonorary doctorateSeptember 2005
181ChinaEast China University of Science and Technologyhonorary professorshipOctober 2005
182Serbia and MontenegroBraca Karic Universityhonorary doctorateOctober 2005
183RussiaAcademy of Security, Defense, and Law Enforcementhonorary professorshipDecember 2005
184IndiaSymbiosis International Educational Centre honorary doctorate of literatureDecember 2005
185RussiaUral State Universityhonorary doctorateJanuary 2006
186LaosNational University of Laoshonorary professorship of humanitiesFebruary 2006
187PhilippinesPampanga Agricultural Collegehonorary doctorate of humanitiesMarch 2006
188ChinaHunan Universityhonorary professorshipApril 2006
189UkraineNational Technical University of Ukraine honorary doctorateApril 2006
190ChinaEast China Normal Universityhonorary professorshipMay 2006
191ChinaNanjing Arts Institutehonorary professorshipMay 2006
192IndiaVisva-Bharatihonorary doctorate of literatureMay 2006
193ChinaChina Southwest University of Political Science and Lawhonorary professorshipJune 2006
194United StatesSouthern Illinois University Carbondalehonorary doctorate of humane lettersJune 2006
195United StatesLos Angeles Southwest Collegehonorary professorshipJune 2006
196ChinaShaoguan Universityhonorary professorshipJune 2006
197Republic of KoreaDong Shin Universityhonorary doctorate of public administrationJune 2006
198ThailandMaejo Universityhonorary doctorate of administrationJuly 2006
199BrazilCatholic College of Economic Science of Bahiahonorary doctorateSeptember 2006
200ChinaBeijing Normal Universityhonorary professorshipOctober 2006
201PhilippinesUniversity of Rizal Systemhonorary doctorate of humanities24 November 2006
202ChinaDalian University of Technologyhonorary professorship8 December 2006
203Republic of KoreaDongju Collegehonorary professorship6 February 2007
204ChinaGuizhou Universityhonorary professorship26 February 2007
205RussiaBaikal National University of Economics and Lawhonorary professorship13 March 2007
206VenezuelaRafael Belloso Chacin Universityhonorary doctorate20 March 2007
207VenezuelaSanta María Universityhonorary doctorate of law20 March 2007
208ItalyUniversity of Palermohonorary doctorate in communication sciences23 March 2007
209BrazilBrazilian Academy of Philosophyhonorary doctorate2 April 2007
210United StatesUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukeehonorary doctorate of humane letters17 April 2007
211ChinaHarbin Engineering Universityhonorary professorship18 April 2007
212BrazilFederal University of Mato Grosso do Sulhonorary doctorate29 April 2007
213ChinaTianjin Academy of Social Scienceshonorary professorship5 May 2007
214TaiwanSouthern Taiwan University of Technologyhonorary doctorate of engineering28 May 2007
215RussiaRussian State University for the Humanitieshonorary doctorate31 May 2007
216PeruNational University of El Santahonorary doctorate23 June 2007
217Sakha Republic The Yakut State Agricultural Academyhonorary professorship4 July 2007
218RussiaFar Eastern State Technical Universityhonorary professorship9 July 2007
219PhilippinesUniversity of Southeastern Philippineshonorary doctorate of education13 September 2007
220ChinaShaanxi Normal Universityhonorary professorship6 October 2007
221MexicoUniversity of Humanistic Integrationhonorary doctorate of human sciences8 October 2007
222BrazilIngá University honorary professorship10 October 2007
223ChinaChina Youth University for Political Scienceshonorary professorship21 October 2007
224MongoliaMongolian State University of Educationhonorary doctorate24 October 2007
225ChinaWenzhou Medical Collegehonorary professorship30 November 2007
226ChinaShanghai Normal Universityhonorary professorship17 December 2007
227Dominican RepublicAutonomous University of Santo Domingohonorary doctorate19 January 2008
228TaiwanNational Yunlin University of Science and Technologyhonorary doctorate of philosophy in management21 January 2008
229PhilippinesLaguna State Polytechnic Universityhonorary doctorate of philosophy in humanities26 January 2008
230ChinaHunan University of Science and Technologyhonorary professorship1 March 2008
