J%C5%8Dsei Toda

Jsei Toda was a teacher, peace activist and second president of Soka Gakkai from 1951 to 1958. Imprisoned for two years during World War II under the charge of lsemajest, he emerged from prison intent on rebuilding the Soka Gakkai. He has been described as the architect of the Soka Gakkai, the person chiefly responsible for its existence today. Toda was the disciple of Tsunesabur Makiguchi and mentor of Daisaku Ikeda, respectively the first and third presidents of the Soka Gakkai. Todas leadership in building the Soka Gakkai is the theme of Ikedas 12volume roman clef, The Human Revolution which has sold millions of copies.

Toda was born in 1900, the eleventh son of a poor fisherman in the village of Shioya, Ishikawa, off the Sea of Japan. In 1904 his family moved to Hokkaido, settling in the remote fishing village of Atsuta in the province of Ishikari. His education was disrupted after finishing primary school due to his need to move to Sapporo and start working at the age of 15. An autodidactic learner, he studied on his own and at agepassed an examination certifying him as a substitute teacher. In 1920 he moved to Tokyo where he met Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, an elementary school principal, who was to become his mentor. He taught for Makiguchi until 1922 when he became a private afterschool owner and entrepreneur.

Source: Wikipedia