September 10, 1999

Nikken Doubts the Dai-Gohonzon

By Ted Morino
SGI-USA Study Department Senior Advisor

Earlier this summer, it was revealed that Nikken, before he became Nichiren Shoshu high priest, stated his belief that the Dai-Gohonzon is a forgery. The revelation came when a memo taken in February 1978 by a priest now stationed in Hokkaido, Reverend Jitoku Kawabe, was leaked.

In what is now being called the Kawabe Memo, Nikken, then Nichiren Shoshu Study Department leader, is quoted as saying: “The Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of True Buddhism is counterfeit. I found this out through various forms of analysis (such as examining the brush strokes of the Chinese characters).” Nikken believed that the Dai- Gohonzon was completed either during the time of the 6th high priest Nichiji or 9th high priest Nichiu, well after Nichiren Daishonin?s death.

Despite Kawabe?s recent claim that he simply misunderstood what Nikken was saying in 1978, the Kawabe Memo has created a great stir among the priesthood.