Soka University Student Song
The Student Song was first presented at the second Soka Festival
“After my speech at that festival, the newly composed Soka University student song was performed for the first time ever.”
“Since there were relatively few students in those first two classes,
each student had to play multiple roles at the festival,
responsible for exhibits or food stalls.
It was thus difficult to find enough people to form a choir.
Only after calling on every possible candidate, even dragging out some students who were busily cramming for national examinations, did they manage to come up with enough people.”
“After listening to their rousing rendition, I suggested some revisions to the lyrics that might improve the song…”
“The student song was completed through the shared passion of myself and my fellow ‘youthful founders’ to create a wonderful institution of learning.”
(The Founding Spirit of Soka University, Essay – The New Human Revolution)
Photos
- The University founder Daisaku Ikeda singing the Student Song together with the students (April 2001)
- Ikeda viewing a wall painting on the motif of the Student Song (December 2004)
Monitor
Soka University Student Song
Running time: 3 minutes 40 seconds (on replay)
Exhibits
- The flyers distributed by the Student Song Committee to solicit lyrics for a Student Song
- Lyric sheet used when the Student Song was first presented at the second Soka Festival. It shows the original lyrics before being improved to the current form by Ikeda’s suggestion.
Soka University Student Song
Hiroshi Oki
Music
Shin'ichi Kawakami
Hills bloom in red azaleas,
and among them,
pure-white butterflies dance in joy.
Our campus revels in young leaves
and the fragrance of cherry blossoms.
Youth gather among the lush lawns and groves
as the fresh breeze flutters through the spring skies.
Up ahead, shining in brilliant white
is our school—
where students take pen
harboring dreams in their hearts.
For whom are we learning this path of humanity?
As we walk among the castle remains where mulberries grow,
we delve on the vicissitudes of my aspirations.
With thoughts of our parents, we gaze toward distant vistas,
faint light glowing here and there;
in the sky rises Venus, its light wondrous and elegant.
Our souls kindled by a passion for justice,
night falls on the castle's embankment.
For whom are we building a citadel of peace?
The skies of Musashino fade into purple
as dawn breaks the still of night.
We come to my feet,
awakened by our peers,
and lying beyond the green mountains,
towers Mt. Fuji.
As you dwell fondly on your brave ideals,
our indivisibility shines brightly, equal in aplomb.
As we pave the path of honor and glory, we ask:
For whom are we searching for life's truths?
Photos
- In 2004, the Art Club members painted a painting of Soka University Student Song on the basement wall of the Humanities Building (Building A) based on Ikeda’s suggestion
- A wall painting created by the Art Club in commemoration of Soka University’s 15th anniversary on the opposite wall facing the Student Song painting
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