Founder-Abbot of Upaya Zen Center, social activist, and anthropologist.

Joan Halifax

Joan is a flagship leader of Engaged Buddhism and also a mentor to many world leaders.She has taught and cultivated wisdom in some of the most complicated places on earth, such as in post-disaster areas, prison cells, and palliative care hospitals.

Soto-sect Zen Priest

Issho Fujita

At the age of 28, Issho dropped out of his doctoral course at the University of Tokyo and became a monk a year later. He moved to the US at the age of 33 and since then has taught zazen meditation at Valley Zendo, Massachusetts for 17 and a half years. He is also a prominent zazen teacher for many big American companies such as Starbucks and Facebook.

Head of Editor at WIRED JAPAN

Michiaki Matsushima

As Editor-in-Chief of WIRED JAPAN, a media organization which prototypes futures, worked on: WIRED.jp / SZ MEMBERSHIP subscription service / quarterly MAGAZINE (the latest issue being VOL. 41 “NEW NEIGHBORHOOD“) / WIRED CONFERENCES / WIRED Sci-Fi PROTOTYPING LAB / WIRED SPECULATIVE ZONE. Before joining WIRED JAPAN in 2018, was Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Department of NHK Publishing. Translator of "Novacene" (James Lovelock). Born in Tokyo and lives in Kamakura.

Translator

Seki Miwa

A graduate from Keio University’s Faculty of Letters and Law, Seki is now an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Kyorin University. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and has worked for Dentsu, Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. After retiring from her role as the Tokyo Branch Manager of Clay Finlay Inc., Seki has translated numerous best-sellers, including "Factfulness" (Nikkei BP) and "Zero to One" (NHK Publisher)

Editor-in-Chief, Stanford Social Innovation Review Japan

Ai Nakajima

After working as a reporter for the English-language department of Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Ai pursued her masters degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University and upon graduation, worked as an editor at President Inc. There, she oversees the publications of magazines and books, and established the “Overseas Rights Business Office” to license various works abroad. Her edited Japanese-translated book “The Shift: The Future of Work is Already Here” by Linda Gratton has won the Business Book Award in 2013. Since April 2021, she has joined the Stanford Social Innovation Review as Editor-in-Chief.

Writer

Yumiko Sakuma

Yumiko Sakuma moved to the United States in 1996 and has lived in New York City since 1998. She became an independent writer in 2003 after working for several publishing companies and news agencies. Her writings include interviews, reports, and travelogues that cover a wide range of genres such as culture, fashion, politics, and social issues. She is the author of /We no Shimin Kakumei/ “ (Asahi Press), "Seriously Let's Talk About Marijuana" (Bungeishunju), “/Pin Heel wa Haka nai/“ (Gentosha), and "Hip Lifestyle “Revolution (Asahi Press). In 2018, she founded Sakumag, a personal media that has grown into a “Collective” focusing on Study (study group), Stream (distribution), and Slack (bulletin board).

Dean, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Musashino University , President of Z Academia, Z holdings Corporation

Yoichi Ito

With prior experience working for the Industrial Bank of Japan and Plus Corporation, Yoichi joined Yahoo in 2015. Currently, he is the President of Z Academia and is responsible for nurturing the next generation of leaders in Z Holdings Corporation. In April 2021, he was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship at Musashino University (Musashino EMC). He is the author of the best-selling book, "Talk in 1 Minute," which has sold over 520,000 copies. His other publications include "Just Write One Line Diary" and "FREE, FLAT, FUN".

PhD in Interdisciplinary Information

Dominique Chen

Born in 1981, Dominique Chen is a researcher at the NTT InterCommunication Center (ICC), the co-founder of DIVVY/ Dual, and currently an associate professor of the School of Culture, Media and Society at Waseda University. His research explores relationships between technology, humans, and natural existence. From October 2020 to June 2021, he served as the exhibition director of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT “Translations Exhibition - Let's Understand 'Understanding”. His publications include "コモンズとしての日本近代文学" (East Press), “Words that create the future” (Shinchosha), "ウェルビーイングの設計論―人がよりよく生きるための情報技術" (BNN Shinsha).

