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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. Since the collapse of the asset price bubble in the early 1990s, Japan has experienced a prolonged period of economic stagnation, commonly known as the Lost Decades.
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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Introducing Flower Adornment Book TwoA Dharma talk by Tenshin Roshi for a gathering of the No Abode community Avatamsaka Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, Koun Ejô, Bodhisattva Way, Gratitude,... |
Jul 15 2023 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Mindful Movements in Everyday InteractionsSerial: RB-03956 Dharma_Now_2 Suzuki Roshi, Interplay, Japan, Time |
Aug 02 2020 Johanneshof |
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Language and Context in Zen PerceptionSerial: RB-02932 Practice-Period_Talks Japan, Interdependence, Time |
Mar 12 2020 Crestone Zen Mountain Center |
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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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Bridging Minds: Zen Rituals UnveiledSerial: RB-02929 Practice-Period_Talks Chanting, Rakusu, Posture, Japan, Practice, Time |
Mar 06 2020 Crestone Zen Mountain Center |
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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, Observe, Book of Serenity, Interview, Culture, Suzuki Roshi, Priest,... |
Nov 07 2019 6/7 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, Passions, Doubt, Birth-and-Death, Interview, Culture, Japan |
Oct 24 2019 4/7 The Yoga Room |
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Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, Japan, 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, Book of Serenity, Patience, Teacher-and-... |
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 |
Aug 2019 Johanneshof |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world ...YRB-2019-Summer, Evil, Priest, Balance, American, Building, War, Japan, difficulty,... |
Jul 30 2019 6/7 The Yoga Room |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world. ...YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Mindfulness, Addiction, Japan, Duality, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Jul 23 2019 5/7 The Yoga Room |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world. ...YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Japan, Don't Know Mind, Soto Zen |
Jul 16 2019 4/7 The Yoga Room |
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Attentional Attunement in Zen AwarenessSerial: RB-03186 Door-Step-Zen Japan, Practice, Time |
Jul 2019 Johanneshof |
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Zen's Journey Across OceansSerial: RB-03192 Door-Step-Zen Japan, Community, Suzuki Roshi |
Jul 2019 Johanneshof |
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Reflecting Awareness in Zen PracticeSerial: RB-03834 Door-Step-Zen Japan, Practice |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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Blurring Lines of Inner and OuterSerial: RB-03835 Door-Step-Zen Time, Japan |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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A Conversation about Principle and Phenomena Heart Sutra, Perfect Wisdom, confusion, Letting Go, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Mind... |
May 18 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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What Is Most Important For You In This LifeBeing clear about our ultimate concern. Remember, aspire, commit to, and train to realise this. The story of Tong-an and Liangshan: what is the business under the patched robe? Intimacy. Another... Vow, Eihei Koso Hotsuganmon, Buddha Mind, Intimacy, Book of Serenity, Buddha Mind,... |
Feb 02 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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Relational Time: Zen and ConsciousnessSerial: RB-03455 Seminar Time, Japan, Work |
Oct 2018 Hannover |
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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 Japan, Practice |
Sep 2018 Johanneshof |
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Experiencing Suchness Through AttentionSerial: RB-02235 Practice-Period_Talks Time, 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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November 28th, 2017, Serial No. 04398 Precepts, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts |
Nov 28 2017 |
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Bridging Mind: Zen Meets ScienceSerial: RB-03659 Seminar_Breath_Body_Phenomena Buddhism, Practice, Japan |
Sep 2017 Hannover |
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Zen Spaces: Embracing Chaos and MorenessSerial: RB-03869 Seminar_Awareness,_Consciousness_and_the_Practice_of_Mindfulness Time, Japan, Practice |
Sep 2017 Kassel |
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Zen's Western Journey: Adapting TraditionSerial: RB-03162 Sesshin Suzuki Roshi, Practice, Japan |
Jul 2017 Johanneshof |
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Zazen Is World TransformationKoans, using consciousness to go beyond consciousness; the path which can be spoken is not the true path. Enlightenment, Consciousness, Meditation, Conversation, Priest, Japan, Bell |
Apr 01 2017 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Gestural Spaces Shaping Spiritual TransformationSerial: RB-02242 Sesshin Practice, Japan |
2017 Johanneshof |
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November 28th, 2016, Serial No. 04342 Precepts, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts |
Nov 28 2016 |
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Activities Unveiled: The Zen ConnectionSerial: RB-03720 Practice-Period_Talks Practice, Time, Japan |
Nov 17 2016 Johanneshof |
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Zen Awakening Through Active AttentionSerial: RB-04065 Seminar_Weaving_Our_Own_History Practice, Wisdom, Japan |
Oct 2016 Kassel |
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Following through with the Dung ShovelingCompassion, Zazen, Priest, Faith, Suzuki Roshi, Japan, Intimacy |
May 07 2016 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen Harmony: Bridging Cultures and ConsciousnessSerial: RB-02792 Seminar_The Practice_and_Experience_of_Change Practice, Japan, Consciousness |
Feb 2016 Johanneshof |
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Mindful Synergy: Zen Meets TherapySerial: RB-02193 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Practice, Japan, Meditation |
Jul 2015 Kassel |
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December 4th, 2014, Serial No. 04181 American, Japan |
Dec 04 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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Zen Horizons: Embracing Inner RealitySerial: RB-02907 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Japan, Buddhism, Buddha |
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 SpringKoan, Perfection of Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, Japan, Sangha, cognitive process... |
Apr 12 2014 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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April 12th, 2014, Serial No. 04126 Bodhidharma, Japan |
Apr 12 2014 |
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Speakable and Unspeakable Names of Our Zen Family Ancestorsgood friendship, Responsibilities of student and responsibilities of teacher, Torei Zenji's Bodhisattva Vow, Face-to-Face Transmission, Shui-feng and Yangtan. Sep-po
Torei, Kalyana Mitra, Perfect Wisdom, Transmission, Interview, Japan, Gratitude... |
Mar 01 2014 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Zazen: Embracing Intuition Over AnalysisSerial: RB-02853 Seminar_The_Practice_of_Compassion Culture, Japan, Zazen |
Mar 2014 Johanneshof |
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Reflecting Compassion Beyond BoundariesSerial: RB-02858 Seminar_The_Practice_of_Compassion Japan, Buddhism, Bell |
Mar 2014 Johanneshof |