Genoa City, Italy, Pays Tribute to Daisaku Ikeda’s Legacy of Peace and Dialogue
Benedetto Pesce Maineri, Youth Mayor of Genova Municipality (left), and Soka Gakkai Italy President Alberto Aprea unveil the plaque honoring Daisaku Ikeda
In February 2024, the municipality and city of Genoa, Italy, passed a resolution to honor Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023) with a commemorative plaque on the exterior grounds of the Oriental Art Museum E. Chiossone, located within Municipality I Centro Est. The resolution recognizes his founding of numerous international institutions dedicated to promoting peace, culture and education, as well as his advocacy of dialogue as a key approach to addressing global challenges.
The resolution was approved in the presence of Municipal Council members, including Director of Municipality I Centro Est Marco Pasini; Assistant Secretary Anna Ciccarelli; President Andrea Carratù; Vice President Daniela Marziano; and councillors Tomaso Antonio Giaretti and Stefania Cosso.
The Oriental Art Museum E. Chiossone,
Italy’s foremost museum of Japanese art, was chosen as a fitting location for
the tribute to Mr. Ikeda.
On October 12, 2024, a ceremony was held at
the museum to unveil the commemorative plaque, attended by some 70 people.
Local legislators and other speakers delivered speeches during the ceremony,
praising President Ikeda for his dedication to peace.
Commemorative plaque
Among the speakers was Professor Elisabetta
Colagrossi, an expert in religious history and interfaith dialogue at the University of Genoa and spokesperson for the Religious
Consultative Committee. She highlighted Mr. Ikeda’s achievement of
conducting over 50 dialogues with global intellectuals during his lifetime, emphasizing that these were not merely academic exchanges but transformative
efforts to create a better world. She reiterated the importance of inner
transformation as a foundation for peace.
Citing
Nichiren’s writings, Dr. Colagrossi stressed that mutual understanding and
respect foster growth. The plaque, she noted, serves as an “important gift”
preserving the memory of a great thinker and expressed her hope that attendees
would continue to embody Mr. Ikeda’s spirit of hope and dialogue.
Soka
Gakkai Italy President Alberto Aprea delivered final remarks, sharing a message
from Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada. He emphasized that an awareness of
the interconnectedness of all life and a commitment to building a future filled
with hope are essential for realizing peace. Quoting Mr. Ikeda’s serialized
novels, The Human Revolution
and The New Human
Revolution, he recited the opening line of the latter, which is
inscribed on the plaque:
“Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness. Peace is the basic starting point for the advancement of humankind.”
Mr. Aprea stressed that inner transformation is key to protecting society from war and establishing lasting peace, noting that when individuals unlock their potential and unite for change, a new era of respect for the dignity of life will emerge. He concluded by highlighting the pivotal role of youth in this transformation, urging everyone to continue spreading Mr. Ikeda’s message of peace and friendship into the future.
[Adapted from an article in the November 2, 2024, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
