The Soka Gakkai International is a worldwide association of 90 constituent organizations with membership in 192 countries and territories. It was established on January 26, 1975 with the aim of promoting international goodwill via activities rooted in a commitment to the values of peace, culture and education and based on the philosophy and teachings of Nichiren Buddhism as the spiritual underpinnings.

The Nichiren School of Buddhism was founded in 13th-century Japan by the sage Nichiren. The School flourished in its country of origin through the efforts of the lay organization Soka Gakkai (established 1930), the forerunner of the present international movement, the Soka Gakkai International (SGI). “Soka” translated to mean “value-creation”, describes the core spirit of the Buddhist philosophy; that is, Buddhism is a religion of self-empowerment. The Buddhist practitioner cultivates innate potential and power, expressed in one’s enhanced wisdom and spirituality to change life and environment towards positive growth. This principle of value-creation is the principle of action upheld by SGI members worldwide.