is the mainstream lay organization affiliated with the Nichiren Shà Âshà «. It traces its origins to three martyr disciples who were arrowed and later beheaded in the Atsuhara persecutions and a more recent tradition of family lineages between 1726 and 1829 who have historically protected the Dai-Gohonzon over the centuries.
The word Hokke is a reference to the Lotus Sà «tra (妠泠è® è¯ 綠Myà Âhà Â-Renge-Kyà  or æ³ è¯ 綠Hokekyà Â), the Buddhist scripture Nichiren Shà Âshà « bases its teachings on, and in this usage means "lay group" or "congregation". Based on the word Hokke Shu inscribed on the Dai Gohonzon, another translation is "Lotus believers". As part of its official doctrine, the same sect teaches that Nichiren designated this term for his own followers during his lifetime.
The Hokkekà  lay memberships are headed by local leaders called Koto, and are not affiliated with any political organization. Hokkekà  members meet in residential homes and hold a local chapter each year to plan their Tozan religious pilgrimages to the Taisekiji temple.
Prior to 27 December 1997, lay members of the Sà Âka Gakkai were considered by Nichiren Shà Âshà « to be equal to Hokkekà  members, entitled to participate in meetings and see the Dai-Gohonzon, allowing a 7-year span before officially ending their sectarian membership, which went into effect on 1 December 1997. The current Dai-Koto Chairperson for the Hokkekà  Federation is Mr. Koichiro Hoshino.
Before the current lay association established with Nichiren Shà Âshà « members, the Hokkekà  traces its origins to the Atsuhara persecutions, who were mostly lower-class peasants in Japanese feudal society. Seventeen believers were whipped and dragged to their death, while three farmers, Jin-shirou, Yagoro and Yarou-Kuro, were tied to a wooden post and killed by arrows after not renouncing the Lotus Sà «tra in favour of the Pure Land teachings.
In later references, temple congregations known as Hokkekà  or date back to at least the 13th century. Nichiren Daishà Ânin (1222âÂÂ1282), the founder of Nichiren Shà Âshà «, also referred collectively to his lay followers as HokkeâÂÂshà « in the dedication written on the Dai-Gohonzon, the school's object of veneration, inscribed on 12 October 1279.
Nichiren Shà Âshà « attributes the appellation Hokkekà  to this usage by Nichiren Daishà Ânin. Hokkekà  is the name given to Nichiren Daishà Ânin's believers who died at the Atsuhara persecution and its present living family descendants. They are affiliated with the head temple at Taiseki-ji in Japan.
In addition to being what congregations of Nichiren Shà Âshà « temples (close to 700 in Japan and 20 in other countries) have traditionally called themselves, Hokkekà  is also used loosely in reference to all temple congregations (local Hokkekà  chapters) collectively. When used this way, it can be understood to mean the national Hokkekà  umbrella organization in Japan and Hokkekà  groups that encompass the congregations of Nichiren Shà Âshà « temples outside Japan.
The Japanese umbrella organization, officially called the Hokkekà  Rengà  Kai (Hokkekà  Federation), is related to Japanese Buddhism and was incorporated under Japanese law in July 1962. Its headquarters are located at Hodo-in temple Toshima Tà Âkyà Â, Japan, and it maintains a chapter at each local temple.
Hokkekà  groups tend to be organized fairly loosely and are generally unregimented. Whereas some members are very active in temple-based propagation and other activities, others come only for a monthly service called o-kà  (or, more formally, , "meeting to show gratitude to the Buddha"), the annual Oeshiki ceremony on the anniversary of Nichiren Daishà Ânin's passing, and other temple events.
Hokkekà  is not affiliated with any political organization. (The former Dai-Koto was Mr. Kisoji Yanagisawa.) The current Dai-Koto of the Hokkekà  Federation is Mr. Koichiro Hoshino. The present vice-chairman is Mr. Hiroo Sekino.