A symposium by Genichiro Takahashi, Juichi Yamagiwa, Shinichi Fukuoka, Sachiko Nakajima, and Tetsumune Shaku (titles omitted) is open to the public. A message to all people living in uncertain times. To commemorate the Osaka-Kansai Expo, this will be held online for the first time (free of charge). All Japan Buddhist Association, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Press Release: August 29, 2025 A symposium featuring Genichiro Takahashi, Juichi Yamagiwa, Shinichi Fukuoka, Sachiko Nakajima, and Tetsumune Shaku (titles omitted) is open to the public. It offers a message to all people living in uncertain times. To commemorate the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the symposium will be held online for the first time (free of charge). The 47th All Japan Buddhist Conference, Osaka, will be held on Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th, co-hosted by the All Japan Buddhist Association (※1) and the Osaka Buddhist Association (※2). To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, the event will also feature an “Interreligious Dialogue Forum” and a “Panel Exhibition on the Great Osaka Air Raid.” To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the Osaka Buddhist Association, together with the All Japan Buddhist
Association, will host the 47th All Japan Buddhist Conference, Osaka, on September 5th and 6th, 2025. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Palop Thaiaree, President of the World Federation of Buddhists (WFB), from the Kingdom of Thailand, and will hold a conference themed “Infinite Life – Cherishing All Life,” with the participation of representatives from not only Japan but also around the world.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167776/1/167776-1-a43da453edf810e3456c8cfe502dd76a-2059×2035.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167776/1/167776-1-e4dd0f14b98c00b6bdf0460c7cd3e353-1521×2000.jpg Saturday, September 6, 2025, 9:00-12:30 *Symposium “Infinite Life – Cherishing All Life” Speakers: Genichiro Takahashi, Juichi Yamagiwa, Shinichi Fukuoka, Sachiko Nakajima, Tetsumune Shaku 4. Venue Hotel Nikko Osaka, 4th and 5th floors, and live streaming on YouTube 5. Capacity Hotel Nikko Osaka: 500 guests YouTube Live Streaming: No Capacity 6. Participation fee Free
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167776/1/167776-1-8ca04eb11dbde0a7ed22370bbcd45f5b-2059×2035.jpg 7. How to Participate Please apply using the Hotel Nikko Osaka application form. https://sec.tobutoptours.co.jp/web/evt/bukyoto2025/ Please watch via the dedicated live streaming URL. Friday, September 5, 2025 https://youtu.be/kw8Qu0zj4ZM Saturday, September 6, 2025 https://youtu.be/3mWB5jCgmXA *If you are unable to connect by clicking the link above, please watch the video on the All Japan Buddhist Association YouTube channel below.
https://www.youtube.com/@zennichi-i1t/ 8. Contact Us 47th All Japan Buddhist Conference Osaka Conference Executive Committee Contact: Hiromasa Murayama (Deputy Chief Priest, Toko-in Temple, Hagino-dera) Email: info@haginotera.or.jp Fax: 06(6855)7178 9. Footnotes *1 The All Japan Buddhist Association is the only federation of traditional Buddhist organizations in Japan, with a total of 105 affiliated organizations (as of June 2021), including 59 major traditional Buddhist sects, 37 prefectural Buddhist associations, and 9 Buddhist organizations. Based on the Buddha’s spirit of “harmony,” our goal is to promote Buddhist culture and contribute to world peace throughout society. Official homepage: https://www.jbf.ne.jp ※2 The Osaka Buddhist Association, comprised of 53 city and ward Buddhist associations and approximately 2,000 traditional Buddhist temples in Osaka Prefecture, celebrated its 60th anniversary this year. Based on the annual Osaka Buddhist Conference, we continue to work toward our mission of spreading the teachings of compassion and wisdom, the fundamental spirit of Buddhism, throughout society, and contributing to the preservation and development of Buddhist culture and the realization of peace for all humanity. Official homepage:
https://www.obf.ne.jp ※Speaker introduction (titles omitted) Genichiro Takahashi Born in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture in 1951. Novelist. Expelled from the Faculty of Economics at Yokohama National
University. Debuted in 1981 with the novel “Goodbye, Gangsters.” In 1988, he won the first Mishima Yukio Prize for “Elegant and
Sentimental Japanese Baseball,” the Ito Sei Prize for Literature in 2001 for “The Rise and Fall of Japanese Literature,” and the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize in 2012 for “Goodbye Christopher Robin.” In 2005, he became a professor at Meiji Gakuin University’s Faculty of
International Studies, where he is currently a professor emeritus. Since April 2020, he has been a host on NHK Radio 1’s “Takahashi Genichiro’s Flying Classroom.” His many books include “Tannisho for 130 Million People” (Asahi Shinsho) and his latest work, “Radio’s Light and Darkness: Takahashi Gen’ichiro’s Flying Classroom 2” (Iwanami Shinsho). Juichi Yamagiwa Born in Tokyo in 1952. He graduated from the Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, with a PhD in Science, specializing in human evolution. He has conducted socio-ecological research on wild Japanese macaques on Yakushima Island and wild gorillas throughout Africa. He served as a professor at the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, and as dean of both the Graduate School and the Faculty of Science, before serving as the 26th president of Kyoto University until 2020. He has served as president of the Primatological Society of Japan, president of the International Primatological Society, president of the Science Council of Japan, and member of the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. He is currently director of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and a senior advisor for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. He is a recipient of the Minakata Kumagusu Award and the Academia Prize. His numerous publications include “Gorillas Taught Me Everything I Need to Know in Life,” “The Empathy Revolution: The Evolution and Future of
