[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING DAISAKU AND KANEKO IKEDA FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL 
                              ACHIEVEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
contributions to our community and the international achievements of 
Daisaku and Kaneko Ikeda. Daisaku Ikeda is the President of Soka Gakkai 
International (SGI), a Buddhist association of approximately 12 million 
members in over 180 countries, including members throughout the United 
States and in my home district of Guam. The Ikedas have dedicated their 
lives to the promotion of international peace, the protection of 
religious freedom, and the safeguarding of fundamental human rights. 
Soka Gakkai International was formally established on January 26, 1975 
in a ceremony on Guam which was attended by representatives from around 
the world. Guam has since welcomed this organization and its leaders on 
various occasions and we continue to value our friendship with the 
Ikedas and Soka Gakkai International members.
  Daisaku Ikeda's leadership has been recognized by many international 
organizations. He was awarded the United Nations Peace Medal, the Simon 
Wiesenthal Center's International Tolerance Award and the Rosa Parks 
Humanitarian Award. Daisaku Ikeda is the founder of numerous 
educational and cultural institutions in Japan and the United States. 
He founded the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, the Min-On Concert Association, 
the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, and the Toda Institute 
for Global Peace and Policy Research. A prolific writer and poet, 
Daisaku Ikeda has published more than 200 works in more than 25 
languages, all in his effort to promote peace and international 
understanding. He has been conferred over 200 honorary degrees from 
universities throughout the world.
  Kaneko's partnership with Daisaku began with their marriage on May 3, 
1952, and since then, they have been a dynamic team that mutually 
supports each other's work. Kaneko Ikeda shares her husband's 
philosophy and his drive to work for the benefit of all people. She has 
been commended for her work in the field of education and the 
humanities and as a proponent and ambassador for peace. She has been 
recognized for her good work by being named an honorary citizen of 
Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, the Republic of Korea, 
New Zealand, and Australia.
  Daisaku and Kaneko Ikeda have dedicated their lives to the 
advancement of mankind and the promotion of peace through the 
improvement of individual lives. They are powerful advocates of social 
change and goodwill ambassadors for all of humanity. The international 
community has recognized and honored their continuing efforts to 
advance social justice based on universal values of equality and 
dignity. They are truly world class citizens whose efforts on behalf of 
many people, especially those struggling for human rights, should be 
recognized. Today we commend them for their lifetime of humanitarian 
work and we congratulate them on their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. 
We commend them as leaders of Soka Gakkai International for their 
contributions to the international community and to the local 
communities in our Nation where their members are making individual 
contributions for peace and freedom.

                          ____________________