231Kyrgyz RepublicI. Arabaev Kyrgyz State Universityhonorary doctorate21 March 2008
232ChinaJiaying Universityhonorary professorship31 March 2008
233RussiaTula Lev Tolstoy State Pedagogical Universityhonorary professorship2 April 2008
234ChinaHebei Universityhonorary professorship13 April 2008
235ChinaYan'a Universityhonorary professorship4 May 2008
236ChinaEastern Liaoning Universitylifetime honorary professorship30 May 2008
237ChinaChangchun University of Technologyhonorary professorship2 June 2008
238BrazilCentro Universitário de Goiáshonorary doctorate17 June 2008
239BrazilCentro Universitário Ítalo Brasileirohonorary doctorate20 June 2008
240PhilippinesBenguet State Universityhonorary doctorate of humanities10 July 2008
241TaiwanChungyu Institute of Technologyhonorary professorship22 July 2008
242TaiwanTainan University of Technologyhonorary professorship24 July 2008
243PhilippinesIfugao State College of Agriculture and Forestryhon doc of education in ancient learning, culture and world peaceSep 2008
244PhilippinesUniversidad de Manilahon doc of humanitiesOct 2008
245MongoliaMongolian University of Science and Technologyhon doc of humanitiesOct 2008
246ChinaDalian Universityhon profDec 2008
247UzbekistanUzbekistan State Institute of Artshon profJan 2009
248MalaysiaOpen University Malaysiahon doc of arts Feb 2009
249Santa Cruz, BoliviaUniversity of Aquino-Bolivia hon docMar 2009
250DenmarkUniversity College South Denmarkhonorary doctorate21 March 2009
251Republic of KoreaKorea Maritime UniversityUniversity Professor2 April 2009
252KyrgyzstanIssyk-Kul State Universityhon profApr 2009
253ChinaFujian Agriculture and Forestry Universityhon profApr 2009
254ChinaHenan Normal Universityhon profApr 2009
255Northern Ireland, UKQueen's University Belfasthon doc of lawsMay 2009
256ChinaXinjiang University of Finance and Economicshon profMay 2009
257PhilippinesSouthern Luzon State Universityhon doc of humanitiesJun 2009
258BrazilFederal University of Rondôniahon docJul 2009
259Republic of KoreaHongik Universityhon doc of literatureSep 2009
260Macau, ChinaAsia International Open University honorary doctorate of philosophySep 2009
261BrazilMaranhão School of Governmenthonorary professorshipSep 2009
262BrazilSilva e Souza Integrated Collegehonorary doctorate of architecture and urban engineeringSep 2009
263IndonesiaUniversitas IndonesiaHonorary Doctorate in Philosophy and PeaceSoka University, 10 October 2009
264ChinaZhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineeringhon profOct 2009
265ChinaDalian Polytechnic Universityemeritus profOct 2009
266Sakha Republic, RussiaYakutsk Teacher-training College No.1hon profOct 2009
267ChinaSouthwest Jiaotong Universityhon profNov 2009
268ChinaXi'an University of Technologyhon profNov 2009
269ChinaNingxia Universityhon lifetime profNov 2009
270TaiwanYu Da Universityhon profDec 2009
271MexicoEnrique Díaz de León Universityhon docDec 2009
272ChinaXi'an Peihua Universityhon profDec 2009
273Guam, USAGuam Community Collegehon profJan 2010
274ChinaAnhui University of Science and Technologyhon profJan 2010
275UzbekistanInstitute of Fine Arts, Uzbeki Academy of Scienceshon docFeb 2010
276ChinaXi'an International Universityhon profFeb 2010
277ChinaGuangdong University of Business Studieshon profMar 2010
278Aragua, VenezuelaBicentennial University of Araguahon doc of educationMar 2010
279Aragua, VenezuelaBicentennial University of Araguahon profMar 2010
280ChinaXi'an Jiaotong Universityhon profMar 2010
281PhilippinesRamon Magsaysay Technological Universitycentennial hon profMar 2010
282ArmeniaYerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and Artistshonorary doctorateJapan, 2 April 2010
283Sichuan, ChinaSichuan Academy of Social Scienceshon profApr 2010
284Xinjiang, ChinaXinjiang Medical Universityhon profApr 2010
285Guangxi, ChinaGuangxi Arts Institutelifetime hon profApr 2010
286Zhejiang, ChinaShaoxing Universityhon profApr 2010
287CanadaUniversité Lavalhonorary doctorate of education4 May 2010
288Beijing, ChinaTsinghua Universityhon profMay 2010
289Beijing, ChinaBeijing City Universityhon profMay 2010
290Zhejiang, ChinaNingbo Universityhon profJune 2010
