Rissho Kosei-kai International

01/09/2026

On August 18, 2026, Rev. Takashi Maeda, Director of Rissho Kosei-kai International, and Rev. Hidenobu Suzuki, Deputy Director of Rissho Kosei-kai International, met with Mr. Masayuki Kawai, Executive Director of Japan for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and Mr. Kenji Asai, who is in charge of the Corporate Giving Private Partnerships & Philanthropy Fundraising Group of Japan for UNHCR.

On April 19, Rissho Kosei-kai International held the Worldwide Sutra Recitation Offering of the Threefold Lotus Sutra, with the recitation dedicated to peace in the Middle East and throughout the world. Approximately 4,000 participants from 32 centers in 17 countries joined together in reciting the sutra as a prayer for peace.

During and following the recitation, members of Rissho Kosei-kai around the world offered donations in solidarity with those affected by the conflicts in the Middle East. These heartfelt contributions were entrusted to the Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace.

The Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace donated a total of 5 million yen, including the contributions collected through the Worldwide Sutra Recitation Offering, to Japan for UNHCR to provide humanitarian assistance to people displaced by the conflicts in the Middle East that began on February 28, 2026.

During the meeting, Mr. Kawai presented Rev. Maeda with a letter of appreciation for Rissho Kosei-kai’s support. Mr. Kawai and Mr. Asai also shared updates on the current humanitarian situation in the Middle East.

We offer our heartfelt wish that the prayers and compassionate actions of people around the world bring hope and peace to those whose lives have been affected by conflict.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has joined us in prayer and compassion and who has continued to support peace and those affected by conflict.

25/08/2026

On August 1, 8, and 15, 2026, three Rissho Kosei-kai youth members took part in a series of Interfaith Dialogue and Exchange Programs with three members from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Rissho Kosei-kai has built a lasting partnership with the UUA over many decades through the activities of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF)—the world’s oldest international interfaith organization, where Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, served as the 25th president from 1981 to 1984.

Throughout the sessions, participants shared their thoughts and personal experiences with openness and vulnerability. They spoke honestly about the challenges they had faced, listened with empathy to one another’s stories, and gently supported each other as they reflected on their faith, values, and life journeys.

The conversations were filled with warmth, compassion, and moments that deeply touched the heart. By opening themselves to one another and embracing both their differences and shared experiences, participants discovered new perspectives and deepened their connections across faiths and traditions.

15/08/2026

The Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace received a donation of JPY 50,000 from the New Life Association, a lay organization affiliated with Won Buddhism and based in South Korea.

In July 2025, Master Youngdon Choi, President of the New Life Association, and members of the association visited Japan. During their visit, Rissho Kosei-kai staff introduced the Donate-a-Meal Movement, in which participants offer the cost of a meal as a contribution toward peace and social well-being.

After returning to Korea, Master Choi and the members introduced the practice throughout the association. Members took part in the Donate-a-Meal practice for the following year, putting their heartfelt wishes for peace into action.

In July 2026, members of Rissho Kosei-kai visited Korea to participate in an exchange program with the New Life Association. During the program, Master Choi presented a donation, collected over the association’s year-long practice, to Rev. Yukinobu Sahara, Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department (External Relations Group) at Rissho Kosei-kai.

Upon returning to Japan, Rev. Sahara entrusted the donation to the Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace.

We are deeply grateful to our friends at the New Life Association for embodying the spirit of the Donate-a-Meal Movement: “a practice that can be carried out anytime, anywhere, and by anyone.” Their heartfelt efforts remind us that we can all take small but meaningful steps toward peace.

We pray that this friendship and our shared commitment to peace continue to grow and inspire further cooperation.

#원불교 #새삶회

05/08/2026

We're happy to share the audio version of President Nichiko Niwano's Monthly Message for July, titled "Light a Fire for the Sake of Other People."
🎧Listen to the full message here:

President’s Message for August 2026Light a Fire for the Sake of O...

01/08/2026

From July 17 to 19, 8 members of Rissho Kosei-kai participated in an exchange program with the New Life Association, one of the lay organizations affiliated with Won Buddhism, headquartered in South Korea.

