Japan Talks
Japan is an island country in East Asia. It is located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, and 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 kilometres (145,937 sq mi). Japan has a population of nearly 124 million as of 2024, and is the eleventh-most populous country. Its capital and largest city is Tokyo; the Greater Tokyo Area is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with more than 38 million inhabitants as of 2016. 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 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, the Empire of 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. After the war, the country underwent rapid economic growth, although its economy has stagnated since 1990.
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, Japan is a global leader in science and technology and the automotive, robotics, and electronics industries. 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 comics, animation, and video game industries.
Title | Speaker | |
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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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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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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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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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Facing Change and Realizing Peace Commitment, difficulty, Japan, Funeral |
Aug 02 2012 The Yoga Room |
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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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Entering and Embodying Truth Soto Zen, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts, Perfect Wisdom |
Jul 29 2008 The Yoga Room |
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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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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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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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Contemplative PrayerSerial: NC-00879 Contemplative Prayer Class OSB Cam, Breath, zen, Oneness, Japan, japanese |
Jun 08 1994 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Contemplative PrayerSerial: NC-00880 Contemplative Prayer Class OSB Cam, Breath, zen, Oneness, Japan, japanese |
Jun 08 1994 4 of 11 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Contemplation and Inner ExperienceSerial: NC-00711 Class on contemplative prayer using Thomas Merton's The Inner Experience. Class IV Contemplative Prayer Set 1 of 2 OSB Cam, Breath, zen, Oneness, Japan, japanese |
1994 4 of 10 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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The Fire, Suffering, and Relationship With JapanSerial: BZ-00702B Saturday Lecture Japan, Current Events, Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Demons, Birth-... |
Oct 26 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Parting from the 4 Attachments Serial 00037 true dharma, Six Realms, Manjushri, Monks, Lineage, Precepts, Avalokiteshvara,... |
Nov 08 1988 Part 1 |
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Vajrayogini Q&A, Serial 00093 Japan |
Oct 24 1985 A |
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Gospel of John and the Christian Wisdom TraditionSerial: NC-00558 Retreat on the Gospel of John OSB Cam, Oneness, Breath, Intimacy, Pain, Japan |
Dec 13 1984 4 of 5 Utah |
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Trip to JapanSerial: BZ-00393B Saturday Lecture Japan, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Priest, Building, training, Sanctuary, Lay... |
Oct 27 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Japanese Practice/American Practice: DifferencesSerial: BZ-00039A Saturday Lecture Japan, American, Lay Practice, Family Practice, American, Lay, Lotus Sutra, Tassajara... |
Sep 04 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Monastic Life and the Interreligious DialogueSerial: NC-00467 Monastic Life and Interreligious Dialogue: What does our life as monks mean to the non-Christian world? OSB Cam, Inter-faith Dialogue, Buddha, Buddhism, Renunciation, Attachment, Japan... |
Sep 1980 2 of 3 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Ngon Dro, Serial 00087 Lineage, Japan, Bell, Nirvana, Sangha, Monks |
Apr 06 1980 1 and 2? New York City |
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Ngon Dro con't, mandala offering, Serial 00091 japanese, Culture, Japan, Commitment, Hate, Building, Beginners, Sutra, Mahayana,... |
Mar 30 1980 New York City |
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Ngon Dro: Vajrasattva, copy, Serial 00056 Japan, Intention, Passions, Evil, Precepts, Breath, Hindrances, Commitment, Non-... |
Mar 15 1980 |
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Ngon Dro Nyam Len, Lecture 1: Refuge, Serial 00046 Monks, Japan, Lineage, Separation, Commitment, Intention, Hate, American, Nirvana,... |
Mar 02 1980 Session 1, Tape 1 |
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What Is Self? What Is Our Practice?Japan, Kosho Uchiyama, Building, Precepts, Greed, Ego |
Dec 20 1970 City Center |
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Miss Ransom Was A Teacher Of ConversationSerial: SR-00242 [Not an interview I think, but a question Peter asks at the beginning of the lecture, possibly pre-arranged with Suzuki. Got labeled as an interview because I had it grouped... Japan, Komazawa University, Buddhism, Shobogenzo, Obon, Conversation, Building,... |
Nov 09 1969 |
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Why I Came to AmericaSerial: SR-00157 "Why I became a priest" Memories of his father as a temple priest. Wanting to be an unusual priest himself, to teach people. Training at a temple with Oka... Priest, Meiji, Japan, Dogen, Priest, training, New Year, Ceremony, Enemies, Monks,... |
Sep 16 1969 Sokoji |
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Our Way To Attain LiberationSerial: SF-05087-B Monday Evening, August 18, 1969 Story of the Sixth Patriarch. Practice with everyone else at the monastery, without self-centered ideas. Answering... Sixth Patriarch, Monastic Practice, Japan, Aspects of Practice, Discrimination, Faith... |
Aug 18 1969 Tassajara |
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At The End Of The Year We Clean Up Our HouseSerial: SF-05970-B Dec 1968 New Year Lecture Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Japan, New Year, Beginners, Transmission, Instruction, Priest... |
Dec 29 1968 Sokoji |
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Deshung Rinpoche's Life, Serial 00061 Teacher-and-Student, Nirvana, Silence, Japan, Ceremony, Bell |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00211, Side BSerial: NC-00211B Archival Photo Zazen, japanese, zen, Japan |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00231Serial: NC-00231 Archival Photo Ego, Suzuki Roshi, Buddhism, Commitment, Japan |
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Sophia/WisdomSerial: NC-00792 Sophia/Wisdom discussion OSB Cam, Daily Life, japanese, Ego, Intuition, Japan |
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2 of 3 |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00210Serial: NC-00210 Archival Photo japanese, zen, Japan, Zazen, Discrimination |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00220Serial: NC-00220 Archival Photo Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Pain, Delusion, Japan |
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Unknown Date, Serial 00224Serial: NC-00224 Archival Photo Conversation, Buddhism, Happiness, Japan |
[field_wisdom_date]
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Unknown Date, Serial 00679Serial: NC-00679 New Testament Books Japan, Offering, Compassion, Ego, Buddhism |
[field_wisdom_date]
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Unknown year, April talk, Serial 00619Serial: NC-00619 Year Talks 1/2 OSB Cam, Ego, Forgiveness, Japan, Buddha, Concentration |
Apr 06 |
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Unknown year, August talk, Serial 00641Serial: NC-00641 Year Talk 2/2 OSB Cam, Offering, Buddhism, Delusion, Japan, Ego |
Aug 15 |