291Zhejiang, ChinaZhejiang Ocean Universityhon profJune 2010
292Virginia, USAGeorge Mason Universityhon doc of humane lettersJuly 2010
293New Taipei, TaiwanNational Taiwan University of Artshon profJuly 2010
294Kaohsiung, TaiwanNational University of Kaohsiunghon profJuly 2010
295MalaysiaUniversity of Malayahonorary doctorate of humanities2 August 2010
296Osh, KyrgyzstanOsh Humanitarian Pedagogical Institutehon profAugust 2010
297Osh, KyrgyzstanOsh Agricultural Institutehon profAugust 2010
298ChileUniversidad Pedro de Valdiviahonorary doctorateSoka University, 30 August 2010
299PhilippinesUniversity of Southern Mindanaohonorary doctorate of humanities9 October 2010
300United StatesUniversity of Massachusetts Bostonhonorary degreeShinjuku, Tokyo, 18 November 2010
301Amazonas, BrazilFederal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Amazonashon docNovember 2010
302Liaoning, ChinaDalian Maritime Universityhon profDecember 2010
303São_Paulo, BrazilSão Paulo Metropolitan Universityhon profDecember 2010
304Mato Grosso, BrazilFederal University of Mato Grossohon docDecember 2010
305Yunlin County, TaiwanNational Formosa Universityhon docDecember 2010
306South Chungcheong, Republic of KoreaKonyang Universityhon doc of business administrationDecember 2010
307MacauMacao Polytechnic Institutehonorary professorJanuary 2011
308Bishkek, KyrgyzstanKyrgyz-Russian Academy of Educationhon profMarch 2011
309Taipa, MacauMacau University of Science and Technologyhon profMay 2011
310Hainan, ChinaHainan Normal Universityhon profMay 2011
311North Chungcheong, Republic of KoreaChungju National Universityhon doc of business administrationJuly 2011
312Pangasinan, PhilippinesPangasinan State Universityhon doc of humanitiesJuly 2011
313Busan, Republic of KoreaPukyong National Universityhon doc of international and area studiesSeptember 2011
314Lusaka, ZambiaUniversity of Zambiahon doc of lawsSeptember 2011
315Nueva Ecija, PhilippinesCentral Luzon State Universityhon lifetime profOctober 2011
316Jiangxi, ChinaJinggangshan Universityhon profOctober 2011
317UKUniversity of BuckinghamHonorary Doctorate of Literature25 October 2011
318ChinaJimei UniversityHonorary Professor9 November 2011
319Moscow, RussiaRussian State University of Trade and Economicshon docNovember 2011
320Tashkent, UzbekistanTermez State Universityhon profDecember 2011
321Beijing, ChinaCentral University of Finance and Economicshon profJanuary 2012
322Bishkek, KyrgyzstanBishkek Humanities Universityhon docMarch 2012
323Bataan, PhilippinesBataan Peninsula State Universityhon doc of humanitiesMarch 2012
324Santa Cruz, BoliviaPrivate Technological University of Santa Cruz hon docMarch 2012
325Taipei, TaiwanTaipei College of Maritime Technologyhon profApril 2012
326Lima, PeruTechnological University of Peruhon docMay 2012
327Lima, PeruTechnological University of Peruprofessor emeritus, Faculty of Law, Political Science and International RelationsMay 2012
328Guizhou, ChinaGuizhou Normal Universityhon profMay 2012
329Taipei, TaiwanNational Taiwan Normal University, College of Fine Artshonorary professorJune 2012
330Liaoning, ChinaBohai Universityhon profJune 2012
331Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Guelphhon doc of lawsSeptember 2012
332Paraná, BrazilDom Bosco College of Higher Educationhon docSeptember 2012
333Almaty, KazakhstanAl-Farabi Kazakh National Universityhon profOctober 2012
334Táchira, VenezuelaNational Experimental University of Táchirahon doc28 November 2012
335Pando, BoliviaLa Universidad Amazónica de Pando honorary doctorateFebruary 2013
336Osh, KyrgyzstanKyrgyz-Chinese Humanitarian Economic Institutehon profFebruary 2013
337Nueva Vizcaya, PhilippinesNueva Vizcaya State Universityhon doc of humanitiesMarch 2013
338South AfricaUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalDoctor of Social Science honoris causaApr 2013
339Bangkok, ThailandThammasat Universityhon doc of philosophyAugust 2013
340ArmeniaYerevan State Universityhon docSeptember 2013
341Aklan, PhilippinesAklan State Universityhon doc of humanitiesOctober 2013
342Liaoning, ChinaDalian Art Collegehon profOctober 2013
