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Learning for Character

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  During the Edo period (1603–1867), under the Tokugawa shogunate, education in Japan was remarkably widespread. Around 300 feudal domains maintained their own schools, and some 20,000 private institutions known as “terakoya” operated throughout the country. These temple- and shrine-based schools, led by monks and scholars, provided children of both samurai and commoners with instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, while also serving as important centers of local community life. What distinguished education in this era was its emphasis on character as much as knowledge. Rather than focusing solely on competition or academic achievement, it sought to cultivate inner qualities—manners, ethics, aesthetic awareness, and harmony with nature—while encouraging individuals to discover their unique strengths and roles within society. In this way, Edo-period education nurtured a quiet sense of self-affirmation: a feeling that “I can be of value here.” In contrast, modern education o...
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Woven Knowledge

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  Just as threads, when tightly interwoven into warp and weft, gain strength and become functional fabrics essential to daily life, academic disciplines, when deeply explored and integrated, enable solutions, discoveries, and innovations that no single field could achieve alone. For example, by connecting the visible and invisible worlds through lowering the boundaries between fields such as biology and quantum mechanics, entirely new realms of understanding may open before us.
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Clearing Space, Finding Purpose

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  Looking back on my life, perhaps because I moved frequently, I have made a habit of sorting through and letting go of my belongings. Now, in life after retirement, without the catalyst of a major move to a permanent home, I find myself far from a minimalist. Still, I have chosen to declutter my life at a steady, manageable pace—gradually releasing what no longer serves me. I believe that by letting go of what feels unnecessary, both now and in the future, I will better recognize what I truly wish to do and achieve, and be able to focus my energy there. In time, as the results become clearer, I hope to share them with you.
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Regret into Momentum

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  After entering the workforce, the time we spend learning practical skills is far longer than our years in school. Even those who regret not studying enough in their youth can turn that regret into momentum. By continuing to learn through their work, seeking opportunities beyond it, and sustaining that effort until retirement, they can achieve results that far outweigh any earlier disadvantage. I know this from experience—I was one of them.
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In Moments of Contrast

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  Color contrasts have a powerful effect on our emotions. For example, when we glimpse red flowers set against pale green foliage or white blossoms, the contrast can heighten their beauty, almost as if the flowers were floating. This may be because the human mind perceives aesthetics not in absolute terms, but through comparison. In the same way, as taught in Buddhism, the conditions surrounding our lives are constantly shifting through interconnectedness—changing conditions in which nothing remains unchanged. Each moment therefore calls for a fresh, relative judgment shaped by the situation at hand.
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Deep Thinking, Real Growth

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  Cultivating the habit of thinking deeply about what truly interests you—especially what matters most in your own life—strengthens your ability to grasp underlying principles, generate ideas, and solve problems. When you act on well-considered thoughts, the outcomes become valuable lessons: unexpected results refine your understanding, while expected ones can be generalized and applied across different situations. As these experiences accumulate, you begin to draw meaningful connections from past to present and even anticipate what lies ahead. Even within limited time, deep thinking yields lasting benefits, as demonstrated by many throughout history. Yet, it holds real value only when it contributes to your own sense of well-being—making a positive, forward-looking attitude essential in the process.
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“Okagesama de”

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  Since ancient times, the Japanese have lived as an agricultural people, valuing coexistence with nature and mutual support. They have long believed that success is shaped not only by one’s own efforts, but also by luck, the blessings of deities, and the unseen support of others. Influenced by Buddhism, the phrase “okagesama de” (meaning “thanks to others’ unseen support”) has been used to express gratitude and quiet joy when things go well. From this tradition emerged a value system in which the more accomplished a person becomes, the more modest and humble they are expected to be—elevating humility to an aesthetic ideal, though exceptions exist in every age. In this sense, “okagesama de” serves as a gentle check against arrogance, guiding individuals toward continued self-reflection and growth.
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