Podcasts about Sophia University

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 114 - What is the role of visions and dreams in Buddhism? What are some visions and dreams that Buddhists have had? How ought we understand them? (How are they different from imagining a thing?)References: Andrews, Allan A. The Teachings Essential for Rebirth: A study of Genshin's Ōjōyōshū. Monumenta Nipponica, Sophia University, 1973.; Horton, Sarah (2004). The Influence of the Ōjōyōshū in Late Tenth- and Early Eleventh-Century Japan, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 31 (1), 29-54; Rhodes, Robert F. (2007). Ōjōyōshū, Nihon Ōjō Gokuraku-ki, and the Construction of Pure Land Discourse in Heian Japan, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 34 (2), 249-270; Rhodes, Robert F. (2001). Some Problems concerning Genshin's Biographies, Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies (Indogaku Bukkyogaku Kenkyu) 50 (1), 514-511; Rhodes, Robert F. (2017). Genshin's Ōjōyōshū and the Construction of Pure Land Discourse in Heian Japan (Pure Land Buddhist Studies). University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0824872489.; Ishida, Mizumaro (1970). Nihon Shisō Taikei 6: Genshin (in Japanese). Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 4000700065.; Kubota, Jun (2007). Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten [Iwanami Dictionary of Japanese Classical Literature] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6. OCLC 122941872.; Muller, A. Charles (1998). "East Asian Apocryphal Scriptures: Their Origin and Role in the Development of Sinitic Buddhism". Bulletin of Toyo Gakuen University. 6: 63–76. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17.; Silk, Jonathan A. (April 1997). "The Composition of the 'Guanwuliangshoufo-jing': Some Buddhist and Jaina Parallels to its Narrative Frame". Journal of Indian Philosophy. 25 (2): 181–256. doi:10.1023/A:1004291223455. JSTOR 23448579. S2CID 169187184.; Buswell, Robert Jr; Lopez, Donald S. Jr., eds. (2013). Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691157863.; Hakeda, Yoshito S., trans. (1967), Awakening of Faith—Attributed to Aśvaghoṣa, with commentary by Yoshito S. Hakeda, New York, NY: Columbia University Press, ISBN 0-231-08336-X; Jorgensen, John; Lusthaus, Dan; Makeham, John; Strange, Mark, trans. (2019), Treatise on Awakening Mahāyāna Faith, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780190297718; King, Sally B. (1991), Buddha nature, State University of New York Press, ISBN 0585068313; Muller, Charles (1998). "East Asian Apocryphal Scriptures: Their Origin and Role in the Development of Sinitic Buddhism". Bulletin of Toyo Gakuen University. 6: 63–76.; Suzuki, Daisetz T. (1900). Açvaghosha's Discourse on the awakening of faith in the Mahâyâna. Chicago: Open Court Pub. Co.; Tarocco, Franceska (2008). "Lost in Translation? The Treatise on the Mahāyāna Awakening of Faith (Dasheng qixin lun) and its modern readings". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 71 (2): 323–343. doi:10.1017/S0041977X08000566. hdl:10278/3684313.Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.Credits:Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-HostProven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

Join Jennifer as she delves into an enriching conversation with Katheryn Gronauer, a dynamic coach and facilitator with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. There are fascinating parallels between business or life transitions and the traditional Japanese “sento” or public bath experience. Whether navigating a career shift, exploring new ventures, or simply seeking inspiration for personal growth, this episode offers a wealth of wisdom on embracing change, “dropping the towel” to be more authentic and finding more alignment in your work and life. Don't miss the valuable lessons on transparency, resilience, and the profound impact of incremental progress.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. In this episode you'll hear:Katheryn's first experience with feeling out of alignment with her environmentLearning to be an entrepreneur in her own wayThe Sento Mindset as a metaphor for transformationsThe question: Are you transitioning or transforming?About KatherynKatheryn Gronauer is a coach with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. She is a graduate of Sophia University with a degree in International Business & Culture, a certified coach through both the Center for Executive Coaching (International Coaching Federation Accredited) and Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and a certified ATD Trainer & Change Management Facilitator. Beyond coaching and training, Katheryn is a Speaker and Writer. She has spoken at Tedx on The Sento Mindset, the US Embassy, Toyo University, Roppongi Cooperative, and more. She has written for JapanToday, Savvy, Women's Health, HuffPost, and more, as well as authored the book Confessions of a Yo-yo Dieter on her experience of losing 40 pounds with Western and Eastern health concepts. Katheryn is originally from Florida and currently lives with her family in Tokyo.Connect with Katherynwww.katheryngronauer.comwww.thrivetokyo.comlu.ma/thrive-tokyo www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauer www.instagram.com/katheryngronauer Connect with JenniferLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

