Masahisa Goi and Global Peace Pole Day

November 22nd marks both Global Peace Pole Day and the birthday of Masahisa Goi, the Japanese writer and spiritual teacher whose simple yet powerful message—“May Peace Prevail on Earth”—has become an international call for harmony.

Born in Tokyo in 1916, Goi lived through a time of great upheaval. In the years following World War II, he devoted himself to finding a way to bring people together across cultures and beliefs. What he created was a message that anyone, anywhere, could embrace. “May Peace Prevail on Earth” became the heart of his work: a reminder that peace begins within each of us and can radiate outward into the world.

The Peace Pole Movement

Peace poles were originated by Masahisa Goi, the founder of the Byakko Shinko Kai, a religious movement in 1955 in Japan. The phrase, “May peace be upon the earth,” comes from a prayer chanted at the Hakko Shinkokai, "May peace prevail on earth / May peace be in our home and nation / May our divine mission be fulfilled / Our Guardian Spirits, Divine Lords, and Master Goi / We are very thankful for your love and guidance". Goi believed that thoughts affect reality, and the chanting of prayers was the most effective way to achieve world peace. Goi wanted to restore the impression of Japan and the Japanese by demonstrating to the world that they sincerely sought peace, and he conceived the idea of the Peace Pole.

Peace pole near Hiroshima, Japan.Wiki

In 1976, in the last years of Goi's life, the Byakko Shinko Kai began erecting peace poles throughout Japan. Posters, leaflets, and peace poles with the phrase “Prayer for World Peace” were distributed across a wide area in Japan and abroad. 

The first peace poles outside Japan were constructed in 1983. Since then, more than 200,000 have been placed around the world in close to 200 countries.

Peace poles have been placed in notable locations such as the North Magnetic Pole, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the site of the Egyptian pyramids in Giza, and the Aiki Shrine in Iwama, Japan. Peace poles are commonly installed at high-profile public gathering places, such as community parks or near the entrances of churches, schools, and other community buildings.

The initial inspiration for planting a peace pole is often a response to a local historic hate crime, incident, or issue. The world's second-largest peace pole, at 52 feet (16 m), is located in Janesville, Wisconsin, at the site of a 1992 KKK rally (Saturday, May 30). Another of the largest peace poles in the world, as measured in tons, is the granite peace pole in Beech Acres Park near Cincinnati, Ohio, inspired by hate literature left in the driveways of Jewish residents.

In September 2016, the World Peace Prayer Society and the Little Free Library project announced a collaboration to offer a new peace pole library structure. It features the standard peace pole message – "May Peace Prevail on Earth" – in a six-foot library. Each one serves as a quiet landmark for reflection—a place where people can pause and consider their role in creating a more peaceful world.

Celebrating Global Peace Pole Day

Every year on November 22, communities gather around these poles for ceremonies, classroom lessons, and conversations about peace and cooperation. Many groups plant new Peace Poles on this day, continuing the tradition that Goi began. Children often participate in the events, learning about conflict resolution, friendship, and the idea that peace is a shared responsibility.

Goi believed that even small acts - spoken words, mindful intentions, moments of kindness - could ripple outward and spark change. Global Peace Pole Day offers an opportunity to reconnect with those beliefs. It is a moment to honor Goi’s life, reflect on our own hopes for the future, and join a worldwide community in affirming a message that continues to cross borders and generations:

May Peace Prevail on Earth.