The main theme of the program was “Retreat.” During the 3-day program, participants stepped away from the busyness of everyday life and took time to mindfully reflect on their daily lives and the movements of their hearts.

Through encounters and dialogue with members of the New Life Association, participants encountered new perspectives, found inspiration for living the teachings in their own authentic way, and gained insights that will help them move forward with greater vitality, lightness, and purpose in their daily lives.

The program was well received by all participants, who shared that it reminded them of the importance of setting aside time—even if only a little—to reflect on their hearts and minds. They expressed their hope to carry this practice into their daily lives, enabling them to live with greater calm, openness, and joy.

#원불교 #새삶회

From July 17 to 19, 8 members of Rissho Kosei-kai participated in a...

27/07/2026

On May 15, Mr. Benki Piyãko, the recipient of the 43rd Niwano Peace Prize, visited Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters and delivered an insightful speech during the ceremony for the monthly memorial day of Shakyamuni Buddha at the Great Sacred Hall.

To learn more about Mr. Piyãko, please visit: https://www.npf.or.jp/english/peace_prize/43rd.html

25/07/2026

On May 12, 2026, the Niwano Peace Foundation presented the 43rd Niwano Peace Prize to Mr. Benki Piyãko, an Indigenous spiritual leader of the Ashaninka People in Brazil’s Amazon.

Mr. Piyãko is widely recognized for his many years of effort focused on reforesting degraded areas, developing sustainable agroforestry and farming systems, and raising awareness throughout local and global communities about environmental protection and the strengthening of Indigenous culture.

As founder of the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute, which addresses environmental problems by combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques, he has established reforestation projects, while also focusing on education and community building.

To learn more about Mr. Piyãko, please visit: https://www.npf.or.jp/english/peace_prize/43rd.html

15/07/2026

The Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace has announced a donation of approximately US$30,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP) and US$30,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for emergency relief to support survivors of the two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 and 25, 2026.

According to the official report issued by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on July 11, the death toll has risen to 4,333, with 16,740 people injured. The devastation remains extensive, with more than 17,000 people still displaced from their homes.

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration has previously estimated that roughly 50,000 people remain unaccounted for, many of whom could still be trapped beneath collapsed buildings or separated from relatives because of the chaos caused by the earthquakes.

These contributions are made possible through the compassionate participation of individuals in the Donate-a-Meal Movement. By voluntarily forgoing meals several times a month and offering the saved funds, they express solidarity with those in need, praying that their contributions bring relief and promote world peace.

The Donate-a-Meal Movement embodies the spirit of the “One Vehicle” philosophy of the Lotus Sutra, which teaches that all people are interconnected, like brothers and sisters, sustained by the one great life of the universe.

We offer our heartfelt prayers for the peace, comfort, and swift recovery of all those affected by the earthquakes. May they be protected and supported in this difficult time.

Photos: UNHCR and WFP

06/07/2026

We're happy to share the audio version of President Nichiko Niwano's Monthly Message for July, titled "I'm Glad to See You."
🎧Listen to the full message here:

“I’m Glad to See You”Nichiko NiwanoPresident of Rissho Kosei-kai...

01/07/2026

The Donate-a-Meal Movement is one of Rissho Kosei-kai’s peace activities that has been warmly supported for more than 50 years since its inception. This movement invites people to reflect on those suffering from conflicts, disasters, and poverty in the world. By donating a portion of the money you might spend on meals or small luxuries, you contribute, in the spirit of sharing, to the movement’s activities.

The core principles of the movement are empathy, prayer, and donation. The movement began in 1975 with participants forgoing one meal several times a month and donating the equivalent amount of money. Today, Donate-a-Meal is practiced in various ways in Japan and the world and adapted to suit individual lifestyles.

This movement highlights the joy and fulfillment that come from acting thoughtfully toward others. Through this practice, we cherish the feelings of kindness and compassion growing within ourselves.

To learn more about the Donate-a-Meal Movement, please visit: https://rk-world.org/donate-a-meal-movement/