University Created by Students

Student’s Division of the Cooperative Association (Co-op)
The Student’s Division of the University Co-op, which was formed in June 1971, contributed to enhancing the student services at cafés, cafeterias, and events as well as the quality of university commemorative gifts in cooperation with the employees of the University Co-op. 

“There are no shops or anything in the vicinity, but many students live in the dorms. How can we support their lives here?”  (Soka Education, Vol. 8)

Establishment of the Student Union
Shortly after the opening of the University, students voluntarily began working to form a student union. Following a series of discussions at the general assembly of students and other occasions, Soka University Student Union was launched in February 1972.

“(The Student Union was established) to build a creative forum for thinking, discussing, and creating through mutual interaction on the basis of active participation of all students” (A statement from a flyer calling for the establishment of a student union )

Sports Festival and Sports Day
The first Sports Festival was held in September 1972 as a university-wide event. It was renamed “Sports Day” in 1979 and continued in the following years.

Swimming Contest
The University swimming pool was completed in July 1978. The first Swimming Contest was held the following year in September 1979.

Launch of student clubs 
The Student Club Association was established on the day of the first Entrance Ceremony. The announcement of holding the first Soka University Festival was part of the reason to cause an upsurge in the number of student clubs and groups affiliated to the Student Club Association.

Baseball Team advancing to the semifinals in its first national championship 
The Baseball Team took first place in the New Tokyo University Baseball League, Division 1, in the spring of 1977, and advanced to the semifinals of the 26th All Japan University Baseball Championship (conducted at the Jingu Stadium). 

“I went to the Jingu Stadium and saw their first game against Fukui University of Technology. At the moment of our victory, I turned to the stands and saw the supporters cheering their heads off.” (30 years of Soka University (student version))

Speech contests in various languages
Starting with a Chinese speech contest in 1974, a series of speech contests in Russian (1975), English (1977), and French (1978) were started as a regular event. In later years, speech contests in more than 10 languages were held.

Rice cake pounding event
Founder Ikeda proposed to hold a rice cake pounding event for students to share a fun moment before they return to their home during the year-end and New Year’s holidays.  This event which commenced in 1974 was later developed into annual year-end student events. 

Exhibits

• Panel set up within the Student Union building showing the motto of the International Student Center
• Catalog of books donated by the graduates of the first class upon their graduation to the following generations of students. The title of each book and the names of each graduates are listed on the catalog.
• Shogi (Japanese chess) board used for a match fought between the founder and a representative of the dorm students at the 2nd Takiyama Festival (1973). The match is depicted in Shosetsu Shin Ningen Kakumei (Novel – The New Human Revolution).
• Newspapers, flyers, project proposals, etc. created by student bodies and clubs during 1971-1980
• Sweat suit used for PE classes when the university was first founded
• Graduation writings, Soka University Festival pamphlets, and pamphlets issued by student bodies and clubs during 1971-1980

Baseball Team winning both the spring and autumn championships
In October 1990, Soka University Baseball Team won two successive games against Ryutsu Keizai University in the New Tokyo University Baseball Autumn League and became the champion even before its final game was carried out. It was the first time the team won both the spring and autumn championships in a row.

Start of a program training at overseas branch schools 
The Study Center for European Languages opened in 1985 and Soka University Los Angeles (SULA) in 1987 to provide language education in French and English.

“When I visited Disneyland, I was suddenly spoken to in English by a small child. I couldn’t respond to the child and felt embarrassed. It was then that I figured ‘Just thinking in my head won’t help. I should actively try conversing in English using what little vocabulary I know, rather than worrying too much.’ Then, I became able to speak smoothly in English.” (Soka University News “SUN,” Vol. 51)

Evening Ceremony of friendship between Japanese and Russian students
While visiting the Soviet Union, Soka University Ginrei Chorus Group performed at the Evening Ceremony of Friendship between Japanese and Russian Students held at Lomonosov Moscow State University in May 1981. They sang a joint chorus with the Moscow State Academic Choir. 

