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Japan Talks
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—and thousands of smaller islands, covering 377,975 square kilometers (145,937 sq mi). Japan has a population of over 123 million as of 2025, making it the eleventh-most populous country. The capital of Japan and its largest city is Tokyo; the Greater Tokyo Area is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with more than 37 million inhabitants as of 2024. Japan is divided into 47 administrative prefectures and eight traditional regions. About three-quarters of the country's terrain is mountainous and heavily forested, concentrating its agriculture and highly urbanized population along its eastern coastal plains. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making its islands prone to destructive earthquakes and tsunamis.
The first known habitation of the archipelago dates to the Upper Paleolithic, with the beginning of the Japanese Paleolithic dating to c. 36,000 BC. Between the fourth and sixth centuries, its kingdoms were united under an emperor in Nara, and later Heian-kyō. From the 12th century, actual power was held by military dictators (shōgun) and feudal lords (daimyō), and enforced by warrior nobility (samurai). After rule by the Kamakura and Ashikaga shogunates and a century of warring states, Japan was unified in 1600 by the Tokugawa shogunate, which implemented an isolationist foreign policy. In 1853, a United States fleet forced Japan to open trade to the West, which led to the end of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial power in 1868. In the Meiji period, Japan pursued rapid industrialization and modernization, as well as militarism and overseas colonization. In 1937, Japan invaded China, and in 1941 attacked the United States and European colonial powers, entering World War II as an Axis power. After suffering defeat in the Pacific War and two atomic bombings, Japan surrendered in 1945 and came under Allied occupation. Afterwards, the country underwent rapid economic growth and became one of the five earliest major non-NATO allies of the United States.
Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral legislature, the National Diet. A great power and the only Asian member of the G7, Japan has constitutionally renounced its right to declare war, but maintains one of the world's strongest militaries. A developed country with one of the world's largest economies by nominal GDP, Japan is a global leader in the automotive, robotics, and electronics industries, and has made significant contributions to science and technology. It has one of the world's highest life expectancies, though it is undergoing a population decline. Japan's culture is well known around the world, including its art, cuisine, film, music, and popular culture, which includes prominent animation, comics, and video game industries.
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Cherry Blossom BodhisattvasJapan, Avatamsaka Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, Precepts, Precepts, Daily Life,... |
Apr 13 2024 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Entering the Samadhi of Buddha’s RadianceA talk by Tenshin Roshi for a gathering of the No Abode community Flower Adornment Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra, Katagiri Roshi, Suzuki Roshi, Tassajara Zen Mountain... |
Aug 12 2023 No Abode Hermitage |
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Hiroshima Day and Dogen’s Repentance PracticeSerial: TL-00806 ADZG Sunday Morning, War, Zazen, Eihei Koso Hotsuganmon, Practice, Japan, Buddha |
Aug 06 2023 Hybrid |
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Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes Discrimination, Bowing, Japan, Bell, Attachment, Priest, Dragons, Doubt, Bodhidharma... |
Mar 07 2020 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, japanese, Faith, Impermanence, Lotus... |
Oct 19 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Stories of EnlightenmentIn our class this fall we will contemplate and converse about several stories of Zen practice and enlightenment. Our contemplation and conversations will naturally bring up questions and concerns... YRB-2019-Fall, Blue Cliff Record, Japan, true dharma, Book of Serenity, Patience,... |
Oct 17 2019 3/7 The Yoga Room |
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Stories of EnlightenmentIn our class this fall we will contemplate and converse about several stories of Zen practice and enlightenment. Our contemplation and conversations will naturally bring up questions and concerns... YRB-2019-Fall, Four Noble Truths, Book of Serenity, Daily Life, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Oct 10 2019 2/7 The Yoga Room |
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Zen Spaces: Bridging East and WestSerial: RB-03178 Door-Step-Zen_City-Groups Japan, Practice, japanese |
Aug 2019 Johanneshof |
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Attentional Attunement in Zen AwarenessSerial: RB-03186 Door-Step-Zen Japan, Practice, Time |
Jul 2019 Johanneshof |
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Blurring Lines of Inner and OuterSerial: RB-03835 Door-Step-Zen Time, japanese, Japan |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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Reflecting Awareness in Zen PracticeSerial: RB-03834 Door-Step-Zen Japan, Practice, japanese |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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A Conversation about Principle and Phenomena Heart Sutra, Perfect Wisdom, resistance, confusion, Letting Go, Don't Know Mind... |
May 18 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Silent Sitting & Social ActionZen students often ask how our practice of silence and stillness relates to injustice and our environmental crisis. In this class we explore this question and study the intimate interplay of... YRB-2018-Fall, Silence, Bodhidharma, cognitive process, Observe, Fundraising, Lay,... |
Nov 13 2018 5 of 7 The Yoga Room |
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Zen Altar: Where Practice Meets PresenceSerial: RB-02232 Practice-Period_Talks Practice, Time, Japan |
Sep 2018 Johanneshof |
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Awakening Breath: Language and ZenSerial: RB-02228 Practice-Period_Talks japanese, Practice, Japan |
