Soka Gakkai stands as a lay Buddhist movement that is directly rooted in the tradition of Nichiren Buddhism and grounded in Nichiren’s own writings. It upholds the Lotus Sutra as the supreme Buddhist teaching and regards the chanting of Nam‑myōhō‑renge‑kyō as the central practice for realizing enlightenment in this lifetime. This chanting is directed toward the Gohonzon, a calligraphic mandala that embodies the focus of faith and practice in Nichiren’s tradition. In this way, Soka Gakkai positions itself as an authentic expression of Nichiren’s doctrine, emphasizing that all people possess Buddha nature and can reveal it amid the realities of daily life.

Historically, Soka Gakkai emerged as a lay organization within the Nichiren Shōshū school, supporting its priesthood and accepting its doctrinal authority. For many years it functioned as the lay arm of that temple-based tradition, sharing the same core practices and reverence for Nichiren as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. A decisive turning point came with the schism of 1991, when Nichiren Shōshū excommunicated Soka Gakkai and its leadership over issues of doctrine and religious authority. From that time, Soka Gakkai has operated as an independent lay movement, no longer recognizing the authority of the Nichiren Shōshū priesthood while maintaining its commitment to Nichiren’s writings and the practice centered on the Gohonzon.

In its self-understanding, Soka Gakkai sees itself as carrying forward the spirit of Nichiren in a form accessible to contemporary lay practitioners. The movement stresses personal inner transformation—often articulated as a profound change in one’s life state—through the sustained practice of chanting and study of Nichiren’s teachings. This inner change is not viewed as a purely private matter but as the wellspring for constructive engagement with society, including efforts toward peace and the dignity of life. By emphasizing the capacity of ordinary individuals to embody the Lotus Sutra in the midst of everyday challenges, Soka Gakkai presents its lay orientation not as a departure from Nichiren Buddhism, but as a living, dynamic continuation of it.