Join us this week as we sit down with Sabastian Velilla. As a student of Budo since 1984, Sensei Velilla is a U.S. Army Veteran who has completed Post-Graduate programs in Japanese Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo and Advanced Public Policy at Old Dominion University in Virginia. For several years he administered International Military Education and Training to the Japanese Self Defense Forces as part of the Department of the Army Security Assistance Program. He has competed and placed in various Budo Arts in both the U.S. and in Japan. In 2023 Sabastian Sensei was nominated for the Japan Foundation Award and in 2024 received the Korosho award from the Kokusai Budoin (IMAF JAPAN) for meritorious service to Budo. He is dedicated to protecting, preserving and expanding traditional Japanese martial arts (Budo) and Japanese Fine Arts (Bijutsu) while fostering well-disciplined and capable individuals through participation in physical, mental and spiritual training.#PKCC #karate #martialarts

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise. Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate. Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com. Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners. Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years. Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board. He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise. Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate. Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com. Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners. Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years. Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board. He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise. Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate. Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com. Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners. Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years. Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board. He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Today's discussion comes from our most recent annual conference “Existential Crises: Is the Georgist Paradigm Part of the Solution?” and was recorded in July of 2024. This is the penultimate panel of our conference content on the polycrisis afflicting the globe. Thus far, we have discussed the four most important crises, followed by how Georgism can alleviate these crises, which was then be followed by how to make Georgism more politically palatable, and will now conclude by with different Georgist policy solutions. Today's panelist is part of our fourth and final panel, “The Policy Options.” Our speaker for today's episode is Professor Roger Sandilands. Professor Sandilands is the president of the Scottish League for Land Value Taxation and Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Sandilands has held numerous research and teaching positions focusing on monetary and international economics at Simon Fraser University in Canada, National University of Singapore, Lund University in Sweden, and Sophia University in Japan, as well as others. He is the author of two books: The Life and Political Economy of Lauchlin Currie and Monetary Correction and Housing Finance in Colombia, Brazil and Chile, as well as numerous journal articles. He also served as the Managing Editor of the Journal of Economic Studies. Professor Sandilands earned his bachelor's and Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde. Together, we discussed land redistribution, why the supply of land is considered to be fixed, and how land value taxes can spur entrepreneurship. To check out more of our content, including our research and policy tools, visit our website: https://www.hgsss.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/smart-talk-hgsss/support

