Motoyuki Naganuma, a special adviser to Rissho Koseikai, Japan's second-largest lay Buddhist organization, and a former chairman of the Niwano Peace Foundation, died of heart failure at 4:40 p.m. on April 7 at a hospital in Tokyo's Nakano Ward. He was 78.
Naganuma was a supporter of Nikkyo Niwano, the joint founder of Rissho Koseikai, and held important positions at the Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan, the World Conference on Religion and Peace, first held in Kyoto in 1970, and the Niwano Peace Foundation.
In 1952, Naganuma became the first chairman of Rissho Koseikai and held the position for 42 years. Even after he stepped down, he continued to help the religious group to develop as its special adviser.
A memorial service for Naganuma will be held at 11 a.m. on June 23 at the Daiseido hall at Rissho Koseikai in Tokyo's Suginami Ward.