Two of High Priest Nikken's most contemptible acts were the destruction of the Grand Reception Hall (Dai-Kyakuden) in 1996 and the Grand Main Temple (Sho-Hondo) in 1998. These structures were crystallizations of lay believers' sincerity worldwide. Several million Soka Gakkai members pure-heartedly made donations in 1964 to construct the Grand Reception Hall, marking the development of widespread propagation through their efforts at propagation.

Praising the building's significance, 66th High Priest Nittatsu said, Our gathering in the Grand Reception Hall and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo together is itself an expression of the essence of the Gohonzon, thus honoring the spirit of the Daishonin's Buddhism to welcome and respect believers as honored guests.

Architecturally, the Grand Reception hall was truly a epoch-making structure. It won the prestigious Japan Architectural Society and Architectural Association of Japan awards. Nevertheless, High Priest Nikken turned a deaf ear to SGI members' protests, and to the unbiased pleas of renowned architects who spoke out for the structure's preservation. He issued statements that the building was seismically unsafe, or had been damaged by corrosion. However, he offered no evidence to support those claims, and began the demolition.

High Priest Nikken didn't stop there, however. The Grand Main Temple was his next target.

In 1972, High Priest Nittatsu issued an admonition to clarify the signifi- cance of the Grand Main Temple: The Sho-Hondo is the actual High Sanctuary of True Buddhism of this time, which contains the significance described in the 'Minobu Transfer Document' and 'On the Three Great Secret Laws.' In other words, the Sho-Hondo is the supreme edifice that should be the High Sanctuary of Hommon-ji (the Temple of True Buddhism) at the time of kosen-rufu.

The Grand Main Temple was built to accommodate 6,000 people and to last 1,000 years. It was heralded as one of the finest examples of 20th century architecture, a modern masterpiece (Civilization, A Monument Becomes the Object of Dispute, by Riva Lava; July 11, 1998). Mr. Minoru Omori, a Japanese Critic who personally observed the completion ceremony, stated: There are many huge structures all over the world, but none of them, I believe, is as significant as the Sho-Hondo. The other structures were all built by force symbolizing the authority of power. The Sho-Hondo, however, was built by the desires of the common people.
High Priest Nikken destroyed it 26 years after its construction for no justifiable reason.

These acts of destruction demonstrate High Priest Nikken's opposition to his predecessor, High Priest Nittatsu. They also betray the sincerity of the lay believers who contributed to their construction. In the history of the world, extremely rare has been the religious leader who has destroyed a building donated by believers of his religion.

When the correct teaching of Buddhism spreads, Nichiren Daishonin taught, malevolent forces will appear and try to obstruct that development. He says, The great evil devil will become a venerable priest, or a respected priest. (Gosho Zenshu, 1497) High Priest Nikken ultimately actualized this statement. His destructive actions, in his role as the person expected to be most responsible for the protection and spread of the Daishonin's Buddhism, amount to the behavior of what the sutras describe as a devil.