Considering a career change or moving to a different area of practice in your legal career? Perhaps you are considering the big leap to Japan from overseas? Yuna Yoshimasa, a legal recruiter at Just Legal in Tokyo, specialising in healthcare and life sciences gives us the latest information so you can think about new opportunities. The episode also covers the recruitment process, trends, and tips for lawyers aiming to work in Japan, particularly in the healthcare sector. Yuna also shares valuable advice on working with recruiters and the importance of English and communication skills. This episode is a must-listen for lawyers considering a career shift to the Japanese market or a change in industry. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we'd love it if you would leave us a message here! In this episode you'll hear: What industries and role levels are hot in the legal market in Japan right now The most asked for skills by hiring managers How best to maintain a great relationship with a recruiter and the benefits for both sides Her favourite restaurant, quote and other fun facts  About Yuna Yuna Yoshimasa is an experienced Legal recruiter at Just Legal, an executive search firm specialising in Legal and Compliance in Tokyo. She leads the healthcare sector and assists pharmaceutical, medical devices, diagnostics companies, and health tech companies with their mid to senior legal (both Bengoshi and FQLs) and compliance hires. She excels at relationship building and she is able to offer an abundance of information and connections through her relationships with hiring managers and aspiring candidates in the industry. Yuna is no doubt the most dedicated expert in this field.  In February 2024, Yuna was awarded the “Young Leadership Award” by the management committee of the Health 2.0 Conference, which was held in Dubai, with recognition for her contribution to the healthcare industry. Yuna lived in the UAE when she was in her second year of high school and studied in Australia as an exchange Uni student. She graduated in 2010 from the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Sophia University. When she is not so busy with transactions, Yuna enjoys playing the drums. She wishes to form a band (again) and perform at gigs. Yuna welcomes listeners who play any musical instruments to get in touch!  Connect with Yuna  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuna-yoshimasa-64bb42169/  Website: https://www.justlegal.co.jp/ja/team/yunayoshimasa/  Links Restaurant イル　https://www.makuake.com/project/ile/　 Survey with Head of Legal in Healthcare:  【Part 1】https://www.justlegal.co.jp/Just-Legal_Newsletter_healthcare_2404.pdf 【Part 2】https://www.justlegal.co.jp/Just-Legal_Newsletter_hmvoices2_2404.pdf Connect with Catherine  Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

Are 1:1 meetings important? How to run effective meetings? What's their purpose? This and more. Let's engage with international professionals from China, the UK, the USA, and Japan. If you would like to be considered for the show, please connect with the host Leo. Details on each guest: Francis Kremer is the founder of the China Flexpat Community. This is a community for international professionals to share advice and experiences about working in and with China. This advice is shared on the "China Flexpat Podcast" which can be found on Spotify or any other podcast app. Francis graduated in Business studies in 2006 in Germany, has always been working in international technology marketing and speaks fluent Chinese. He relocated to China in 2016. In 2020, Francis joined JULI Automation, the Chinese market leader for EV motor assembly lines. The most leading EV brands, such as SAIC, FAW, Geely and Great Wall cooperate with JULI Automation. Francis is now responsible for the internationalization of the company in order to become the worldwide market leader for EV motor assembly lines. He is establishing customer relationships and service offerings in Europe and North America. In 2024 he has established a new subsidiary in Hungary with a planned headcount of 60 professionals in 2026. Sally Maier-Yip is an award-winning cross-cultural Public Relations (PR) strategist with a background in journalism and a passion for helping companies to build successful business in Mainland China, Hong Kong and globally over the past 20 years. In 2015, Sally founded 11K Consulting, a leading London-based China-specialist communications consultancy, specialized in helping clients to reach and attract Chinese high-net-worth individuals, investors and luxury consumers in China and globally. 11K's clients include a mix of international and emerging companies from property development, architecture, interior design to luxury hotels and restaurants. Prior to 11K, Sally had worked at various PR agencies in Hong Kong, Singapore and London. Tom Roberts is a recognized expert in the intercultural complexities of global leadership and has been referred to as “The Expat Whisperer” by a treasured client. Tom is a senior executive, author, keynote speaker, and certified executive coach who has helped hundreds of C-Suite, VP and Director level leaders redefine their overseas experience as a career-making superpower. After over a decade abroad taking on 5 international assignments and guiding teams in 11 different countries, with country, unit, and regional P&L ownership, Tom has been through the ups and downs of leading abroad. The stakes are high for your career, your company's objectives, and – perhaps most importantly – for your family. Jason Durkee is President of corporate training firm Idea Development in Tokyo. During his 30 years as a consultant in Asia, he's helped more than 40,000 people communicate, manage and work better across languages and cultures. Jason was born and raised in Seattle, graduated from Sophia University's Faculty of Comparative Culture in Tokyo, worked in Japan and Shanghai, founded Idea Development in 2003, developed the company to be an leader leader and has managed global teams since 2003.

