President's Message: Founder Daisaku Ikeda’s Passing

Dear Soka Community,

It is with deep sadness that I share with you our university founder Daisaku Ikeda passed away from natural causes at his residence in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on the evening of Nov. 15. He was 95. A funeral has been held with members of his immediate family.

I know many of us as members of the SUA community are saddened at this news. I have received numerous emails from students, alumni, staff and faculty expressing their sorrow. Please take care and let’s support and encourage each other, especially friends who are most deeply impacted.

Mr. Ikeda was an educator, philosopher, prolific author, and peacebuilder inspiring people throughout the world to strive to become global citizens who lead contributive lives. He shared that the culminating undertaking in his life would be in the realm of education. SUA is his gift to the world to build a brighter more hopeful future for humanity. As he shared in numerous messages to our community, for Mr. Ikeda, SUA students were his greatest treasure and he had deep conviction that they would be champions of peace in their communities, moving the arc of history from one of war to peaceful coexistence. Let us reaffirm our determination to live up to this founding spirit of Mr. Ikeda.

Sincerely,

Ed Feasel
President

Note: This message was delivered to the SUA community via email on November 18, 2023.