“Sports Challenge Festival”
The Sports Day was renamed to “Sports Challenge Festival” in 1989. Subsequently, it came to be held in spring as an event to promote friendship among new students.

Winter Festival
The rice cake pounding event that began in 1974 was renewed as the Winter Festival in December 1984, based on Founder Ikeda’s proposal. 

Soka Art Exhibition
As a 20th anniversary memorial event, Soka Art Exhibition was held in conjunction with the 20th Soka University Festival in November 1990. It was so well received that it became an annual event that continued in the following years.

“It is a unique event operated by faculty, staff, and students all in unity where the art works from schools affiliated to Soka Education from kindergarten to university are exhibited and exchanges with a wide range of overseas educational institutions are featured.” (30 Years of Soka University (Student Version))

Exhibits

• Training uniform of the Soccer Team
• Painting that took its theme from “Oja no chikai (Oath of the King),” the commemorative song of the 18th Takiyama Festival (1989)
• Metal plate “Eichi no toride (Fortress of Wisdom)” created by the first residents of Yuko Dormitory
• Collection of essays written by the members of the Ginrei Chorus Group who visited the Soviet Union and an album that captures their activities
• Paper fan created as a souvenir of Takiyama Festival
• Newspapers, flyers, project proposals, etc. created by student bodies and clubs during 1981-1990
• Graduation writings, Soka University Festival pamphlets, and pamphlets issued by student bodies and clubs during 1981-1990

Brass band won the national competition and was named Soka University Pioneer Wind Orchestra
Soka University’s brass band won the gold prize in the 48th All Japan Band Competition (university division) held in October 2000. In December the same year, the band was given the name “Pioneer Wind Orchestra” by the University Founder Daisaku Ikeda.

Dance Crew won grand prize
Soka University Dance Crew “D.I. Crew” won the grand prize for the first time in the McDonald’s Dance Contest ’92. 
It also participated and won fifth prize in the L.A. World Dance Championship the following year in 1993.

“We will express our young passion with a performance that we can be proud of as the representative of Japan.” (Comment by the representative when they were chosen for the world championship)

Debate Network won the national tournament 
Soka University Debate Network achieved its first victory in the 3rd National Student Debate Tournament held in 1999 and has been winning in the tournament multiple times ever since.

SUNSUN Sports Festival
The SUNSUN Sports Festival was first held in 1995 as a sports festival for men’s dormitories to compete against each other. Takiyama South Dormitory won the first year.

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 concert
The Beethoven Symphony No. 9 concert was first held in December the year the Ikeda Auditorium was completed and became a regular winter event succeeding the Winter Festival. It grew to hold performances outside of the campus.

Soka Friendship Award
The award was first offered based on the consensus of the students as an expression of empathy and respect to Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of Soviet Union when he visited the campus in 1993. Ever since, the award has been given to various intellects of the world upon their visit to Soka University.

Japanese Comedy Research Club won the grand prize
In December 1995, the club won the inter-university “Jodan (Joke) League” at its first participation. Starting from that year, the club won the grand prize in the university division of the Pringles Comedy Contest for four consecutive years up to 1998. 
The club has been home to graduates who have become front-line professional comedians including “Knights.”

Hanawa “During my four years in university living alone, I was living in real poverty.”
Tsuchiya “From high school to my first year in university, I was so shy I couldn’t speak with anyone outside of a limited circle of friends. After I joined the Japanese Comedy Research Club in the latter-half of my second year, I gradually became able to have conversations and communicate with various people.” (Soka University News “SUN,” Vol. 100)

