Risshō Kōsei Kai

Rissho Kosei Kai is a Japanese Buddhist movement of lay people. It is an off shoot of Nichiren. One of its main founders, Nikky-o Niwano, was an observer at the Second Vatican Council and active in the peace movement. He died with a fairly sizeable estate. The organization began in 1938 and its name means "the Society for Righteousness and Friendship." They are known for hosting the Niwano Peace Prize. They have been strong advocates for religious pluralism with the current President on good terms with the leaders of several religions particularly Christian.

The group has nevertheless faced criticism which alleges that it is too strongly linked to the Liberal Democratic Party and supported militarist Japanese elements in WWII. There is also criticism that is specifically Buddhist in nature concerning it being said to practicefortune telling, ancestor worship and considering its founder Niwano an important incarnation. The estate Niwano left was seen as a sign of an un-Buddhist materialism by critics. The strongest criticism seems to come from other Buddhists, especially Nichiren groups.

It had its most rapid growth before 1950, but some sources still place it as having around 5,000,000 adherents.

External Links

• Rissho's own site
• Catholic news site from Asia on Niwano Prize
• PDF on the group
• Obit of leader
• Buddhist Council of New South Wales's Anti-Rissho site