IMAGE CREDIT: Photo : Guy Wolff / Église catholique à Luxembourg LINKS Vatican bio of Cardinal Höllerich https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_hollerich_jc.html      Jean Claude Höllerich on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvadore Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2019.htm#Hollerich  Cardinal Höllerich on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/p/47061     Cardinal Höllerich on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bholleri.html      Archdiocese of Luxembourg on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/luxe0.htm?focus=47061&tab=info      Archdiocese of Luxembourg on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dluxe.html  National Catholic Register coverage of Cardinal Höllerich on church teaching on Homosexuality: https://www.ncronline.org/news/quick-reads/top-eu-cardinal-calls-change-church-teaching-gay-relationships  2022 National Catholic Register coverage of Cardinal Pell calling for Cardinal Höllerich's censure: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/cardinal-pell-calls-on-vatican-to-correct-2-senior-european-bishops-for-rejecting-church-s-sexual-ethics  Crux Now reporting on Cardinal Höllerich's appointment as Relator General for the Synod on Synodality: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2021/07/pope-names-relator-general-for-2023-synod  Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold! TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Popeular History, a library of Catholic knowledge and insights. Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript. Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes. Jean Claude Höllerich was born on August 9, 1958 in Differdange, Luxembourg. Sandwiched at the intersection of Belgium, France, and Germany, Luxembourg isn't exactly large but for what, it's worth, Differdange is on the southwestern corner of things. He actually grew up in Vianden, which is clear on the opposite northeast end of the country, a full hour's drive away. Anyways, Jean Claude went to Rome relatively early on in his journey, once he decided to pursue the priesthood he began studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He formally joined the Jesuit Order in 1981, doing his novitiate in Namur, Belgium, followed by a couple years of pastoral training back home in Luxembourg, then actually on to Japan and I'll bet you didn't see that one coming. But yes from 1985 to 1989 he studied Japanese, not only the language but the culture as well, accompanied of course by theological studies, which he capped off back closer to home in Germany. By the time of his 1990 ordination Father Höllerich was deep into studying German language and literature, winding up with his second licentiate, by which point he was already a decade into his teaching career. His early teaching had been focused on forming seminarians, but by 1994 he was settled in at Sophia University in Tokyo, where his focus was European studies. He gradually built his portfolio at that university, becoming student chaplain in 1999, then rector of the school's Jesuit community as well as vice-rector for general affairs and students at the school as of 2008. I should also note that he took his final vows as a Jesuit during all that, in 2002. In 2011, the Archbishop of Luxembourg–aka the *only* Roman Catholic bishop of Luxembourg–retired. There has never been a non-Luxembourger Archbishop and there are only so many Luxembourger priests of the right age with the right qualifications-don't get me wrong I do think Father Höllerich was surprised but maybe just a bit less surprised than others we've talked about when he was named as the next Archbishop. In a nice touch given Höllerich's history, the Archbishop of Tokyo joined the Archbishop of Cologne and the Archbishop Emeritus of Luxembourg in consecrating him on October 16, 2011. In his role as Archbishop–and even before– he was frequently involved in side projects like bringing the Catholic Scouts of Europe to Luxembourg and serving as President of the Catholic Bishops Conferences of Europe's Commission for youth. In 2018, he was elected president of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). In 2019, Pope Francis named him as a Cardinal-Priest, assigning him the titular church of San Giovanni Crisostomo a Monte Sacro Alto and making him the first Luxembourger Cardinal. Cardinal Höllerich has gained a reputation for being progressive–by Catholic standards–calling for lay empowerment and women deacons and being relatively LGBT+ affirming. On the latter topic, here's an eyebrow-raising quote: "I believe that the sociological-scientific foundation of this teaching is no longer correct," End quote.  In this he found himself at odds with the late Cardinal Pell, who publicly called for Pope Francis to condemn Höllerich's quote “wholesale and explicit” end quote rejection of Church teaching on sexuality. He's also the highest ranking Church official I've ever seen to openly express a willingness to consider full on women's ordination, not just the more common willingness to restore an unordained diaconate for women but openness to full-on women priests. Given his progressive streak, it's not terribly surprising that Cardinal Höllerich's appointment as Relator General for the Synod on Synodality got a lot of attention generally and concern from more conservative commentators specifically. The Synod on Synodality–officially the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops but Synod on Synodality is what's caught on so that's what we're rolling with–the Synod on Synodality is a rolling conversation that was originally supposed to wrap up in 2022 but it got pushed back to 2023 and then extended to a two-year program that started about a year ago and will conclude this October. A synod is a gathering of bishops, and therefore a synod on synodality is something of a meeting on meetings, but it's had a large amount of interest especially when someone like Höllerich was setting up the discussion topics, including increasing the participation of women and the laity in the life of the Church and being more pastoral slash welcoming to LGBT+ individuals. Right now I can tell you that I expect more movement on including women and laity in Church governance- it's already happened with the Synod itself, with laity including women having a voting role in the Synod on Synodality itself, a noteworthy departure from the Church's administrative tradition. But don't get too riled up about women deacons, much less women priests, or significant changes on the LGBT+ front, because by all accounts major shifts on those higher profile fronts are, simply put, not likely. In 2020, Pope Francis named Cardinal Hollerich as a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture and then added him to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialog a few months later. In September 2021 he was named as one of the two vice presidents of the Council of the European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), and last but certainly not least in earlier this year Pope Francis added Cardinal Höllerich to his special kitchen cabinet “Council of Cardinals”, the same body where his erstwhile critic Cardinal Pell had served until his passing. Jean Claude Höllerich is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2038. Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers, and there will be more Cardinal Numbers next week. Thank you for listening; God bless you all!

