Jōsei Toda President

Jōsei Toda (戸田城聖, Toda Jōsei, February 11, 1900 – April 2, 1958) was an educator, peace activist and second president of Soka Gakkai from 1951 to 1958. Imprisoned for two years during World War II under the charge of lèse-majesté, he emerged from prison intent on rebuilding the Soka Gakkai. He has been described as the architect of the Soka Gakkai, the person chiefly responsible for its existence today. Toda was the disciple of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and mentor of Daisaku Ikeda, respectively the first and third presidents of the Soka Gakkai. Toda's leadership in building the Soka Gakkai is the theme of Ikeda's 12-volume roman à clef, "The Human Revolution" (Ningen kakumei) which has sold millions of copies.