Sensei Accolades - Friendship between South Korea and
Japan
The Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan from 1910 to 1945. The
Korean culture was suppressed and the Korean language was not
permitted to be spoken during this time. This history has left a
painful imprint towards Japan. 2002 World Cup was jointly hosted
by the Republic of Korea and Japan but even so, dissatisfaction
towards the Japanese still remains.
SGI President Ikeda reminds that the Japanese people are profoundly indebted to Korea. The writing system, crop cultivation, medicine, traditional arts and Buddhism all came to Japan from Korea.
In his speeches to Soka school students, President Ikeda spoke about the struggles and ideals of Korean heroes such as Yu Kwan Sun, a young female student who helped initiate a protest calling for liberation of Korea in 1919 but was arrested by the Japanese police, tortured and eventually killed. President Ikeda emphasized that friendship between Japan and Korea can only be established upon a clear and correct understanding of history.
From the 1980s, President Ikeda began a series of dialogue with key Korean figures in Japan and as the founder of Min-on Concert Association, he has invited Korean musicians and performers to Japan.
In September 1990, President Ikeda visited Korea for the first time. He said," If Japan reaches out to Korea in friendship, respects Korea and learns from the Korean spirit, it will proceed in the direction of peace and prosperity. On the other hand, if it behaves arrogantly towards Korea, if it fails to acknowledge its great debt to Korea, it will decline and suffer ruin. This view of history must be forever engraved in the hearts of our people."
In May 1999, President Ikeda visited Korea for the third time for a conferral of an honorary doctorate from Cheju National University. Prof. Cho Moon Boo, president of the University commented at the ceremony, "Mr. Ikeda is a great friend of South Korea. He insists on the gratitude of Japanese to Korea and seeks to build a bilateral relationship that looks to the future through a proper accounting of our tragedy-marred past." Prof. Cho and President Ikeda have also conducted a wide-ranging dialogue on the importance of education.
In November 2004, South Korean Art School, the Paekche Institute of Arts appointed President Ikeda and his wife, Mrs. Kaneko Ikeda honorary professors of the school. The conferral ceremony took place at Makiguchi Memorial Hall at Hachioji, Tokyo. Among the distinguished guests from the school, SGI-South Korea (KSGI) General Director Yeo Sang Rak and other KSGI representatives were also present.
The awards certificate lauds President Ikeda as a "pioneer of humanistic education" and Mrs. Ikeda as "defender of women's rights".
President Ikeda has now received over 100 awards from associations in Korea, including 11 honorary doctorates.
(Source: SGI Quarterly, October 2007, SGI Newsletter, November 26, 2004)
Writer's Thoughts
SGI-South Korea is now a flourishing organization with its membership increasing month by month through its sincere propagation efforts. It is said that South Korea is the country that champions shakubuku after Japan. In the earlier days, significant fierce attacks and discrimination befall the organization like falling rain and often seen as a "Japanese Religion".
I remember how sincere the Korean members were in wanting President Ikeda to visit their country. My senior in faith shared that the Women Division members of South Korea would tailor made traditional Korean costumes for President Ikeda and Mrs. Ikeda without physically taking and knowing their exact measurements. These costumes turned out to fit both of them really well.
Korean War has divided the country into North and South. No one would ever believe that the Berlin War that divided East and West Germany would be torn down but President Ikeda was convinced it would one day. Likewise, I would imagine the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) would one day be abolished. It is of no coincidence why the SGI members in South Korea are working so hard in propagation to expand the Buddha forces for Kosen Rufu to be realized in their country. When that day comes when the DMZ is abolished, these Bodhisattvas of the Earth would be the ones to carry on the mission to bring peace and prosperity to the entire nation.
In Singapore, we hear top leaders brag about their past experiences in standing up against the ichinen sanzen group, the Taho group and the Priesthood danto issue. As compared to Japan, Taiwan and Korea where these organizations were heavily suppressed and faced great hardships and persecution, Singapore organization has yet to go through these kind of suppressions.