Please welcome Dr. Brett Blair to the Clocking Out podcast. Dr. Brett Blair is the founder and president of Best Life Global, LLC. Best Life Global provides business and personal growth coaching and training services. Brett has published three books, Born - Love - Die, From Autopilot to Authentic, and Living at the Summit. Brett is also the architect and lead instructor for the Best Life Masterclass, a mixture of teaching, coaching, and mastermind. Delivered in an online, intimate group setting specifically designed to get you “unstuck” and help you live your “Best Life." The program is built on two decades of learning and experience neatly packaged into 12 practical lessons.Brett is a keynote speaker on a variety of subjects relative to flourishing and peak performance and the founder of the Best Life Movement, a non-profit organization aimed at helping people live their unique best lives.Brett is also a founding partner of Sanford Rose Associates, an executive search firm based in Brighton, MI., and is a Principal with the Brentwood Advisory Group based in Chicago, IL. Originally from Blue Springs, MO., Brett attended the University of Missouri, where he earned his BS-Industrial Engineering degree. He also holds an MBA-Finance from Tennessee State University and studied at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. Brett has also completed a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, with an emphasis on applied positive psychology. Prior to founding Best Life Global, Brett was employed with 3M Corporation and Alcoa in a variety of executive leadership positions.Brett is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the International Coach Federation, RTP Angel Fund, and is Past President of the Rotary Club of Research Triangle Park, NC. Brett lives in Holly Springs, NC, and is active with his church, with local non-profit organizations, enjoys long-distance running, snow skiing, and travel.Listen as Brett shares his background, career path, and pivotal “clocking out” moments.  ResourcesVisit Brett's website at brettblairphd.comConnect with Brett on LinkedInOrder Born - Love - Die Visit careerminds.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, & YoutubeVisit Raymond's website or follow him on socials: LinkedIn, Instagram, Tiktok, X, & YoutubeOrder Clocking Out: A Stress-Free Guide to Career Transitions 

