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 by nominal GDP, 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.

From Japan on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

Cherry Blossom Bodhisattvas

Japan, Avatamsaka Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, Precepts, Precepts, Daily Life,...
Apr 13 2024
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Entering the Samadhi of Buddha’s Radiance

A 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

Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes

Discrimination, Bowing, Japan, Bell, Attachment, Priest, Dragons, Doubt, Bodhidharma...
Mar 07 2020
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It

Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, japanese, Faith, Impermanence, Lotus...
Oct 19 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Stories of Enlightenment

In 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

Stories of Enlightenment

In 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

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

Silent Sitting & Social Action

Zen 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

I always think of Hunan in Spring

Bodhisattva Vow, Koan, Perfection of Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, japanese, Sangha,...
Apr 12 2014
AM
No Abode Hermitage

The Good Friendship of Shitou, Matsu and Yaoshan

Suzuki Roshi, Japan, Silence, Three Treasures, Bodhisattva Way
Feb 01 2014
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Facing Change and Realizing Peace 

Commitment, difficulty, Japan, Funeral
Aug 02 2012
The Yoga Room

Japan Catastrophe

Serial: 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

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

Entering and Embodying Truth 

Soto Zen, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts, Perfect Wisdom
Jul 29 2008
The Yoga Room

Way Seeking Mind

Serial: 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

In Memorium to the Victims of the WW II Bombing

Serial: 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

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

Trip to Japan

Serial: BZ-00210B

Saturday Lecture

Japan, Bell, resistance, Soto Zen, American, Heart Sutra, Chanting, Practice Period,...
Sep 28 2002
Berkeley Zen Center

Invite Difficulty In

Serial: BZ-00106B

Sesshin Day 5

Dogen, Japan, Manjushri, Intuition, Harmonizing, Daily Life, Building, Non-duality,...
Jun 24 2001
Berkeley Zen Center

Contemplative Prayer

Serial: NC-00879

Contemplative Prayer Class

OSB Cam, Breath, zen, Oneness, Japan, japanese
Jun 08 1994
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Contemplative Prayer

Serial: NC-00880

Contemplative Prayer Class

OSB Cam, Breath, zen, Oneness, Japan, japanese
Jun 08 1994
4 of 11
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Contemplation and Inner Experience

Serial: 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

The Fire, Suffering, and Relationship With Japan

Serial: BZ-00702B

Saturday Lecture

Japan, Current Events, Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Demons, Birth-...
Oct 26 1991
Berkeley Zen Center

Parting from the 4 Attachments Serial 00037

true dharma, Six Realms, Manjushri, Monks, Lineage, Precepts, Avalokiteshvara,...
Nov 08 1988
Part 1

Vajrayogini Q&A, Serial 00093

Japan
Oct 24 1985
A

Gospel of John and the Christian Wisdom Tradition

Serial: NC-00558

Retreat on the Gospel of John

OSB Cam, Oneness, Breath, Intimacy, Pain, Japan
Dec 13 1984
4 of 5
Utah

Trip to Japan

Serial: BZ-00393B

Saturday Lecture

Japan, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Priest, Building, training, Sanctuary, Lay...
Oct 27 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

Japanese Practice/American Practice: Differences

Serial: BZ-00039A

Saturday Lecture

Japan, American, Lay Practice, Family Practice, American, Lay, Lotus Sutra, Tassajara...
Sep 04 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Monastic Life and the Interreligious Dialogue

Serial: 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

Ngon Dro, Serial 00087

Lineage, Japan, Bell, Nirvana, Sangha, Monks
Apr 06 1980
1 and 2?
New York City

Ngon Dro con't, mandala offering, Serial 00091

japanese, Culture, Japan, Commitment, Hate, Building, Beginners, Sutra, Mahayana,...
Mar 30 1980
New York City

Ngon Dro: Vajrasattva, copy, Serial 00056

Japan, Intention, Passions, Evil, Precepts, Breath, Hindrances, Commitment, Non-...
Mar 15 1980

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

What Is Self? What Is Our Practice?

Japan, Kosho Uchiyama, Building, Precepts, Greed, Ego
Dec 20 1970
City Center

Miss Ransom Was A Teacher Of Conversation

Serial: 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

Why I Came to America

Serial: 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

Our Way To Attain Liberation

Serial: SF-05087-B

Monday Evening, August 18, 1969
Tassajara

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

At The End Of The Year We Clean Up Our House

Serial: SF-05970-B

Dec 1968 New Year Lecture

Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Japan, New Year, Beginners, Transmission, Instruction, Priest...
Dec 29 1968
Sokoji

Deshung Rinpoche's Life, Serial 00061

Teacher-and-Student, Nirvana, Silence, Japan, Ceremony, Bell
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00211, Side B

Serial: NC-00211B

Archival Photo

Zazen, japanese, zen, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00231

Serial: NC-00231

Archival Photo

Ego, Suzuki Roshi, Buddhism, Commitment, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]

Sophia/Wisdom

Serial: NC-00792

Sophia/Wisdom discussion

OSB Cam, Daily Life, japanese, Ego, Intuition, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]
2 of 3

Unknown Date, Serial 00210

Serial: NC-00210

Archival Photo

japanese, zen, Japan, Zazen, Discrimination
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00220

Serial: NC-00220

Archival Photo

Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Pain, Delusion, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00224

Serial: NC-00224

Archival Photo

Conversation, Buddhism, Happiness, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00679

Serial: NC-00679

New Testament Books

Japan, Offering, Compassion, Ego, Buddhism
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown year, April talk, Serial 00619

Serial: NC-00619

Year Talks 1/2

OSB Cam, Ego, Forgiveness, Japan, Buddha, Concentration
Apr 06

Unknown year, August talk, Serial 00641

Serial: NC-00641

Year Talk 2/2

OSB Cam, Offering, Buddhism, Delusion, Japan, Ego
Aug 15