Daniel Habuki, the first president of Soka University of America, retired in July 2020 and was named president emeritus by the SUA Board of Trustees, “in recognition of his sincere and heartfelt leadership over the past 27 years … in deep appreciation for his years of service and dedication to the university.”

In selecting Habuki as the university’s founding president in 1993, the Board of Trustees cited his international experience, administrative skills, and dedication to teaching. As an associate professor with the Institute for Comparative Studies of Cultures at Soka University of Japan, Habuki introduced American-style instruction inside and outside of the classroom, setting a standard that has been followed throughout the university system.

Habuki received his PhD in agricultural economics from Washington State University in 1984 where he received a prestigious grant from the Hops Administrative Committee of the US Department of Agriculture. He received his MA in economics from the University of Southern California in 1980 and his BA in economics from Soka University of Japan in 1975. Habuki also studied economics at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. He is the author of a number of papers on the US rice and hop industries and is a member of the American Association of Agricultural Economics and the Agricultural Economics Association of Japan. Habuki also served as executive vice president for Soka University of America and as director of the Overseas Academic Affairs Office for Soka University of Japan.

Habuki and his wife Hiroko have two daughters, Kaneko and Takako.