Nikken Abe family name Abe
Nikken Abe (阿部日顕, Abe Nikken; also known as Nikken Shonin; 19 December 1922 – 20 September 2019) was a Japanese Buddhist monk who served as the 67th High Priest of Nichiren Shōshū Buddhism and chief priest of Taiseki-ji head Temple in Fujinomiya, Japan.Before becoming High Priest, he served as the head of the doctrinal department of Nichiren Shoshu and as such was involved in the compilation of many of the school's publications. As High Priest, Abe affirmed the permanent expulsion of Soka Gakkai on 28 November 1991 and was known for the destruction of the "Sho Hondo" in 1997 and the return of the Head Temple Taisekiji to earlier traditional and orthodox practices that were prevalent up to 1970. Ultimately, he reconstructed a new replacement building "Hoando" in June 2002. 
He retired as High Priest on 15 December 2005 and was succeeded by Hayase Nichinyo Shonin. Abe died on 20 September 2019 in his private residence in Nakamachi street, in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, aged 96.As High Priest
On 22 July 1979, Abe took over as high priest, shortly after the death of the 66th High Priest Nittatsu Hosoi. At that time, he changed his name three times: he initially changed his name to Nichi-gō (the name beginning with Nichi that all priests have but use publicly after certain seniority) from Nichiji (日慈) to finally Nikken (日顕) in deference to a more-senior priest who was father of the current high priest, Nichinyo.On 4 December 2005, Abe announced his intention to step down as high priest before the end of the year. He performed the ceremony of transferral of the Heritage of the Law on 12 December 2005, in which he appointed Nichinyo Hayase (1935—)  his successor. He officially retired on 15 December 2005, four days before his 83rd birthday, after 26 years as high priest. Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shōnin ascended to the high priest's seat at a ceremony on 16 December 2005. Abe had a wife, Masako Abe, and a son born in 1944, Shinsho Abe.Abe's tenure as high priest was marked by a mixture of progress and controversy.
He officiated several milestone celebrations, including:
1981 —The 700th anniversary of Nichiren's death.
1982 — The 650th anniversaries of the passing of Taiseki-ji's founder Nikkō and his successor Nichimoku
1990 —  The 700th anniversary of Taiseki-ji's founding
2004 — The 750th anniversary of Nichiren's proclamation of his teachingsIn addition, Abe oversaw the compilation and publication of several important works, including compilations of previous high priests' letters, treatises, and sermons, and official biographies of Nichiren and his successors.
1981 — Nichiren Daishōnin Shōden
1982 —  Nikkō Shōnin, Nichimoku Shōnin Shōden
1999 — Revision of 1978 Nichiren Shōshū Yōgi  (a comprehensive overview of Nichiren Shoshu doctrine)
1994 —  Heisei Shimpen Nichiren Daishōnin Gosho, a new compilation of Nichiren Daishonin's Gosho based on thorough historical and documentary surveys.Abe also initiated and oversaw the publication of the following important Taisekiji publications:
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