Today marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Toda Peace Institute. To celebrate the occasion, the Japanese version of the Toda Peace Institute website carries a timeline of notable events from the past 30 years.

In addition, an article in the Seikyo Shimbun features an interview with the new director of Toda Peace Institute, Dr Stein Tønnesson, in which he outlines his dedication to the cause of peace which was established from childhood, as he attended anti-nuclear demonstrations with his father. He remembers his mother trembling with fear during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"I was also influenced by my encounter with Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, founder of the Toda Peace Institute," said Dr Tønnesson. "As the then-director of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), I visited Japan in 2002 to present Dr. Ikeda with an award for his contributions to peace studies. Whatimpressed me most during our meeting was Dr. Ikeda's willingness to listen and learn. Rather than expressing his own views, he asked carefully prepared questions and listened intently to what I had to say. It seemed as though Dr. Ikeda expected me to speak more than he did. This spirit of dialogue is the key to overcoming the divisions of our time."