SGI-Brazil Josho Center

The Justice Chronicle, provided by Soka Gakkai International-USA, is a free monthly e-mail in support of the Soka Spirit movement. Soka Spirit is the SGI's educational effort to create value and deepen our understanding of Nichiren Buddhism through increased awareness of issues surrounding the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and the spiritual foundation of the SGI movement.

BRAZILIAN HIGH COURT REJECTS NICHIREN SHOSHU APPEAL FOR THE SECOND TIME

On April 1, the Sao Paulo State Appellate Court dismissed an appeal filed by Nichiren Shoshu over rightful ownership of the former Ichijo-ji temple, now called the SGI-Brazil Josho (ever-victorious) center. The appeal followed an earlier decision by the same appellate court, which upheld the Brazilian Supreme Court ruling rejecting the priesthood's claims that it was the rightful owner of the facility.

Nichiren Shoshu has argued that the facility's executive director, an SGI-Brazil member, was replaced by a Nichiren Shoshu believer in a June 1991 board of directors meeting. Although the Supreme Court and other lower courts have since ruled that the termination of the executive director's position was wrongful and invalid, Nichiren Shoshu is granted the right to appeal the decisions under Brazilian law if a suit is filed within two years of the final court decision. [See JUSTICE CHRONICLE, No. 186.]

TOKYO COURT THROWS OUT LAWSUIT AGAINST SOKA GAKKAI

On March 25, the Tokyo District Court dismissed a civil suit filed by Toshimitsu Ryu, a former Komeito Tokyo Assembly Member, and seven other plaintiffs against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The eight plaintiffs charged that the Tokyo government should levy taxes on Soka Gakkai culture centers because the lay Buddhist organization, having been excommunicated by Nichiren Shoshu in 1991, was no longer entitled to tax exemptions as a religious corporation.

The plaintiffs also claimed that it was illegal for the Soka Gakkai to use its facilities for the purposes of political campaign activities.

Tokyo District Court presiding judge Masayuki Fujiyama rejected their claims as legally flawed and inadmissible.

It should also be noted that the Soka Gakkai has been registered as an independent religious corporation since 1952. Also, Japanese law does not prohibit religious groups to use their facilities for electoral activities.