Political Prospects of Soka Gakkai

Abstract

W5 TITH ITS RIGID organizational hierarchy, its broad sociological base, and the fanatical devotion of its members, the Soka Gakkai (literally, Value Creation Society) has been able to make significant inroads into Japanese politics, thereby arousing the anxiety of many elements of Japanese society. Both Soka Gakkai and its political arm, Komeito (Clean Government Party) are enigmas. What makes Soka Gakkai difficult to assess as a religious body is that it has chosen to express itself through a political party. And what makes Komeito complex as a political entity is that it has religious roots in Soka Gakkai. Consequently, it has been labeled variously as ultranationalist, sacrilegious and fascist. To many Japanese it smacks of prewar state Shintoism and is thought of as a time bomb in Japanese society. In view of the forthcoming Lower House elections, in which Komeito will attempt to capture 32 seats, it seems important to arrive at an understanding of why Soka Gakkai is in politics, what its purposes are, and the likelihood of its continued success in the political arena. Theoretically, it may be argued that Soka Gakkai entered politics in order to fulfill the prophecy of the i3th century Buddhist teacher, Nichiren, and obtain obutsu myogo-a merger of government and religion.' Emerging as he did in the mappo period of Buddhism, when all was despair, Nichiren proclaimed himself the true Buddha. His messianic desire to spread his teachings throughout the world was not unlike the philosophical foundation of Komeito's political platform as outlined in its official publication, Toward Mass Welfare: Policies of the Komeito. Its goal is the building of a new international environment based on chikyu minzoku shugi (oneworldism).2 To facilitate this, Nichiren Shoshu, the Buddhist Sect to which Soka Gakkai is attached, had intended to solicit the aid of the Emperor, who himself was to be eventually converted.3 But since the Emperor was stripped of his powers after the war, it became apparent that he would not be able to help, and, as a result, the Soka Gakkai has turned to the National Diet as a means of achieving this aim. An editorial in the Seikyo Shimbun, the organization's newspaper, has bluntly stated that it is the intention of Soka Gakkai to obtain a majority in both houses and then make Nich-