Japan loves detail. A lot more detail than we expect in the West.  I remember a lecture I attended at an academic conference on Sino-Japanese relations here in Tokyo in the early 1980s.  The Professor was making this point about the Japanese love of detail by relating how a Zen metaphor had been imported into Japan from China.  In the Chinese telling, there was a bucket to draw water from the well and there was no great attention placed on the apparatus, but instead on the broader philosophical Zen point. This was the main objective of the telling of the story.  In the Japanese version, there was a lot of minute detail about the circumference and depth of the well, how it was dug out and reinforced, the construction of the bucket and the rope and a host of other statistics, somewhat diluting or even obscuring the broader philosophical Zen point. The takeaway for us in sales is that the Japanese buyer has an insatiable need for details.  This is cultural, but also a defensive posture to help them ensure they don't make a bad decision to entrust their company's fortunes to us.  The idea is that the more information they can assemble, the greater the likelihood they won't get into any trouble in the future. Usually, we will have corporate brochures, flyers, catalogues etc., to show the client.  We should make a point of emphasising how long we have been in operation and, in particular, how long we have been here in Japan.  Longevity in Japan is its own proof of acceptance by the market and therefore validates risk reduction to take us on as a supplier. When we start outlining the scope of our services, we should be prepared to go into a lot more detail than we would normally need to bother with in a Western context.  If you ever look at Japanese local websites, they are exploding stars of massive details and the screen is saturated in text.  I don't think we need to go that far, but we do need a balance. There are some busy people who will just scan the content and be satisfied with that and others who will want all the detail.  We can cater to both by using headlines and summaries and other pages or resource sections for packing in the gory details. We are all busy and social media is training us to have shorter and shorter concentration spans, so the first sentence in any paragraph has to be well constructed.  We want to plant a hook in that opening volley which captures the curiosity and intrigue of the buyer to keep reading.  Don't start with boring bumf and expect to have your content consumed by the reader. We need to keep repeating this hook idea every paragraph. Most Japanese companies do not want Minimum Viable Products tested on them or to be a pioneer in their industry.  These things work in the West, but Japan expects the product or solution to work perfectly from the outset and to have no problems and no defects.  Adjusting the solution based on buyer feedback isn't an option once you have sold the solution.  It has to work from the get go.  Testing something new is not attractive to the buyer, because the risk is felt to be too high. Therefore, it is always good to come armed with case studies about other clients who have benefited from your solution. This is not that easy in Japan, because clients often won't allow you to promulgate that they are even a client, let alone share what you did for them and what happened.  Clients would tell me they couldn't allow us to mention they were a client because it wouldn't be fair to our competitors!  Huh?  But this is Japan, and this is how they see these things. Corporate secrets are well guarded here, so getting a case study together is no snap. Always make sure you have information about yourself and the company's history.  The buyers want to know who they are dealing with.  You will need to include basic details about the company like who are the executives, the headquarter address, your main bank, the amount of capital you hold, etc. In my case, I always refer to myself as “Dr. Story”, because I have a Ph.D. and that is a big differentiator with my competitors in the corporate training market.  Do you want to be taught by a guy with a Ph.D. or some bozo with no credentials?  I will also sometimes mention I have a M.A. from Sophia University here in Tokyo, because that says “l am a local” to the Japanese buyer. I will often mention I am a 6th Dan in traditional Shitoryu karate, because that tells the buyer I am really serious about Japan and have deep knowledge of the culture and language.  When I have the chance, I will also reference the 9 books, three in Japanese, I have published and the multitude of podcasts and videos I have released, because that is a massive form of credibility building.  It says I am a serious expert in my field and you should use me rather than someone else who doesn't have any of these proof points. We need to think carefully about what we hand over to the buyer and what we put up on our website. With their distributed decision-making system, many people we will never meet will be taking a look at us.  We have to anticipate their questions and concerns and cover those off in our materials.  

