On Aug. 14, 1947, Daisaku Ikeda, at just 19 years old, attended his first Soka Gakkai discussion meeting, encountering the man who would become his mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda. Just 10 days later, on Aug. 24, the young Daisaku took up faith in Nichiren Buddhism and became a member of the Soka Gakkai. At the conclusion of a study lecture, the then-Soka Gakkai General Director Josei Toda announced his resignation from his position—a decision he made to shield the organization from his business troubles. He worried about what would happen to the Soka Gakkai and kosen-rufu. Mr. Toda replied decisively: “No.