Soka Spirit
Temple Issue Timeline: 1989-1990

1989
Feb. 25 Nichiren Shoshu makes a request to the Soka Gakkai to raise the pilgrimage fee.
July 17 Nikken builds a family tomb at a Zen temple, Hakusan-ji in Fukushima, and conducts a commemorative ceremony at the site (breaking one of the Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikko Shonin)

 

1990
Mar. 13 Nichiren Shoshu notifies the Soka Gakkai at a regular communication meeting of an increase in the Gohonzon-conferral fee, toba memorial tablet fee and the fee for keeping ashes of the deceased.
July 16 Nikken Abe and senior priests meet at Nichiren Shoshu’s Tokyo office in Nishikata to discuss how to oust SGI President Ikeda. This meeting is later called the “Nishikata Conference.”
July 17 A Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai communication meeting is held, at which the Soka Gakkai raises the issue of unseemly conduct on the part of priests becoming rampant throughout Nichiren Shoshu in Japan .
July 18 Nikken and the same priests at the Nishikata Conference meet to further discuss their plot against President Ikeda. Nikken officially names the plan “Operation C.” This meeting is later referred to as the “Council in the Presence of the High Priest.”
July 21 Soka Gakkai International President Daisaku Ikeda and Soka Gakkai President Einosuke Akiya are granted an audience with Nikken. During the audience, Nikken emotionally reproaches President Akiya, calling him arrogant. He also makes an intimidating remark to President Ikeda: “I will impeach you.”
Aug. 30 On the day of announcing “Standard of Moral Ethics for Priests and Their Families,” Nikken goes on a shopping spree with his family at a lavish hotel in Izu.
Sept. 2 The Soka Gakkai dedicates a culture festival to Nichiren Shoshu to celebrate the 700 th anniversary of the founding of the head temple, Taiseki-ji.
Oct. 12-13 A grand ceremony to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the founding of Taiseki-ji is held with President Ikeda as the committee chairman.
Nov. 16 President Ikeda gives a speech at the 35th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting; an unauthorized recording of which Nichiren Shoshu uses to attack him and the Soka Gakkai.
Dec. 13 Nichijun Fujimoto, general administrator of Nichiren Shoshu, attempts to hand an inquiry document raising issues concerning the content of the Nov. 16 speech to President Ikeda. Fujimoto withdraws the document as Mr. Akiya requests a dialogue to iron out differences.
Dec. 16 Nichiren Shoshu, refusing to engage in dialogue with the Soka Gakkai, sends the inquiry to the Soka Gakkai Headquarters demanding a written reply.
Dec. 23 The Soka Gakkai responds by sending Nichiren Shoshu a written request for dialogue including questions of its own including concerns about the accuracy of the tape transcription.
Dec. 27 Nichiren Shoshu holds a Special Council session to revise its rules to dismiss President Ikeda from the position of the head of all Nichiren Shoshu lay societies, using the tape of President Ikeda’s speech at the Nov. 16, 1990 , Headquarters Leaders Meeting as a pretext.