A Proud Heritage
A brief history of Soka education
Soka (“to create value”) education has its origins in the work of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a Japanese educator and Buddhist leader. During World War II, Makiguchi was arrested as a “thought criminal” by Japanese military authorities for his opposition to the war and for his defense of religious freedom. He died in prison in 1944. The small education society that Makiguchi founded in 1930 has since grown to become one of the world’s largest lay Buddhist organizations.
Soka schools range from kindergartens to the 8,800-student Soka University in Japan. These schools have established a tradition of humanistic learning and scholarship where the focus is on each student’s growth and development.
History of Soka University of America
In February 1987, Soka University of America, an independent, not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of California, dedicated its first campus in Calabasas.
The Graduate School opened in 1994, offering a Master of Arts degree in Second and Foreign Language Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
In 1995 Soka University acquired a 103-acre site in Aliso Viejo, California, for a private, nonprofit, four-year liberal arts college.
The Aliso Viejo campus opened May 3, 2001, with its first entrance ceremony for a first-year class of 120 students from 18 countries and 18 states.
On May 22, 2005, the undergraduate program held its first commencement and Soka University received its accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
In April 2007 the Graduate School was transferred to the Aliso Viejo campus.
In 2009 the Graduate School added a new concentration in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language to the MA program in Second and Foreign Language Education.
In 2013, the Graduate School announces a new M.A. program in Educational Leadership and Societal Change.
The Luis and Linda Nieves Observatory, named for longtime benefactors, features an advanced research-grade telescope that enables precision viewing of galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial bodies. The remote operating system can be used by researchers and students anywhere on Earth.
After 27 years, Daniel Habuki announces his retirement. During his time as president, he focused on academic excellence and care for each student’s development and happiness. Through his philanthropic efforts, Dr. Habuki also greatly expanded the university’s fiscal foundation.
Edward Feasel, one of SUA's founding faculty members, is appointed SUA's second president. He quickly launches four initiatives: a 20th anniversary project centering Soka's core values of wisdom, courage, and compassion; the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Human Rights; the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and a Trustee professorship in Ikeda Studies.
SUA creates the Soka Global Citizen Award, an annual prize honoring individuals whose contributions to the global community reflect founder Daisaku Ikeda's vision of citizenship grounded in wisdom, courage, and compassion.
The SUA Board of Trustees honors founder Daisaku Ikeda by naming the undergraduate program Daisaku Ikeda College and establishing SUA's first endowed chair in his name. The news is announced during the university's virtual 20th anniversary celebration.
The university opens Soka Heritage Hall, an exhibit space chronicling SUA's history and the founding spirit of Soka education. Exhibits trace the legacies of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, Josei Toda, and Daisaku Ikeda alongside the global work of SUA students and alumni.
SUA holds its inaugural Homecoming, bringing students, alumni, and families together for a new tradition centered on community and reunion.
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Soka Heritage Hall
Check out Soka Heritage Hall, which chronicles SUA’s history, heritage, and founders of Soka education.