Socializing Humanity,” and “The Voice of the Forest, the Eyes of the Gorilla: Connecting the Essence of Humanity to the Future.” Shinichi Fukuoka Biologist and author. Graduated from Kyoto University. After serving as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor at Kyoto University, he is currently a professor at Aoyama Gakuin University and a visiting professor at Rockefeller University. He is the producer of the “Knowing Life” project for the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 (EXPO 2025). He has published many books that reexamine the question of “what is life” from the perspective of dynamic equilibrium, including “Between Living and Non-living Things” (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), which won the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities and became a best-seller with over 900,000 copies sold, and “Dynamic Equilibrium” (Kirakusha). His latest publication is “Have You Seen the Museum of Dynamic Equilibrium of Life? The Altruistic Philosophy of Life” (Asahi Publishing). He is also known as a big Vermeer fan, and has written books such as “Vermeer: Kingdom of Light” (Kirakusha), and served as the supervisor and director of the “Vermeer Center Ginza.” Sachiko Nakajima Jazz pianist, mathematics researcher, STEAM educator, and media artist. Representative director of steAm Inc. and steAm BAND (Inc.). Producer of the Osaka-Kansai Expo theme project (“Enhancing Life”). Gold medalist at the International Mathematical Olympiad (first Japanese woman). She holds a Master’s degree in ITP from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is currently a project researcher at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences and a STEM Girls Ambassador for the Cabinet Office. She also serves as a member of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Special Committee on Digital Learning Infrastructure and the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Affairs Council’s Cultural Economy Subcommittee. She is a recipient of the Shiseido Clé de Peau Beauté Power of Radiance Awards 2025. Her publications include “STEAM Education from Zero Knowledge” (Gentosha) and “Life-Changing Mathematics and Music” (Kodansha). She is active both domestically and internationally in the fields of music, mathematics, STEAM education, and media art. Shaku Tetsushu Priest. Religious scholar. President of Soai Gakuen. President of Musashino University. Executive Director of the Japanese Association for Religious Studies. Chief priest of Nyorai-ji Temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji School. Representative of the NPO ReLife. Conducts comparative and interdisciplinary research in the fields of religious thought and religious culture. He received the Ruikotsu Award for Excellence (Chugai Nippo) for his essay “Fukansai Habian Theory.” He also received the 5th Kawai Hayao Academic Award and the 51st Buddhist Missionary Culture Numata Encouragement Award for his book “Buddhism Blooming in Rakugo: Religion and Performing Arts Resonate.” His recent works include “Reading the Sutras of Joy, Anger, Sorrow and Pleasure” (Asahi Sensho) and “The Priest is a Good Listener” (Shobunsha). Yoshiharu Tomatsu Born in Tokyo in 1953. Graduated from Keio University and Taisho University Graduate School. From 1989 to 1991, he studied Applied Theology, Engaged Buddhism, and Thanatology at Harvard Divinity School, earning a Master of Divinity. He has served as chairman of the All Japan Buddhist Association and the Japan Religious Federation. He currently serves as the chief priest of Shinkoin Temple, the Jodo sect of Buddhism, vice president of the Jodoshu General Research Institute, an executive officer of the World Federation of Buddhists (WFB), chairman of the Japan Committee for the WCRP World Conference of Religions for Peace, and chairman of the Japan-Korea Buddhist Exchange Council. He explores peace activities by religious leaders and medical care in the final stages of life. His publications include “The Study of Life and Death as a Companion.” Yoshinobu Miyake Born in Osaka in 1958. After studying at Doshisha University and Harvard University, he served in various positions within Konkokyo. For 40 years, he has contributed to interreligious dialogue activities through the WCRP and IARF. In 1997, he founded Rerunet, Inc., a website dealing with religious information. He has served as Secretary General of the International Association of Religious Fellowship, Chairman of the International Shinto Studies Association, and Chairman of the Kansai Headquarters of the United Nations Association of Japan. He is also a director of the G20 Religious Forum. He has written numerous books in both Japanese and English. Katsuhiro Ohara Born in Osaka in 1965. Completed doctoral course at Doshisha University Graduate School of Theology. Doctorate (Theology). Currently president of Doshisha University, professor at the Faculty of Theology, and director of the Center for the Study of Conscience. He is also the chairman of the University Consortium Kyoto and the executive director of the Japan Association of Private Universities. His specialties are Christian thought, religious ethics, and monotheism. His publications include “An Introduction to Religion: Understanding the World – What You Need to Know as Business Education” (Nihon Jitsugyo Publishing) and “What is Monotheism? Understanding Christianity, Judaism, and Islam” (Heibonsha Shinsho). Anas Muhammad Melee Born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia in 1987. Came to Japan in 2007 as part of the first class of the Saudi King’s Scholarship Program. Completed his doctoral studies in nanomaterials engineering at Nippon Institute of Technology. In 2019, he was appointed as the
representative of the Japanese branch of the Muslim World League. He has previously served as an advisor to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Japan, a director of the Katakura Motoko Memorial Desert Culture Foundation, and a part-time lecturer at Akita University. He has participated in numerous academic conferences and lectures on engineering, international cooperation, cultural anthropology, and Islam, and has contributed to the writing of books and papers. Saeed Sato Yuichi Born in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Religious Principles at Imam University in Saudi Arabia. He works as an imam (prayer leader) and in educational activities for believers at Islamic organizations in Japan, while also teaching Arabic at universities and other institutions. He is a Japanese translator of the Quran at the King Fahd Quran Printing Bureau of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, vice president of the Japan Muslim Association, and cultural advisor to the Japanese branch of the Muslim World League. Copyright ©
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