Sep 2018 Johanneshof |
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Zen Rhythms: Dance of ChangeSerial: RB-02943 Sesshin Practice, Japan, Suzuki Roshi |
Feb 2018 Johanneshof |
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Zen's Western Journey: Adapting TraditionSerial: RB-03162 Sesshin Suzuki Roshi, Practice, Japan |
Jul 2017 Johanneshof |
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December 4th, 2014, Serial No. 04181 American, Japan, japanese |
Dec 04 2014 |
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October 2nd, 2014, Serial No. 04158 Suzuki Roshi, Japan, Triple Treasure |
Oct 02 2014 |
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Zen Meets Psyche: Bridging TraditionsSerial: RB-02915 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Japan, Dogen, Buddhism |
Jun 2014 Rastenberg |
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April 17th, 2014, Serial No. 04129 Perfect Wisdom, Mindfulness, Japan |
Apr 17 2014 |
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I always think of Hunan in SpringBodhisattva Vow, Koan, Perfection of Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, japanese, Sangha,... |
Apr 12 2014 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Good Friendship of Shitou, Matsu and Yaoshan Suzuki Roshi, Japan, Silence, Three Treasures, Bodhisattva Way |
Feb 01 2014 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Embodying Zen Beyond ThoughtSerial: RB-04170 Sesshin Practice, Time, Japan |
2014 Johanneshof |
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Evolving Spaces in Zen PracticeSerial: RB-02259 Seminar_Sangha_Dharma_Buddha Japan, Practice, japanese |
Mar 2013 Johanneshof |
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November 18th, 2012, Serial No. 04016 Bodhidharma, Japan, Emptiness |
Nov 18 2012 |
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Facing Change and Realizing Peace Commitment, difficulty, Japan, Funeral |
Aug 02 2012 The Yoga Room |
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Embracing In-Betweenness Through MaSerial: RB-03534 Seminar_Challenges_of_Lay-Buddhism Time, japanese, Japan |
Feb 2012 Johanneshof |
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Shadow Dance: Zen's Liminal JourneySerial: RB-03536 Seminar_Challenges_of_Lay-Buddhism Time, Suzuki Roshi, Japan |
Feb 2012 Johanneshof |
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Beyond Words: Embracing Bodily SpaceSerial: RB-03485 Practice-Period_Talks Practice, Japan, Zazen |
Mar 27 2011 Crestone |
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March 20th, 2011, Serial No. 03835 Generosity, Pain, Japan |
Mar 20 2011 |
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Japan CatastropheSerial: BZ-02165 Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Fallout, One-Day Sitting Karma, Japan, Current Events, Karma, Repentance, Vow, Renewal, Composure, Interview,... |
Mar 19 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Intimacy with Birth and Death: The 39th Yearly Memorial for Suzuki Roshi Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Commitment, Suzuki Roshi, Intimacy, Japan |
Dec 04 2010 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen and the Art of Cutting Mindfulness, Japan |
May 11 2009 |
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2008.10.04-serial.00198 War, japanese, Japan |
Oct 04 2008 |
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2008.10.02-serial.00196 Practice, japanese, Japan |
Oct 02 2008 |
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Entering and Embodying Truth Soto Zen, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts, Perfect Wisdom |
Jul 29 2008 The Yoga Room |
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March 24th, 2008, Serial No. 03558 Japan, Priest, Suzuki Roshi |
Mar 24 2008 |
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Mountains, Rivers, Mindful TransformationSerial: RB-02896 Practice-Period_Talks Japan, Practice, Time |
Feb 12 2007 Crestone |
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Rooted Unity: Zen's Sacred ConnectionSerial: RB-03110 Seminar_Heartfelt_Desire Priest, Work, Japan |
Jun 2006 Rastenberg |
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The Transformative Power of AttentionSerial: RB-01647E Sesshin japanese, Time, Japan |
Oct 2005 Johanneshof |
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Zen and Psychotherapy: A Cultural ContrastSerial: RB-01633A Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Practice, Buddhism, Japan |
Jun 2005 Kassel |
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Way Seeking MindSerial: SF-00044 The route to becoming a zen monk; growing up Jewish and hanging out with the beats; meeting Suzuki Roshi. Monastic Practice, Japan, Way-Seeking Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Priest,... |
Mar 13 2005 2 Tassajara |
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In Memorium to the Victims of the WW II BombingSerial: BZ-01279A How Something Good Can Come From Something Tragic, Saturday Lecture War, Japan, War, Peace, American, Building, Priest, Renewal, Karma |
Aug 07 2004 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Ephemeral Reality: Zen's Evenflow PerceptionSerial: RB-03758 Seminar_What_Is_Reality? Practice, Japan, Work |
May 2004 Johanneshof |
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Trip to Japan (last two weeks of Oct. 2003)Serial: BZ-01365 The Necessity of both Oneness and Diversity, Saturday Lecture Oneness, Japan, Fox, Priest, Lay, Soto Zen, Ordination, Diversity, Precepts, Lay... |
Nov 01 2003 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Cultures Intertwined: Body and MindSerial: RB-01459 Seminar_Body_and_Mind Culture, japanese, Japan |
Feb 13 2003 Johanneshof |
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Trip to JapanSerial: BZ-00210B Saturday Lecture Japan, Bell, resistance, Soto Zen, American, Heart Sutra, Chanting, Practice Period,... |
Sep 28 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Invite Difficulty InSerial: BZ-00106B Sesshin Day 5 Dogen, Japan, Manjushri, Intuition, Harmonizing, Daily Life, Building, Non-duality,... |
Jun 24 2001 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sensory Zen: Experiencing Timeless HarmonySerial: RB-01247 Practice-Week_Sandokai Time, Practice, Japan |
Sep 09 2000 Roseburg |