The Human Revolution
Daisaku Ikeda
1968

The Human Revolution is a 12-volume novel by Daisaku Ikeda in which he describes the efforts of Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, to reconstruct the SG after its destruction in World War II. It also
contains his vision for the establishment of world peace based on the propagation of Nichiren Buddhism.

In the first chapter of the first volume Toda is released from prison where he and first president Makiguchi were retained for two years due to their opposition to the military government. On his way hom he stops at the site of hs private school, the Jisshu Gakkan, where he attempted to apply Makiguchi's theories unrestrained by government regulations. The following text portrays a glimpse of Toda as an educator and Makiguchi's theories in action.

Toda climbed the stairs of Meguro Station, stairs he had not trod in more than two years. Each step seemed filled with memories. The climb was a great strain on his weakened body.

When he finally reached the top, he had to stop and rest a moment after passing through the turnstile.His wife, Ikue, and his sister and nephew drew close as though to protect him. Ikue went out into the street alone to search in the darkness for a taxi, but none were running in those bleak times. An empty streetcar was waiting at the end of the line. Going by trolley would be the surest way of getting home to Shirogane. She returned to tell the others.

Toda nodded and strode ahead of the group. He walked on alone past the streetcar to the other side of the road. The others hurried after him."Dear, let's take the streetcar," Ikue called.

"We will. I just want to look over here for a moment."Glancing back at his wife, Toda indicated the direction with a thrust of his jaw. They all crossed after him and took a road angling toward the right. It descended in an easy slope. Off to the right were the charred ruins of the Jisshu Gakkan, a private school Toda had once operated.

Blackened fields stretched before them in the eerie silence. Their footsteps rang out like the last sound on earth. Construction, destruction. Destruction, construction. Is this the perpetual cycle of all things? Is it impossible for humans to build a lasting, indestructible society? For nations to cooperate and live in peace?

Everything had been razed. Though the ruins had weathered more than two months since the air raids, a scorched smell still hung in the air.Toda sat down on a nearby cornerstone.

"Do you have a cigarette?" he asked, as though suddenly struck by the idea.

"Yes. Yes, I do."Ikue rummaged in her purse and handed him several government-rationed cigarettes. She had carefully placed them there, intending to give them to her husband as soon as he was released, but she had forgotten until this moment.He inhaled rapturously. The white smoke spiraled into the darkness.

This charred ruin had once been his castle. In 1922, when Tsunesaburo Makiguchi was transferred from the post of principal at Mikasa Elementary School to the same post at Shirogane Elementary School, Toda had resigned his position as an elementary school teacher. The following year, he opened his own private school, the Jisshu Gakkan. He was 24 and the lord of his own castle. There he could practice the system of value-creating education expounded by his master, Makiguchi, without the slightest interference.

Even the dullest child could be an excellent pupil - that was his conviction. His educational methods were practical and effective. In fact, his grade school students consistently passed any examination they desired in order to enter first-rate schools.

Word spread among the young boys and girls in the Shirogane neighborhood that the day school was a waste of time and they would be better off going to Toda's night classes. The regular schools, municipal elementary schools, were left far behind. Honest but incompetent teachers were enraged at the mere mention of the Jisshu Gakkan. Their former pupils were happily gathering every evening at the new night school.

A philosopher once said that the purpose of education is not to produce machines but to develop people.Education is undeniably the most crucial factor 'in the development of human character. Education is an art whose basic methods are determined by the pedagogical ideals of the educator.Those who receive training in perception from a great educator bent on perfecting his student's character are fortunate indeed.In that respect, Toda's method was superb.

He appealed to the insatiable curiosity of the young and taught them to recognize mathematical concepts by means of concrete examples. Through repeated exercises of their reasoning power, he was, without their knowledge, instilling in them an understanding of highly complex and difficult principles. His methods were not only interesting but completely logical and gave the children a chance to delight in their studies.

Nothing is sharper than the mind of a young pupil; it responds as quickly as mercury in a thermometer.Toda would come into the classroom with a broad smile, saying) "Hi, everybody!" The mischievous boys immediately scrambled for their seats and greeted him *in unison, "Good evening!" Their eyes glittered 'in happy anticipation of another exciting adventure.

Smiling, he began to speak. "Does anybody here want a dog?" The room was instantly still."I'll give one to anyone who wants it."

"Give it to me, sir!"

"No, no. To me!"

"Please, may I have it?"

"I want it!"

The whole room was in an uproar. Looking around with a satisfied grin, he said, "Well, who shall I give it to?" Then he turned toward the blackboard and picked up a piece of chalk.Smack 'in the center of the blackboard he wrote In bold strokes the character for "dog" and asked the children, "What's this?"

"Dog!"

"Is it really a dog?"

"Yes," they all responded.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!"

"Then you may have him if you wish.

"The children were confused for a moment, but soon one boy shouted, "Go on ... it's only writing." The whole class burst into laughter.

Toda pointed at the character on the blackboard and said, "It's a dog, isn't it? Go ahead, you may have him."It was definitely a dog, but not one the children could take home. They were bewildered, unable to find the flaw in their reasoning. Toda explained that it was an abstract symbol for "dog." By repeating interesting examples of this kind, he implanted in their young minds the concept that mathematics is a study based upon symbols, and soon they began actively applying their new-found knowledge for themselves.

Good seeds yield strong plants and eventually bear beautiful blossoms. Good children will become fine young people, who in turn will develop into excellent leaders of society.

Toda had his lessons printed up and handed them out to his students as a text. Later, at the urging of others, he compiled these lessons and published them as the Guidebook to Mathematics Through Reasoning under the pen name of Jogai Toda. The book proved to be a creative masterpiece whose record-breaking sales enabled its author to start a publishing company.