Soka Gakkai Members Make Death Threats

Soka Gakkai Members Make Death Threats on Congressman's Life 

Daisaku Ikeda and the Soka Gakkai are exhibiting what can only be described as bizarre behavior. October 11, 1994, at the House of Representatives Budget Committee Meeting, Congressman Mr. Jirou Kawasaki (Liberal Democratic Party) raised questions concerning the Soka Gakkai. In response to that, the Soka Gakkai held two demonstrations in the congressman's district. Additionally, the Soka Gakkai used its organ paper, the Seikyo Newspaper to protest his actions. Further, the Soka Gakkai, no different from members of an organized crime family, overwhelmed Mr. Kawasaki's office with more than one hundred terroristic threats by phone each day. Workers in Mr. Kawasaki's office who received the terrorist threats stated that they were afraid for their lives.

There is growing criticism that the Soka Gakkai, which has gone beyond the bounds of actions characterizing any manner of a religious organization, is displaying behavior that violates the rules of a democratic society by attempting to censor and suppress speech.

At the House of Representatives Budget Committee Meeting, Congressman Kawasaki raised questions concerning the matter of the Soka Gakkai and the Komei Party that are in violation of the constitutional requirement for separation of church and state. He also pointed out that Soka Gakkai's aggression against Nichiren Shoshu, including violent and terroristic activities are in violation of the constitutional right to "freedom of religion" in that they are activities aimed at obstructing the religious activities of Nichiren Shoshu.

Soka Gakkai To Be Investigated For The Murder Of Rev. Ouhashi

Additionally, Congressman Kawasaki requested the National Police Agency to carry out a strict investigation into the death of Rev. Shinmei Ouhashi, chief priest of Nichiren Shoshu Jinmyoji Temple in Hokkaido, Japan. Within two to three hours of Rev. Ouhashi's death, Soka Gakkai members handed out several hundred posters that stated, "It's Heaven's Punishment Of The Nikken Sect! The Death of Rev. Shinmei Ouhashi!"

The Soka Gakkai, in response to this, on the 12th and 16th held emergency meetings where they denounced Congressman Kawasaki's actions as "interfering with religious activities" and "violation of the human rights of Mr. S," the driver of the truck and member of Soka Gakkai who smashed his two ton truck into Rev. Ouhashi on an isolated and deserted rural mountain road in a bizarre, kamikaze-like attack.

An individual, who works for Soka Gakkai headquarters, stated that this is the Gakkai's way of showing to all that if you question the actions of the Gakkai, we will make a "blood festival" out of that person.

"If what I questioned was mistaken, if there were opposing debate, open debate should be conducted on the House floor. Even the matter of separation of church and state, the Komeito themselves declare that the Soka Gakkai and the Komei Party are separated. Therefore, if we question that they indeed are not separated, the Komei Party can reply and prove in actuality that they are. However, they made no attempt to debate or prove that they are separated. What's more, the Soka Gakkai attacked from an entirely extraneous direction claiming religious oppression based on government authority.

They acted in a similar way concerning the incident of Rev. Ouhashi's death. To hand out posters maligning Rev. Ouhashi by claiming his death was 'heaven's punishment', and so forth, was to trample on the deceased. Based on common sense, their actions were incomprehensible. Therefore I urged the National Police Agency to investigate. Soka Gakkai then demonstrated and claimed, 'violation of human rights'.

Matters that should be taken up for discussion in congress, the Soka Gakkai takes up out on the streets and then libels and slanders elected officials. Their actions are extremely peculiar."

Source: Shukan Jitsuwa, Nov. 10, 1994, pgs. 22 - 25