343PeruUniversidad Peruana de las Americas/Peruvian University of the Americashon docNovember 2013
344Ulan Bator, MongoliaUniversity of the Humanitieshon doc of humanitiesNovember 2013
345Moscow, RussiaPushkin State Russian Language Institutehon docNovember 2013
346Córdoba, ArgentinaNational University of Villa Maríahon prof extraordinaryFebruary 2014
347Jharkhand, IndiaSatyendra Narayan Sinha Institute of Business Managementhon profMarch 2014
348Isabel, PhilippinesIsabela State Universityhon doc of humanitiesApril 2014
349Tianjin, ChinaTianjin Foreign Studies Universityhon profMay 2014
350Lima, PeruNational University of Engineeringhon docMay 2014
351Heilongjiang, ChinaHarbin Normal Universityhon profJuly 2014
352Sakha Republic, RussiaYakutsk Teacher-training Collegehon profSeptember 2014
353Manila, The PhilippinesUniversity of the Easthon doc of humanitiesSeptember 2014
354ChinaNanjing University of Science and Technologyhonorary professorshipOctober 2014
355RussiaPeople's Friendship University of Russiahonorary doctorateNovember 2014
356KyrgyzstanKyrgyz-Russian Slavic Universityhonorary doctorateFebruary 2015
357IndiaMadurai Institute of Social Scienceshonorary professor, Social SciencesApril 2015
358South Korea University of North Korean Studieshonorary chair professorMay 2015
359ChinaFoshan Universityhonorary professorMay 2015
360BoliviaAutonomous University of Beni honorary doctorateJune 2015
361BrazilCastelo Branco Universityhonorary doctorateJune 2015
362South Korea Kyungnam Universityhonorary doctorate of philosophy in educationSeptember 2015
363Taiwan Chienkuo Technology Universityhonorary lifetime professorNovember 2015
364IndiaJagran Lakecity Universityhonorary doctorate of humane lettersNovember 2015
365Bhopal, IndiaBarkatullah Universityhonorary doctorate of lettersJanuary 2016
366KyrgyzstanUzgen Institute of Technology and Education, Osh Technological University honorary doctorateMarch 2016
367ArgentinaNational University of Tucumánhonorary doctorateAugust 2016
368United StatesDePaul Universityhonorary doctorate of Humane LettersDecember 2016
369BrazilUniversidade Federal do Acre"honoris causa"March 2017
370ChinaHunan University of Technologyhonorary professor22 June 2017
371PeruNational University of San Marcoshonorary doctorate21 August 2017
372BrazilValença College of Higher Education honorary doctorate24 August 2017
373ParaguayNihon Gakko Universityhonorary doctorate of education10 October 2017
374ChinaHubei Universityhonorary professor9 November 2017
375SpainUniversity of Alcaláhonorary doctorate of education25 January 2018
376ArgentinaUniversity of Cuenca del Platahonorary doctorate24 February 2018/17 November 2017
377Taiwan Chihlee University of Technologyhonorary professor1 March 2018
378BrazilIntegrated College of Jacarepaguáhonorary professor3 March 2018
379ArgentinaNational University of Tierra del Fuegohonorary doctorate18 April 2018
380BrazilFederal University of Paraíbahonorary doctorate13 June 2018
381PhilippinesCagayan State Universityhonorary doctorate of humane letters21 June 2018
382Taiwan Chung Hua Universityhonorary professor30 July 2018
383ChinaBeijing Film Academyhonorary professor23 October 2018
384ChinaHuaiyin Normal Universityhonorary professor29 October 2018
385ArgentinaUniversity of Estehonorary doctorate31 October 2018
386VenezuelaCentral University of Venezuelahonorary doctorate11 June 2019
387BrazilFederal University of Sergipehonorary doctorateAugust 2019
388BrazilFederal University of Amazonashonorary doctorate21 August 2019
389BrazilFederal Rural University of Pernambucohonorary doctorate23 August 2019
390ArgentinaNational University of Jujuy honorary professor15 September 2019
391IndiaManav Rachna Universityhonorary doctorate in philosophy23 September 2019
392UzbekistanNational University of Uzbekistanhonorary doctorate8 November 2019
392IndiaJaipur National Universityhonorary doctorate21 November 2019
393IndiaXavier University, Bhubaneswar, Xavier School of Sustainabilityhonorary doctorate22 November 2019

Personal life

Ikeda lives in Tokyo with his wife, Kaneko Ikeda, whom he married on 3 May 1952. The couple had three sons, Hiromasa, Shirohisa, and Takahiro.