Co-founder of Wisdom 2.0 Japan

Kimiko Bokura-Shafé

Kimiko is an entrepreneur and key bridge-person between Japan and the western world, bringing mindfulness to Japanese leaders and corporations last 8 years.
After obtaining bachelor’s degree from International Christian University and MBA from Boson University, she became a successful brand manager achieving leading market share for her brands.
In 2000, she moved to California to start her own training company and taught communication and leadership all over the world.
She co-founded Mindful Leadership Institute in 2013.
Kimiko is an author/translator for many books including Silicon Valley Style The Lessons to Optimize Your Mind And Heart, Standing at The Edge by Joan Halifax, and etc.

Co-Founder of Center for Humane Technology.

Tristan Harris

Called the “closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience,” Tristan is one of the most enlightening leaders of our time. After making a success in the field of the IT industry, he warns the world of domination by technology and capitalism. Tristan Harris was named by Rolling Stone as one of the top “25 People Shaping the World.”

Founder-Abbot of Upaya Zen Center, social activist, and anthropologist.

Joan Halifax

Joan is a flagship leader of Engaged Buddhism and also a mentor to many world leaders.She has taught and cultivated wisdom in some of the most complicated places on earth, such as in post-disaster areas, prison cells, and palliative care hospitals.

scientist, writer, and meditation teacher

Jon Kabat-Zinn

He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic (in 1979)
Dr. Kabat-Zinn's research between 1979 and 2002 focused on mind/body interactions for healing, on various clinical applications of mindfulness meditation training for people with chronic pain and/or stress-related disorders, on the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the brain and how it processes emotions, particularly under stress, and on the immune system, among others, which has helped mindfulness be acknowledged as a way to achieve wholistic wellness.

Managing Executive Member of CHRO HR General Affairs Division at Calbee Co., Ltd.

Masako Takeda

As the Director of Human Resources in Credit Saison, Masako came up with many HR-related strategies for the company. In 2018, he became the managing director of human resources in Calbee Inc. and is working towards the creation of an organization where everyone can play an active role in it. He was also awarded the HR Award Grand Prize of 2018 by the Human Resources Department of Japan.

Soto-sect Zen Priest

Issho Fujita

At the age of 28, Issho dropped out of his doctoral course at the University of Tokyo and became a monk a year later. He moved to the US at the age of 33 and since then has taught zazen meditation at Valley Zendo, Massachusetts for 17 and a half years. He is also a prominent zazen teacher for many big American companies such as Starbucks and Facebook.

Head of Editor at WIRED JAPAN

Michiaki Matsushima

As Editor-in-Chief of WIRED JAPAN, a media organization which prototypes futures, worked on: WIRED.jp / SZ MEMBERSHIP subscription service / quarterly MAGAZINE (the latest issue being VOL. 41 “NEW NEIGHBORHOOD“) / WIRED CONFERENCES / WIRED Sci-Fi PROTOTYPING LAB / WIRED SPECULATIVE ZONE. Before joining WIRED JAPAN in 2018, was Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Department of NHK Publishing. Translator of "Novacene" (James Lovelock). Born in Tokyo and lives in Kamakura.

Dean and Professor at the Graduate School of System Design Management, Keio University.

Takashi Maeno

Japan’s leading researcher on the science of happiness. Takashi has published numerous papers and lectured on the subject of happiness and wellbeing. He is also working with companies to increase the happiness of their employees and in society in general. A representative of Shiawase 3.0 and many other think-thanks focusing on the research of human wellbeing.

Kado-ka or “Flower arrangement” expert.

Mayuka Yamazaki

Visiting editor at the Harvard Business Review (Japan). Creator of IKERU, an initiative to bring Ikebana's wisdom into businesses and human resource development. After working as a management consultant and project assistant at McKinsey and Tokyo University respectively, Mayuka became a liaison director for the Harvard Business School (HBS) until August 2016, during which she co-authored about 30 HBS cases about Japanese companies, business leaders and societal issues with HBS professors.