Exhibits

• Plaque of “Gakuho Dormitory” created by the residents of the men’s dormitory
• Fur hat the founder gave to the members of the Folk Dance Club who welcomed Dr. Heinrich Barth, the former State Secretary of West Germany and Prof. Anatoly Logunov, the Rector of Moscow State University (at the time) when they visited Soka University in April 1992.
• Soka Friendship Award which the Student Union presents to learned individuals based on the consensus of the students as an expression of empathy and respect
• Full Contact Karate Club (later named the Full Contact Kick-boxing Team) was the runner-up in the All Japan Full Contact Karate Championship in 1999. In autumn of the same year, the club emerged as champion in the competition.
• Cheerleading group Panthers won a runner-up trophy at the JCA High School and University Championship in 1993. The following year, in 1994, they also won in the same competition.
• Trophy awarded to the Rakugo Club (Japanese Comedy Research Club) for winning its first Comedy Grand Prix Competition against other universities in their first year of participation. With this victory, they have won consecutively in four other competitions.
• An Athletics Fighting Spirit Award trophy was presented to the Full Contact Karate Club (later named the Full Contact Kick-boxing Club) in 1995.
• Newspapers, flyers, project proposals, etc. created by student bodies and clubs during 1991-2000
• Part of the lists of participating organizations and individuals which the Steering Committee of the 30th Soka University Festival (2000) submitted to the founder. The founder and his wife have affixed their seals on them.
• Graduation writings, Soka University Festival pamphlets, and pamphlets issued by student bodies and clubs during 1991-2000

Student staff supporting job hunting
When the career center was established in 2004, fourth-year students who had already accepted a job-placement formed a volunteering team to support the job-hunting activities of their juniors.

“Career Support Staff (CSS) supports the first- and second-year students link their career aspirations to how they spend their life as a student, and Recruitment Support Staff (RSS) supports the third-year students in their overall job-hunting activities.” (50 years of Soka University)

The Economics Theory Association achieved its first victory
In 2007, Soka University Economics Theory Association won the 8th inter-university competition of the Economics Record Examination (ERE) at its first participation, and thereafter has won the competition for 11 consecutive years.

“We all worked hard because we wanted to make Soka University Japan’s top university in an academic field.” (Comment by the association leader when they won the 11th inter-university competition in 2009)

Soka Book Wave
The “Soka Book Wave” was launched in 2005 by integrating individual campaigns separately implemented by the library, dormitories, and the Students’ Association into a university-wide reading promotion campaign.

Women’s Judo Team won the national championship
In June 2008, the women’s team of Soka University Judo Team won the All Japan Student Judo Championship Tournament (category: 3-member teams) for the first time.

Masurao Group won the national championship
The Masurao Group, a full-contact Karate Team (current Full-contact Kick-boxing Team), won the 64th All Japan Students Kickboxing Championship in 2002. It has been winning the championship multiple times ever since.

New dormitory songs
In June 2005, the University Founder made some improvements to the lyrics of the dormitory song composed by resident students in preparation for the men’s dormitory general assembly, and the men’s dormitory song “Seishun no Shiro (Citadel of Youth)” was completed. The new women’s dormitory song “Kibou no Hikari (Light of Hope)” was also completed the same year.

Voluntary crime prevention patrol by students
Voluntary crime prevention patrols started in 2004 to raise traffic safety awareness among Soka University students and prevent crimes in the neighborhood.

Second straight victory in the birdman competition
In July 2005, Soka University Birdmen Club won the Formula Class, Glider Category of the 29th Japan International Birdman Rally with a record-breaking performance. It achieved a second straight victory the following year beating its own record by a significant margin.

“Here comes last year’s champion, Soka University Birdmen Club. They won the rally with a record of 50m 77. How will the defending champion do this year?”
“Just when the excitement of the audience was mounting in expectation of a great record, the measurement was announced, “157m 37.” A big applause broke out, and the team members and supporters burst into tears of joy.” (Soka University News “SUN,” Vol. 51)

Exhibits

• Trophy and testimonial awarded to Soka University Birdmen Club which won the Japan International Birdman Rally for the first time in 2005
• CD containing the new dorm songs of the men’s and women’s dormitories and items created by resident students
• Music box of the song “Ouka no Enishi (Ties of the Cherry Blossom),” China Research Club made in commemoration of the 30th anniversary since the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations
• Graduation writings, Soka University Festival pamphlets, and pamphlets issued by student bodies and clubs during 2001-2010
• Testimonial awarded to the Birdmen Club in 2005 when they first won the Japan International Birdman Rally
• Commemorative photo taken at Wakaba Festival, a women’s dorm event.
• Newspapers, flyers, project proposals, etc. created by student bodies and clubs during 2001-2010
• The wings of an aircraft built by the Birdmen Club

Student exchange and overseas training programs 
The number of overseas institutions that have an exchange agreement with Soka University has grown to more than 200. Over 300 students participated in the AY2019 overseas spring training programs encompassing a total of 30 courses held by the university, respective faculties, or as internship courses.

