Chapter3 From the 20th to the 30th Anniversary

Ikeda Auditorium was inaugurated in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Soka University. It was first used for the 17th Soka University commencement ceremony on March 18, 1991 and has since been the venue for key University events.
 
A huge auditorium with a capacity of 5000
It provides a maximum capacity of 5,000 including supplementary seats. Besides a Nishijin-brocade curtain designed in the motif of the famous “School of Athens” by Raffaello Sanzio, numerous artworks are displayed around the Auditorium.
 
Entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and memorial lectures
The Auditorium holds a special place in the history of the University. Over the years, many entrance and commencement ceremonies were held and memorial lectures were delivered by world leaders who visited the University.
 
Provided a stage for student performances and events
It was also used as a venue for student performances and events such as the annual “Beethoven Symphony No. 9” concert first held in December 1991, the year the Auditorium was completed, as well as for Soka University Festival and Soka Art Exhibition.

Photos

• Curtain “School of Athens”
• Inauguration ceremony of Ikeda Auditorium (March 1991)
• Statue of Victor Hugo
• Statue of Lev Tolstoy
• Memorial lecture by Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of Soviet Union, when he was awarded an honorary degree from Soka University (April 1993)
• “Beethoven Symphony No. 9” concert

The University was initially envisioned as a comprehensive university with faculties in natural sciences as well as in social sciences and humanities, but that idea had to be given up during the planning stage partly because the opening was moved forward from the original schedule. The idea finally materialized after two decades in 1991 when the Faculty of Engineering was established.
 
The Faculty of Engineering evolved into the Faculty of Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Engineering started from the two departments of Information Systems Engineering and Biological Engineering and grew over the years producing various academic achievements. In 2015, it was reorganized into the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Photo

• Completion of the Faculty of Engineering Building (March 1991)

Exhibits

• Prototype of “SOBIT,” a life-support service robot created by undergraduate and graduate students who were mostly members of Choi Yongwoon Laboratory of the Department of Information Systems Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering
• Products made from “Sohki,” a new breed of mulberry tree born from the research of Professor Emeritus Kengo Oshigane of the Faculty of Engineering (present Faculty of Science and Engineering). These products are developed, manufactured, and sold by Sohki Co., Ltd., a university spin-off venture.
• Prototype of “Negai☆ (Negai-star)” a small satellite developed by Seiji Kuroki Laboratory of the Department of Information Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (present Faculty of Science and Engineering). It was launched in May 2010 attached to the rocket used in the launch of the Venus orbiter Akatsuki spacecraft towards Venus. “Negai☆″ revolved around Earth more than 500 times for over a month at an orbit altitude of 300 kilometers.

The new curriculum and enhancement of education
In response to the reform movement prompted by the revision of the Standards for the Establishment of Universities (1991), Soka University introduced a new curriculum to widen the options offered to students. The newly introduced “General Education Courses” included courses such as “Top Management in Modern Business.” Various other measures to enhance education were also implemented including introduction of new language programs and student support systems.

Measures taken since the late 1990’s

Photos

• The University Founder Daisaku Ikeda encouraging students who have just taken a term-end exam (July 1998, Classroom S201)
• WLC programs which allow students to learn multiple languages
• Pamphlet of WLC 
• Hand-written memos can be found in the books of the Ikeda Collection
• Pamphlet of CETL

“I am deeply convinced that the “Leonardo da Vincis of the 21st century” will boldly spread their wings up into the vast sky from this new platform of learning. I hope that many great talents will emerge from the students of Soka University who will be learning in this new building and lead the world into the new century.” (A speech given by Founder Ikeda at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Central Tower)

The Central Tower houses the Administrative Offices, Soyukai (Soka Alumni Association), and other headquarter functions and is also used by the Faculty of Law. The Tower also includes large classrooms and a room for conducting mock trials.

Video: The Founder and the Central Tower

Please refer to the English subtitles in the video.
Running time: 3 minutes (on replay)

Photos

• Ikeda looking up at the statue of Leonardo da Vinci  (November 1999)
• Inauguration ceremony of the Central Tower (July 1999)
• Monument inscribed with Ikeda’s waka poem commemorating the completion of the Central Tower
• “Dodo to Fuji wo nagamete eisai ga sodachi tobiyuku Soka no kimira yo (The Soka students who grew up viewing the majestic Mt Fuji will now proudly take wings and fly high)”