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On March 13, together with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), the Toda Peace Institute and the Soka Gakkai Peace Committee co-organized an online seminar titled “Nuclear Close Calls—Moments When the World Came Close to Nuclear War.” Yanliang Pan, research associate at CNS, presented a case study on the 1995 Norwegian rocket incident—an incident that highlights nuclear risks and vulnerabilities. Keynote speaker Dr. Sverre Lodgaard, former director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and honorary senior research fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, which was founded by President Daisaku Ikeda, stressed the importance of confidence-building measures to reduce nuclear risk.

On February 22, in response to a call for input by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for its upcoming report to the Human Rights Council on the Marshall Islands’ nuclear legacy, the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) submitted a written contribution titled “A People-Centered Approach to Nuclear Justice.”  

The contribution emphasizes amplifying the voices of those affected by nuclear testing and the importance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It is “impacted communities,” the contribution states, “who define what healing and justice mean for their territories and futures.”

Drawing on experiences in Japan and Kazakhstan, as well as the Youth Peace Awareness Survey conducted by the Soka Gakkai Student Division and partner organizations, the contribution further underscores the importance of centering youth and affected communities in education and decision-making.

On February 22, Soka Gakkai Kenya held a general meeting in Nairobi at which Dr. Masumi Odari was appointed as the new general director. The meeting also included activity reports and faith experiences.