page_title: Hokkekō
section_title: Organization
hierarchical_section_title: Hokkekō / Organization
caption_attribution_description: English: Inca Rose stone from Peru Juzu prayer beads
context_page_description: Hokkekō is the mainstream lay organization affiliated with the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. It traces its origins to three martyr disciples who were arrowed and later beheaded in the Atsuhara persecutions and a more recent tradition of family lineages between 1726 and 1829 who have historically protected the Dai-Gohonzon over the centuries.
  The word Hokke is a reference to the Lotus Sutra, the Buddhist scripture Nichiren Shoshu bases its teachings on, and kō in this usage means "lay group" or "congregation". Based on the word Hokke Shu inscribed on the Dai Gohonzon, another translation is "Lotus believers". As part of its official doctrine, the same sect teaches that Nichiren designated this term for his own followers during his lifetime.
  The Hokkeko lay memberships are headed by local leaders called Koto, and are not affiliated with any political organization. Hokkeko members meet in residential homes and hold a local chapter each year to plan their Tozan religious pilgrimages to the Taisekiji temple.
context_section_description: In addition to being what congregations of Nichiren Shoshu temples (close to 700 in Japan and 20 in other countries) have traditionally called themselves, Hokkekō is also used loosely in reference to all temple congregations (local Hokkekō chapters) collectively. When used this way, it can be understood to mean the national Hokkekō umbrella organization in Japan and Hokkekō groups that encompass the congregations of Nichiren Shoshu temples outside Japan.
  The Japanese umbrella organization, officially called the Hokkekō Rengō Kai (Hokkekō Federation), is related to Japanese Buddhism and was incorporated under Japanese law in 1962. Its headquarters are located at Hodo-in temple Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, and it maintains a chapter at each local temple.
  Hokkekō groups tend to be organized fairly loosely and are generally unregimented. Whereas some members are very active in temple-based propagation and other activities, others come only for a monthly service called o-kō (or, more formally, go-hō—on o-kō (御 報 恩 御 講), "meeting to show gratitude to the Buddha"), the annual Oeshiki ceremony on the anniversary of Nichiren Daishonin's passing, and other temple events.
  Though Nichiren Shoshu still considered individual Soka Gakkai members to be lay followers until a rule change in September 1997, most members mistakenly believed that they had been excommunicated along with the Soka Gakkai organization and its executive leaders.
  Hokkekō is not affiliated with any political organization. The current Dai-Koto of the Hokkeko Federation is Mr. Koichiro Hoshino.
caption: Buddhist Juzu prayer beads with white cords and balls, the only color and format permitted for use within Nichiren Shoshu practice.
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