The first seeds were planted in Ishikawa, Japan where a small gathering of peace workers joined Masahisa Goi to listen to his philosophy and visions for a better world. Masahisa Goi came to be respected as a great master in his field throughout Japan and his ideals for peace on earth gained much support.
Small Neighborhood gatherings grew larger in numbers throughout Japan and the movement started to gain momentum. Stickers and posters started to appear on store fronts, public bulletin boards, and telephone poles. Supporters handed out literature and stickers to the public in front of train stations and other public locations.
Masahisa Goi encouraged creative ways in order to carry the message to public view. In 1976, the idea of placing the Peace Message and Prayer on poles began to gain popularity. This was the first impulse which led to the beginnings of the Peace Pole Project.
With the passing of Mr. Goi in 1983, his adopted daughter, Masami Saionji became Chairperson of the peace movement. Through the directives of Mrs. Saionji, the movement began to expand and gain international recognition.
The World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremony was created by Mrs. Saionji in 1983 as a global celebration of the oneness of humanity. The first Ceremony outside of Japan was held in Los Angeles, California - USA, in 1986 and since then, it has been presented to international audiences on every continent and in every prominent city throughout the world.
Use these resources to explore and learn more about Peace Poles.