In 1938 they both attended a leaders meeting where the leadership of Reiyūkai made several comments stating that the Lotus Sutra was outdated.

[1] On March 5, 1938, they founded Risshō Kōsei Kai, holding the first meeting in Niwano's house.

[2] He also spoke on several occasions as the United Nations calling for world peace and the abolition of nuclear arms.

In 1992 he was made a Knight Commander with the Silver Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Vatican.

Author Daniel Montgomery writes that "no Buddhist leader in the World has become more widely known or showered with honours than him.