ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
From the opening address
The Institute of Soka Faith Studies was established on April 1, 2019, as a place to conduct research based on the faith of Soka Gakkai.
In modern society, academics hold great authority. In this context, the world of religion, which cannot be explained by academics, inevitably appears alien. For religion to gain acceptance, its faith must be mediated by academics.
All three presidents of Soka Gakkai have sought to utilize academic research with faith at its core. Our institute hopes to carry on this spirit and envision and develop faith-centered academic research, or what we might call “faith studies.”
Daisaku Ikeda, the third president of the Society, had the insight that all academic fields are proof of Buddhism. He said that academic fields should be guided by the wisdom of Buddhism and put to good use. This religious initiative to put all academic fields to good use is not found in Christian theology, for example.
In this way, Soka Gakkai’s academic theory has the potential to open up new horizons in the study of faith. Our institute is a small organization. Nevertheless, we will continue to make progress, however small our efforts may be, toward building a Soka Faith Studies. We sincerely ask for the support and cooperation of all those who agree with us.
January 26, 2020
Mikio Matsuoka, Director (PhD), Institute of Soka Faith Studies
Mikio Matsuoka
Director (PhD)
Born in Nagasaki in 1962. Graduated from the Faculty of Education at Soka University. Completed the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo. PhD (Academic). Professor and Director of the Institute of Oriental Thought at Higashi Nippon International University. His publications include “The Intellectual Development of Nichiren Buddhism” (University of Tokyo Press) and “Nichiren Buddhism and the Thought of Daisaku Ikeda,” new edition (Daisanbunmei Publishing).
TEAM
Research Fellow
Masaki Yamaoka
Research Fellow
Born in Kyoto in 1962. Graduated from the First College of Letters at the University of Tsukuba. Completed doctoral coursework at the Graduate School of Literature and Linguistics, University of Tsukuba. PhD (Linguistics). Professor at the Faculty of Letters, Soka University. Commissioned Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. His publications include “Forward to Renaissance of Humanities: An Introduction to Humanology” (co-edited, Keiso Shobo) and “Principles and Aspects of Japanese Considerate Expressions” (edited, Kuroshio Publishing).
Eiichi Tsutaki
Research Fellow
Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1978. Graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Completed a master’s program in Cultural Sciences at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Open University of Japan. Master of Arts. Commissioned Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Philosophy.
Kenichi Miura
Research Fellow
Born in Tokyo in 1990. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Soka University. Completed the Graduate School of Public Policy at Hokkaido University, and completed the coursework of the doctoral program in Tourism Creation at the Graduate School of International Media, Communication, and Tourism Studies, Hokkaido University, without a degree. Master of Public Policy (Professional). Associate Professor and Chief Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Thought, Higashi Nippon International University.
Andy Nagashima
Overseas Research Fellow
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1967. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Soka University. MBA, City University. Member of the Thoreau Society and the Walt Whitman Association. His publications include “A New Dawn: Essays Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Publication of Walden” (co-edited, Kinseido) and “Essays: The American Renaissance and the Origins of Soka” (AMK). Staff member at SGI-USA headquarters.