Editing Nichiren Shōshū (section)

=== Soka Gakkai (創価学会, Value Creation Society), 1991 ===
[[File:Reception Hall of Taiseki-ji in 1993.jpg|thumb|The former building of Dai-Kyakuden, (English: Grand Reception Hall), built on 1 March 1959, expanded in 1964 and demolished in September 1995. Photo circa 19 August 1993.]]
Nichiren Shōshū excommunicated the Soka Gakkai and the [[Soka Gakkai International]] (SGI) on 28 November 1991 due to doctrinal conflicts and the reputation of the Soka Gakkai, at that time entangled in political and financial scandals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sokaspirit.org/nov-28-1991-sgi-day-of-spiritual-independence-2/|title = Nov. 28, 1991: SGI Day of Spititual Independence &#124; Soka Spirit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nst.org/sgi-faqs/the-history-of-the-relationship-between-nichiren-shoshu-and-the-soka-gakkai/4-events-leading-to-excommunication-of-soka-gakkai/ |title=4. Events leading up to the excommunication of the Soka Gakkai • NST Nichiren Shoshu Temple |access-date=2019-01-05 |archive-date=2019-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106055119/https://www.nst.org/sgi-faqs/the-history-of-the-relationship-between-nichiren-shoshu-and-the-soka-gakkai/4-events-leading-to-excommunication-of-soka-gakkai/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Soka Gakkai had emerged as a lay organization, but as early as 1956, doctrinal conflicts simmered, evidenced by the alleged declaration of the second president of Soka Gakkai, Josei Toda, to the 65th High Priest Nichijun Shonin during the reconstruction of Myoden-ji Temple, claiming the organizational leadership no longer upheld Nichiren Shoshu doctrines.<ref name="sokaspirit.org">{{Cite web|url=http://sokaspirit.org/home/newsletter/former-los-angeles-priest-speaks-out/|title=Former Los Angeles Priest Speaks Out &#124; Soka Spirit|website=sokaspirit.org}}</ref> [[Nikken Abe]] publicly criticized the Soka Gakkai for deviating from the traditionalist doctrines of Nichiren Shoshu. Also, Nichiren Shoshu denounced "a whole series of scandals and anti-social behavior, such as the obstacle to certain publications or the affair of listening to the telephone conversations of the honorary president of the PC. On a more recent date, we can mention (. ..) his involvement in the political and stock market scandal Recruit, in illegal transactions on Renoir paintings and in a case of false income declarations".

These and other conflicts resulted in a complete and formal disassociation of the two sides after Nichiren Shōshū excommunicated the leaders of the Sōka Gakkai and stripped it of its status as a lay organization of Nichiren Shōshū in 1991. Ultimately, Daisaku Ikeda was excommunicated from the role of ''Sokoto'' or lay leader by High Priest Nikken, while the formal decree of excommunication invalidated the tax exempt status of Soka Gakkai under Japanese law due to its lack of temple affiliation.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

On 30 September 1997, Nichiren Shōshū excommunicated all [[Soka Gakkai International]] members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sokaspirit.org/world-tribune/editorial-excommunicating-the-excommunicated/|title=Editorial: Excommunicating the Excommunicated &#124; Soka Spirit|website=sokaspirit.org}}</ref><ref name="McLaughlin2012">{{cite journal|first=Levi |last=McLaughlin |title=Did Aum Change Everything? What Soka Gakkai Before, During, and After the Aum Shinrikyo Affair Tells Us About the Persistent "Otherness" of New Religions in Japan |journal=Japanese Journal of Religious Studies |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=51–75 |year=2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223213130/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4110 |archive-date=2013-12-23 |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4110}}</ref>{{rp|69}}