“The number of both Japanese students studying abroad and incoming students from overseas are increasing at Soka University. Approximately 60% of Soka University students are participating in study abroad or overseas training programs during their enrollment, and 10% of all enrolled students are international students from overseas.” (50 years of Soka University)

Active participation in international conferences, etc.
Along with the progress of Soka University’s global citizenship education, Soka University students are increasingly being selected as the representative of Japan for international conferences and youth exchange events.

• The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
• G(irls)20 Global Summit
• Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR)

…and many more

Team SOBITS
Team SOBITS consisting of undergraduate and graduate students of the Faculty of Science and Engineering has been making significant achievements including the league victory in the RoboCup Japan Open 2020, a competition of autonomous mobile robots.

Student staff supporting the operation of dormitories
As of 2020, there are 2 undergraduate men’s dormitories, 5 undergraduate women’s dormitories, 1 men’s dormitory for international students, 2 women’s dormitories for international students, 4 international dormitories, 4 graduate students’ dormitories, and 4 sports dormitories at Soka University. They are operated under the general rule of senior students supporting junior students, a tradition that has been inherited since the foundation of the university.

“Based on the University’s tradition of ‘senior students working to support the growth of their juniors,’ senior dorm residents (who are called Zanryo-sei in the men’s dorms, Himawari Committee in the women’s dorms, and Resident Assistants (RA) in the international dorms) support and facilitate dorm life of new students and international students.” (50 years of Soka University)

Baseball Team has produced many professional baseball players
Soka University Baseball Team has won the New Tokyo University Baseball League 47 times and 26 consecutive years up to 2020. The Team has produced 20 professional baseball players to date.

Remarkable breakthrough in the Hakone Ekiden Collegiate Relay Marathon
After many years of earnest endeavor, Soka University finally qualified for the first time to participate in the 91st Hakone Ekiden Collegiate Relay Marathon in 2014. Upon its third participation in 2020, the team came in ninth place and obtained the right to be seeded in the following year for the first time. In 2021, the team won the first day and came in second for the whole two-day race, making itself known as one of the strongest Ekiden teams in the Kanto region.

“Enjoying the feel of running at the top of the pack”
(January 2, 2021 Comment by Kazutaka Enoki (Soka University Track & Field Road Relay Team coach) after winning the first day of the race)

Exhibits

• Certificate awarded to Team SOBITS for winning the Partner Robot Challenge in World Robot Summit of RoboCup Japan Open 2018 Ogaki. Team SOBITS also won the RoboCup @Home Education League held as part of the same RoboCup event.
• The gold medal which Seigi Tanaka (43rd class, pitcher of Soka University Baseball Team) won at the 28th Summer Universiade (held in Gwangju, South Korea) as a member of national representative, when was selected as a member of the Samurai Japan Collegiate National Team and a commemorative signed ball
• A dish created by a team of students from the Faculty of International Liberal Arts that helps the users lower their calorie intake by taking advantage of optical illusion effect. They were the first team from Japan to participate in the International Young Inventor Awards in 2018 with the participation of approximately 5,000 students from 15 countries around the world. Among the 317 groups that participated in the competition, they were the only team that won an overall gold medal, best presenter award, and international best invention award all at once.
• Graduation writings, Soka University Festival pamphlets, and pamphlets issued by student bodies of recent years
• A commemorative hoodie made by an international students’ group that opens an “International Students’ Cafe” every year at the Soka University Festival
• Newspapers, flyers, project proposals, etc. created by student bodies and clubs in recent years