Chapter 2 Construction and Expansion

Faculty of Business Administration
It was one of the potential options for the initial faculties to open when the University was first founded.
 
Faculty of Education
Its aims were theoretical research of Soka Education as well as cultivation and training of teachers.
 
Division of Correspondence Education
Upon inauguration of the Division, Ikeda delivered a message of encouragement to “the first cohort of students embodying the spirit of Soka Education.”
 
Preparatory Japanese Language Program
Upon its establishment, the first group of government-sponsored students from China enrolled in the program.

Photos

• Lecture of the Faculty of Business Administration
• Piano training in the Faculty of Education
• The University founder, Daisaku Ikeda visited a class during the first summer course (August 1976,　 Classroom S201)
• Study trip as part of the Preparatory Japanese Language Program

The campus was a mine of historical treasures
Buried ancient oak trees
Two carbonized trees were unearthed from the present Pond of Literature in 1969, during the development of the campus construction site. After thorough study, they were identified as ancient oak trees from the Pliocene Epoch of the Neogene Period (approximately 5 million years ago).
 
Taiyo-no-oka remains
In 1983, excavations were carried out on Taiyo-no-oka prior to constructing the new baseball field, and a total of 3,000 people including students participated in the excavations. Dwelling sites and artifacts dating back to the Jomon to Heian Periods were unearthed.
 
Omachi remains
Excavations were started in 1992, prior to the construction of the Graduate School of Engineering Building. Through an investigation that continued into the following year, remains of a settlement from the Jomon Period were discovered, which proved to be of high academic value.
 
Tangikyo remains
Excavations were carried out in 1995 on Roman-no-oka prior to constructing the Central Tower building. By the following year, the excavations discovered a series of pit remains mainly from middle Jomon period and castle wall remains from the medieval times.
 
Expedition to excavate the remains of the Silk Road
From 1989, Soka University conducted joint expeditions with Hamza Memorial Arts Institute of Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (present Republic of Uzbekistan) to excavate Dalvarzin Tepa (a large Silk Road archaeological site with remains of an ancient city located 400 km south of Tashkent).
 
Mounded tomb cluster in Morikita, Aizu
In 1998, Soka University conducted a joint excavation of the Morikita Mounded Tomb Cluster with the Education Board of Aizu Bange Machi in Fukushima. Relics of a boat-shaped wooden coffin were confirmed in the burial facility. A bronze mirror was also excavated and identified as a shumonkyo (decorated Chinese style bronze mirror), which was the first one of the kind found from a rectangular-shaped tomb mound in the Tohoku district.

Exhibits

• Pottery from the Kofun Period unearthed from the ancient dwelling sites of Taiyo-no-oka
• Stone dish dating back to Jomon Period unearthed from the Tangikyo remains

“A society is defined by how women can harness their traits and open up their potentials. When women are empowered, there will no longer be any wars.”
(Soritsusha to Watashi (The founder and I) - Some anecdotes from the first days of the University)

 
Guiding principles
Be a person of intelligence, happiness and virtue.
Be a person of principle working for harmony for all.
Be a person with a global view and social wisdom. 　　　　　
 
Plan for establishment
It was in July 1969, before Soka University was established, that the founder Daisaku Ikeda first announced his plans for creating a women’s college. Initially, the college was supposed to be opened in Osaka together with the girls’ junior and senior high schools (The photo was taken in October the same year showing Ikeda visiting the site in Osaka planned for the construction of the girls’ school.)  
 
Departments and education
The College was initially comprised of the Department of Business Administration (later became the Department of Contemporary Business Management) and the Department of English Language (later the Department of English Communication). The two are now integrated into the Department of International Business.
 
Student activities
Outstanding track record of success in certification exams including practical business skills tests and language proficiency exams.
The autumn Swan Festival and other diverse events are held for students to foster friendship.

Photo

• Soka Women’s College in the spring
• Ikeda encouraging students during their language training (February 1990, Soka University Los Angeles)

• In class

• Won the MEXT Minister’s Award for the Business Document Proficiency Test (February 2010)

• The first Swan Festival

Exhibits

• Scarf and corsage worn by the first cohort of students of Soka Women’s College at the entrance ceremony

Opening of Soka University Los Angeles (SULA)
Following the opening of the European Language Training Center in 1985, Soka University Los Angeles (SULA) was opened in 1987 as another center for language education. SULA was utilized not only for language training but also as a base for international exchange. SULA later became a local corporation and evolved into Soka University of America in 2001.
 
Pacific Basin Symposium
Ikeda’s proposal to build peace in the Asia and Pacific Region announced in January 1987 attracted wide endorsement and led to the first Pacific Basin Symposium in 1988 held at Soka University in conjunction with the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) meeting in Osaka. The Pacific Basin Symposium was held in various parts of the region until 2000.

Photos

• Former SULA campus
• Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling visited SULA (February 1987)
• The second Pacific Basin Symposium held at SULA (1990)
• Orange County Campus of Soka University of America (SUA), opened in May 2001