Risshō Kōsei Kai - Wikipedia

Risshō Kōsei Kai - Wikipedia

Interfaith and peace activitiesEdit


Since its founding, Risshō Kōsei Kai has sought to cooperate with other religions and work with the United Nations and a variety of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).[15]

Interfaith co-operation

Nikkyō Niwano was one of the founders of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. Since the founding of the WCRP in 1970, Risshō Kōsei Kai has been actively involved with the organization [16] and currently President Nichiko Niwano is a president of the WCRP.[5]

In 1981 Nikkyō Niwano was elected as the President of the International Association for Religious Freedom and in 1984 hosted the IARF at the Great Sacred Hall.[17]

Nichiko Niwano is currently the President of the Japanese branch of the WRCP and Chairman of Shinshuren. The organization is also involved with the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace[18] and maintains close ties to the Unitarian Universalist Association. The interfaith relationship with the Unitarian-Universalist Association is the closest one the latter American liberal organization has ever achieved.[19]

UNICEF and United NationsEdit

Risshō Kōsei Kai has supported UNICEF since 1979 and members regularly participate in campaign activities related to UNICEF. It has also supported and participated in a number of UN programs, including the second Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament held in 1982.[20]
Humanitarian projectsEdit

Risshō Kōsei Kai engages in numerous campaigns to end hunger and poverty, support the environment and work for peace. In the late 1960s, Risshō Kōsei Kai began to advocate the Brighter Society Movement, a public-spirited undertaking through which the local churches of Risshō Kōsei Kai cooperate with local governments, welfare organizations, and volunteer groups throughout Japan.[21]

In 1974, it launched the Donate a Meal Movement in which one skips a meal twice a month and contribute the money saved to the Movement. During the last thirty years, over 11 billion yen has been donated in Japan and thousands more worldwide to the mvement.[22]

There is also the Little Bags of Dreams Campaign started in 1999 in which local churches have the youth members prepare cloth bags full of toys, small gifts and cards with well wishes, for children in war torn nations. Children in Northern Ireland, Palestine and the former Yugoslavia.[23]

The Niwano Peace Foundation was established in 1978 to promote research for world peace and religious, cultural, scientific and educational endeavors.[24] Starting in 1983, with the exception of 1988, it has on a yearly basis given out the Niwano Peace Prize to an individual or organization that contributes to world peace.[25]