Einosuke Akiya

Einosuke Akiya (秋谷 栄之助, Akiya Einosuke, born July 15, 1930 in Tokyo) is a Japanese Buddhist leader. He was the fifth president of Soka Gakkai from 18 July 1981 to 9 November 2006. After his resignation from that position, he became the chairman of the Supreme Leader Meeting of Soka Gakkai in November 2006. He was also the manager of the Men's Division, the Youth Division of Soka Gakkai, the chairman of the Central Meeting and Kofu Shimbun Meeting of Soka Gakkai, the supreme advisor of Sōka University, the honorary director of Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, the supreme advisor of the Min-On Concert Association, the director of the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the acting president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI).

His brother-in-law, Kōshirō Ishida, is a former member of the House of Representatives in the National Diet and the former president of the New Komeito Party. His older brother, Tsuguo Ishida, is a former member of the House of Councillors in the National Diet.

Early life

He attended Tokyo Metropolitan Bunkyo High School. After graduating from Waseda University with a B.A. degree in French Literature, he went to work at the Seikyo Shimbun company, one of Japan's daily newspapers. He also acted as its copy chief.

Soka Gakkai presidency