Nikkyo Niwano was born in 1906 in Niigata Prefecture in northern Japan. His family were farmers. As a child he was deeply impressed by his grandfather's and parent's kindness to others. Their good examples instilled in him a love of peace and harmony and service to others.
After leaving school he went to Tokyo. He studied and practiced various spiritual teachings in search for the truth.
One evening he heard a series of lectures given by Sukenobu Arai on the Lotus Sutra.
He described his first encounter with the Lotus Sutra -
"In my own vague way, I constantly sought a rule that would save everyone, a rule that was not mysterious, but was convincingly based on reason."
"Listening to lectures on the Lotus Sutra I realised that I had found what I had been looking for. The Lotus Sutra was the perfect net in which to save everyone in the world. Physically and spiritually it could help both the individual and all of society. I was profoundly shaken by what I had learned."
On 5th March 1938, Nikkyo Niwano, founded the Rissho Kosei-kai to help free people from suffering and to assist in establishing a peaceful world through the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. There were thirty members - today there are 6.2 million.
The name Rissho Kosei-kai stands for " a society organised by people of the same faith who, through their religious interactions and unity of belief, strive to perfect the personality of man and realise a peaceful world according to the Buddha's Law."
In 1964 the Great Sacred Hall was completed in Tokyo. It is the main centre for the religious activities of the RKK.
An image of the Eternal Buddha, as described in the Lotus Sutra, is enshrined threre.
The headquarters of the RKK is in a complex surrounding the Great Sacred Hall in Tokyo.
The senior leadership of the RKK consists of its president, board of directors and chief director. Working with them are about 400 staff members in numerous departments who work together to ensure the smooth running of the 227 branches worldwide, religious affairs, educational affairs and youth activities.
In the United Kingdom the Rissho Kosei-kai have four trustees who oversee the well being of the membership.
The RKK - UK meet regularly in religious observance of the Lotus Sutra. Both members and non-members are cordially invited to attend RKK observances.
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