Books

Ikeda is a prolific writer, peace activist, and interpreter of Nichiren Buddhism. His interests in photography, art, philosophy, poetry and music are reflected in his published works. In his essay collections and dialogues with political, cultural, and educational figures he discusses, among other topics: the transformative value of religion, the universal sanctity of life, social responsibility, and sustainable progress and development.
The 1976 publication of Choose Life: A Dialogue is the published record of dialogues and correspondences that began in 1971 between Ikeda and British historian Arnold J. Toynbee about the "convergence of East and West" on contemporary as well as perennial topics ranging from the human condition to the role of religion and the future of human civilization. Toynbee's 12-volume A Study of History had been translated into Japanese, which along with his lecture tours and periodical articles about social, moral and religious issues gained him popularity in Japan. To an expat's letter critical of Toynbee's association with Ikeda and Soka Gakkai, Toynbee wrote back: "I agree with Soka Gakkai on religion as the most important thing in human life, and on opposition to militarism and war." To another letter critical of Ikeda, Toynbee responded: "Mr. Ikeda's personality is strong and dynamic and such characters are often controversial. My own feeling for Mr. Ikeda is one of great respect and sympathy." As of 2012, the book had been translated and published in twenty-six languages.
Ikeda's children's stories are "widely read and acclaimed," according to The Hindu, which reported that an anime series of 14 of the stories was to be shown on the National Geographic Channel. In the Philippines, DVD sets of 17 of the animated stories were donated by Anak TV to a large school, as part of a nationwide literacy effort. "Hope and perseverance in times of difficulty" describes the theme that runs through such stories as The Cherry Tree and The Snow Country Prince.
In 2003, Japan's largest English-language newspaper, The Japan Times, began carrying Ikeda's contributed commentaries on global issues including peacebuilding, nuclear disarmament, and compassion. By 2015, The Japan Times had published 26 of them, 15 of which the newspaper also published in a bilingual Japanese-English book titled Embracing the Future.

''The Human Revolution''

Ikeda's most well-known publication is the novel The Human Revolution, which was serialized in the Soka Gakkai's daily newspaper, the Seikyo Shimbun. Its book publication in English includes a foreword by British philosopher and historian Arnold J. Toynbee and has been translated into English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Dutch editions. In the preface to The Human Revolution, the author describes the book as a "novelized biography of my mentor, Josei Toda." The author's official website describes the book as an "historical novel portrays the development of the Soka Gakkai in Japan, from its rebirth in the post-World War II era to the last years of its second president, Josei Toda." In the preface to the 2004 edition, the author stated the narrative was edited to bring it in line with recent developments in the history of Nichiren Buddhism, and that he hoped "such revisions will help readers to better appreciate the original message of the book."
Often described as a roman à clef, this autobiographical work "fosters an interpretation of Ikeda as being an exemplary disciple to his own mentor, Toda Josei," and offers "a model of the mentor-disciple relationship that is empowering" and portrays "the virtues of discipleship." This dramatic narrative helps readers "identify with him as someone not very different from themselves," presents "the mentor-disciple relationship as an attractive one that can enormously benefit the disciple," and "holds the promise for Gakkai members that they too can achieve greatness in the mentor-disciple relationship, which in turn helps them see the self-conception of disciple as one of strength." Chilson concludes that: "With the self-conception of a disciple, Gakkai members are more likely to strive to achieve goals articulated by their mentor, Ikeda, that transcend their own self interests, such as the expansion of the Gakkai’s membership, and the promotion of culture, education, and world peace."

Selected works by Ikeda