Stone Flute Musician

Kazuya Yokozawa

Flute Born Out of Planet Earth: Stone Flute Opening Performance and "Flute of the New Moon". Junya Ogino introduces our ninth speaker, Mr. Kazuya Yokozawa, a stone flute artist who has performed at many sacred sites around the world as a form of dedication. Kazuya has performed at many of Japan's prominent shrines, including Ise Jingu Shrine. Internationally, he has been invited to perform at some of the world's most famous sites,including the Sagrada Familia Church in Spain.
The stone flute is made out of a stone that is about the size of one’s palm that is naturally born out of Mother Earth, thus is known also as a primitive flute. In ancient times, the echo and sound of the stone flute was played to welcome the arrival of gods.
The sound of a stone flute is completely different from that of any other flute. Rather than just sound waves, it is thought of also as a form of energetic waves.
Kazawa was originally a western flutist. However, he became a stone flutist after a fateful visit to the Tenkawa Shrine in Yoshino Nara, during which the Chief Priest Kakisaka handed him a stone flute and invited him to “try and play it!”.
Through Tenkawa Shrine’s connection, Kazawa will be performing at the opening of on the 17th of October, which is the first day of Wisdom 2.0 that coincides with the timing of the new moon! So we are also planning to have a "New Moon Flute Party" performance for our participants on the evening of the 17th.
In response to my concern that “the true tonality of the stone flute might be affected through an online performance”, Kazuwa replied: “even if that is the case, I believe it is still meaningful to have such a ceremony for an important international conference like Wisdom 2.0” and agreed to perform for our audiences.
We hope that you will enjoy the beautiful sound of Kazuwa’s stone flute, which is not a musical instrument derived from the culture of a region or a country, but from Mother earth itself.

Chief priest Kakisaka Mikinosuke of Tenkawa Shrine: A Japanese spiritual worldview on coexisting with "all living things".

Kakisaka Mikinosuke

Junya Ogino introduces our eighth speaker, the 65th generation Chief Priest of Tenkawa-daibenzai-ten-sha, Priest Kakisaka Mikinosuke.The Tenkawa Shrine is a historical shrine located deep in the mountains of Yoshino, Nara. The area around the Tenkawa Shrine is a sacred place for Shugendo “a highly syncretic ancient Japanese religion” founded by En No Gyoja and was also the base for the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō periodーmaking it one of the most important sites that have shaped Japanese spirituality. There is a saying that in order to visit this place physically, you must have some sort of past karmic relations to it. The Tenkawa Shrine and the Kakisaka priests often have interactions with and leave an impact on many business leaders, artists, and entertainers.
Priest Kakisaka took up the role as the chief priest of Tenkawa Shrine after the sudden death of his brother who was previously the head of the shrine. Prior to that, he was traveling around the world and interacting with some of the world's leading spiritual leaders.
The other day when I visited the Tenkawa Shrine for a meeting, we asked Priest Kakisaka this question: "Why do we have such a global pandemic and what should we as a humanity be doing?” He replied, "I am reluctant to put it into words yet. However, who knows maybe the answer might reveal itself this autumn!”
This is an extremely rare opportunity for Priest Kakisaka to speak online at an international conference such as Wisdom 2.0 Japan, so embrace yourself for his message on the essential wisdom and importance of Japanese spirituality for humanity!

Certified teacher of SIY（Search Inside Yourself）program

Marina Totsuka

Marina Totsuka has experience working for global corporations such as Barclays and Salesforce among others. In 2015, she started developing and implementing mindfulness and EI education programs in order to nurture a sense of security, self-esteem and compassion toward both self and others in children so they will develop a zest for living. Marina also studies the latest education trend in the world.
In July this year, her first book titled 「感情の知性（EQ）を伸ばす　学校と家庭でマインドフルネス！1分からこころの幸せ・安心を育む63のワーク(Mindfulness at Home and in Classrooms to Develop Emotional Intelligence in Children: 63 Exercises for Wellbeing and Anxiety Relief Starting from Just One Minute)」 was published from Gakuji Shuppan Publishing House.

Representative Director of Japan Mindful Leadership Association
President of e-Associates, Inc.

Teruo Shiina

After working at a foreign financial institution for about 20 years, Teruo became a freelance translator while studying the fundamentals of Buddhism at the Eastern Institute, founded by the late Dr. Gen Nakamura.
In addition to running his own company, he is also a member of the Japan Mindful Leadership Association and is committed to spreading mindfulness meditation.

