The ideals of Soka (value-creating) education that serve as the foundation of the Soka school system have their origin in the philosophy and concerns of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a school principal, educational philosopher, and the founder of Soka Gakkai.

The prime point of Makiguchi’s educational method is the perspective that the purpose of education is the happiness of children—Makiguchi believed that education should not be about simply producing individuals who are useful for state or the economy. He regarded happiness as a sense of growth and discovery, an awareness of being part of society and having the ability to play a positive role within it.

Soka education aims to foster the innate creativity and unique potential of each student and to develop their capacity for independent thought and for lifelong, self-motivated learning and development. It focuses on the development of wisdom as well as knowledge.

Makiguchi’s concern for lifelong happiness of each child and his faith in each child’s unique creative potential is the underlying spirit of the Soka education system founded by Daisaku Ikeda. Makiguchi’s educational vision is given added dimension and scope by Ikeda’s ideal of education for global citizenship, and by his dynamic efforts to develop Soka education in the global arena. Soka education aims to foster within students a responsible sense of awareness of belonging to the global human community. It aims to help each student discover a sense of purpose, responsibility and compassionate desire to contribute to human happiness.

The philosophy and ideals of Soka education are practiced at Soka University, Soka Women’s College, the Soka Schools and, overseas, at Soka University of America and Soka Kindergartens in various countries.