If you think that those kind of bragging by the top leaders are genuine persecution, think twice. By the way, have we totally won over the danto in Singapore that top leaders vowed to President Ikeda?
SGI President Ikeda reminds that the Japanese people are profoundly indebted to Korea. The writing system, crop cultivation, medicine, traditional arts and Buddhism all came to Japan from Korea.
In his speeches to Soka school students, President Ikeda spoke about the struggles and ideals of Korean heroes such as Yu Kwan Sun, a young female student who helped initiate a protest calling for liberation of Korea in 1919 but was arrested by the Japanese police, tortured and eventually killed. President Ikeda emphasized that friendship between Japan and Korea can only be established upon a clear and correct understanding of history.
From the 1980s, President Ikeda began a series of dialogue with key Korean figures in Japan and as the founder of Min-on Concert Association, he has invited Korean musicians and performers to Japan.
In September 1990, President Ikeda visited Korea for the first time. He said," If Japan reaches out to Korea in friendship, respects Korea and learns from the Korean spirit, it will proceed in the direction of peace and prosperity. On the other hand, if it behaves arrogantly towards Korea, if it fails to acknowledge its great debt to Korea, it will decline and suffer ruin. This view of history must be forever engraved in the hearts of our people."
In May 1999, President Ikeda visited Korea for the third time for a conferral of an honorary doctorate from Cheju National University. Prof. Cho Moon Boo, president of the University commented at the ceremony, "Mr. Ikeda is a great friend of South Korea. He insists on the gratitude of Japanese to Korea and seeks to build a bilateral relationship that looks to the future through a proper accounting of our tragedy-marred past." Prof. Cho and President Ikeda have also conducted a wide-ranging dialogue on the importance of education.
In November 2004, South Korean Art School, the Paekche Institute of Arts appointed President Ikeda and his wife, Mrs. Kaneko Ikeda honorary professors of the school. The conferral ceremony took place at Makiguchi Memorial Hall at Hachioji, Tokyo. Among the distinguished guests from the school, SGI-South Korea (KSGI) General Director Yeo Sang Rak and other KSGI representatives were also present.
The awards certificate lauds President Ikeda as a "pioneer of humanistic education" and Mrs. Ikeda as "defender of women's rights".
President Ikeda has now received over 100 awards from associations in Korea, including 11 honorary doctorates.
(Source: SGI Quarterly, October 2007, SGI Newsletter, November 26, 2004)
Writer's Thoughts
SGI-South Korea is now a flourishing organization with its membership increasing month by month through its sincere propagation efforts. It is said that South Korea is the country that champions shakubuku after Japan. In the earlier days, significant fierce attacks and discrimination befall the organization like falling rain and often seen as a "Japanese Religion".
I remember how sincere the Korean members were in wanting President Ikeda to visit their country. My senior in faith shared that the Women Division members of South Korea would tailor made traditional Korean costumes for President Ikeda and Mrs. Ikeda without physically taking and knowing their exact measurements. These costumes turned out to fit both of them really well.
Korean War has divided the country into North and South. No one would ever believe that the Berlin War that divided East and West Germany would be torn down but President Ikeda was convinced it would one day. Likewise, I would imagine the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) would one day be abolished. It is of no coincidence why the SGI members in South Korea are working so hard in propagation to expand the Buddha forces for Kosen Rufu to be realized in their country. When that day comes when the DMZ is abolished, these Bodhisattvas of the Earth would be the ones to carry on the mission to bring peace and prosperity to the entire nation.
In Singapore, we hear top leaders brag about their past experiences in standing up against the ichinen sanzen group, the Taho group and the Priesthood danto issue. As compared to Japan, Taiwan and Korea where these organizations were heavily suppressed and faced great hardships and persecution, Singapore organization has yet to go through these kind of suppressions.
If you think that those kind of bragging by the top leaders are genuine persecution, think twice. By the way, have we totally won over the danto in Singapore that top leaders vowed to President Ikeda?