Soka University (創価大学, Sōka Daigaku) is a private university located in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan. The school was founded in 1969 and opened to undergraduate students in 1971 and opened a graduate school in 1975. Soka University of America is a related school located in Aliso Viejo, California and offers a wide range of both graduate and undergraduate degrees. It was founded in 2001. Soka University's educational philosophy was established by Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the first president of Soka Gakkai, who had worked as the principal of an elementary school in Japan. Makiguchi published the Value Creating Educational System based on his belief that "the purpose of education is to lead students' happiness," and emphasized humanistic education pedagogy. This educational philosophy was shared by his successor, Josei Toda, who had served as an elementary school teacher. Toda's successor Daisaku Ikeda describes his goal as carrying out the dreams of Makiguchi and Toda. Soka is a Japanese term meaning "value creation." In 1971, as Dr. Daisaku Ikeda founded Soka University, the school established the following founding principles: 1. Be the highest seat of learning for humanistic education.