Founder of "Co-cree! Project" and researcher at Jaran Research Center

Ai Sanda

Ai Sanda on the “Co-creation of Humanity and Planet Earth” Junya Ogino introduces our tenth speaker, Ai Sanda who is the founder of "Co-cree! Project”. As the founder of “Co-cree! Project”, Ai Sanda has been an active leader and facilitator for many companies across the region in developing the theme of co-creating spaces conducive for people from diverse backgrounds.
Last year, Ai had an epiphany during her travels around the world, that she should expand the scope of her Co-cree! Project to encompass the theme of “co-creation with Mother Earth”. Upon returning to Japan, she relocated her family close to nature in the countryside of Isumi, Chiba prefecture and started a research project with people from various sectors on this very same theme.
Ai Sanda is also a certified “shodou” Japanese calligraphy instructor. Recently she has been working on calligraphy related performances and events based on her own calligraphy style as well as those inspired by the surrounding environment. Ai-san is also the key player in connecting us with Kakisaka Mikinosuke, the chief priest of Tenkawa Shrine as we initially entrusted her with the task of visiting Tenkawa shrine in Yoshino, Nara to have a conversation with Priest Kakisaka.
Having promoted the “Co-cree! Project” to corporate leaders and governments on both national and local levels, Ai-san will be sharing her experiences and thoughts on the reason and meaning behind starting this project. Through her panel discussion with Priest Kakisaka, we hope this will be an invaluable opportunity for everyone to ponder upon and apply the idea of “co-creation with Mother Earth” in our individual lives.

Translator, university lecturer and mental health social worker

Keisuke Shimada

Keisuke runs a workshop house called "Yutoriya" in a mountain village in Tanzawa which is committed to providing healing to one’s body and soul while living an agricultural lifestyle. In 1995, he was the organizer for Thich Nhat Hanh's tour to Japan. Keisuke has given lectures and training on the theme of mindfulness in various places and is the author of "Mindful Journey for Opening Miracles: 20 Lessons for Returning to Your True Self and Living Abundantly" (2019 Sangha) and has translate many other boos into Japanese, including "Breathe, you are alive!" and "Call Me by My True Names—Thich Nhat Hahn’s Poetry Collection" (Yasosha Publishing).

Unsui Zen monk

Seigaku

Born in Tottori Prefecture. After graduating from college, Seigaku became an Unsui. He moved to Germany after spending some time training at the Grand Head Temple Eihei-ji Temple of Japan.

Philosophy, pranayama and meditation teacher

Mio Mukaida

Specializes in yoga philosophy, pranayama (breathing) and meditation.
2003: Undergone training at Vivekananda Kendara, Sivananda, Bihar School of Yoga, etc.
2005 -2013: Studied philosophy of monism under Swami Dayananda.Studied Sanskrit, Upanishads, and various scriptures.　
2016 -2017: Completed Diploma at Kaivalyadhama yoga college.　
2021-present: Teaches morning meditation and philosophy classes at Under the Light Yoga School.

Philosophy, pranayama and meditation teacher

Mayumi Suzuki

She is the founder of Tram Yoga Studio and an OM Yoga teacher who has been certified on Yoga Alliance for 13 years. She has studied with Cyindi Lee for many years and continues to travel back and forth between the US and Tokyo. Mayumi has taught private lessons, group classes at large yoga events, and led workshops throughout Japan. She is currently bilingual in English and Japanese, and has translated various yoga books into English and Japanese.

Co-founder of Wisdom 2.0 Japan

Kimiko Bokura-Shafé

Kimiko is an entrepreneur and key bridge-person between Japan and the western world, bringing mindfulness to Japanese leaders and corporations last 8 years.
After obtaining bachelor’s degree from International Christian University and MBA from Boson University, she became a successful brand manager achieving leading market share for her brands.
In 2000, she moved to California to start her own training company and taught communication and leadership all over the world.
She co-founded Mindful Leadership Institute in 2013.
Kimiko is an author/translator for many books including Silicon Valley Style The Lessons to Optimize Your Mind And Heart, Standing at The Edge by Joan Halifax, and etc.

Directors at Yell Corporation

Makiko Shinoda

Makiko holds a B.A. in Economics from Keio University, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. After serving at The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, McKinsey, Novartis, and Nestlé, Makiko became the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of Hobonichi (Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun -former Tokyo Shigesato Itoi’s office) between December 2008 and November 2018. She took two years off after that, in what she deemed as a period of “joblessness” before being appointed as board of directors at Yell Corporation earlier this year in March. She is also the translation supervisor of “The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age” by Reid Hoffman.

CEO of ZENTech, Inc

Kiyohiko Shimazu

Former CEO of STARTS PITAT HOUSE Co.,Ltd, and former director of Sony Real Estate Corp. Through his experience in the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Kiyohiko quit his job as the president of a public listed company to start his own business. That very same year, he was ordained as a Buddhist priest under the Soto Zen sect of Buddhism. Since then, he has taught the Zen mindset to more than 4,000 leaders across 300+ companies. In 2018, he founded ZENTech, a business that integrates Zen, science and technology to implement psychological safety in workplace teams and organizations.