Here is my ‘review' - perhaps ‘appraisal' or ‘observations' would be a better way of describing it - of the documentary ‘Mark - A Call to Action', about my friend, the late Dr. Mark Bookman, which I hope receives wider attention. At the beginning and end of the podcast episode, there are audio extracts from Carolyn Stevens, Professor of Japanese Studies and Director of the Japanese Studies Centre at Monash University, Australia, speaking at Sophia University, Yotsuya Campus on February 25th 2024 after a showing of the film. Before he died, Mark was working on a new project; an organisation called ‘GLIDE' that would help organisations such as governments & businesses be inclusive of people with disabilities. Please click on the GLIDE website given below. GLIDE Website: https://www.glidefund.org ‘Mark - A Call to Action' Trailer (YouTube): https://youtu.be/7ouJVy0J2n0?si=BntT_pQuvdMvk9xb

The place, Sophia University, Yotsuya Campus. The date, Sunday 25th February 2024. The reason for this gathering was to watch ‘Mark - A Call to Action', a documentary film about the late Dr. Mark Bookman, an academic and disability activist who lived in Japan and researched about disability issues in Japan. This podcast begins with Wasna Al Dabbagh introducing the film ‘Mark - A Call to Action', followed by the trailer for the film. Finally, there are some comments made after the film by Prof. Nagase Osamu of Ritsumeikan University, who is a disability studies scholar, as well as being a mentor and colleague to Mark. ‘Mark - A Call to Action' trailer (YouTube): https://youtu.be/7ouJVy0J2n0?si=zLty7nuLjo0tYpik

Roland Kelts is a Japanese-American writer, journalist, and author of the book Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US. He has also written numerous articles for the Guardian, The New York Times, The Japan Times, The New Yorker, CNN, BBC, and NHK, among others, exploring how pop culture intersects with and influences society and politics. Kelts has taught at many leading universities such as The University of Tokyo, New York University, Columbia University, and Sophia University, and held talks at many embassies and pop culture conventions. He received a Nieman Fellowship in Journalism from Harvard University in 2017.In this episode, we discuss his most recent book, The Art of Blade Runner Black Lotus, a deep-dive into the artwork that went into making the first-ever Blade Runner animated series. Along with commentary from Roland, the book includes concept art, sketch work, pre-viz, animation tests, final frames, and interviews with the masterminds behind the show. It's a gorgeous book that pairs well with coffee tables and kotatsu alike.LINKS:Monkey: New Writing From Japan Roland's Personal Website/Blog The Lingering Tragedy of Japan's Lost Generation (Pro tip: Google search the article title to avoid the paywall) United States v. Handley (Wiki) 'Obscene' U.S. Manga Collector Jailed 6 Months (Wired)Devil Lady (Wiki) Blade Runner Black Lotus OST (YouTube) Got something to say? You can reach me at the following:deep.in.japan.podcast@gmail.comAs always, thanks for listening!

In Episode 23 of the podcast I speak with David Laichtman - a doctoral candidate at Sophia University in Tokyo - about the historical and contemporary practice of bear worship in Japan by cultures including the Matagi in Tohoku and Ainu in Hokkaido. In doing so, this episode draws attention to the often-overlooked fact that Japan is home culturally and ethnically distinct people, many of whom are most identifiable in the snow country. This episode includes discussion regarding traditional practices which result in the physical death of bears. We discuss how that occurs including ritualistic aspects of the death and the consumption of the bear. Given the nature of our conversation, this episode may not be suitable for all audiences and for that reason, I ask for your discretion as to whether you want to listen to it. David and I discuss peoples including the Matagi and Ainu cultures. Neither of us are Matagi or Ainu and we do not speak on their behalf. My questions are asked from a place of true interest and it is my sincere intention that all questions are appropriate and engaging, while David's answers are based on his own research and observations. Should you be interested to learn more, Mataginoyu and Matagi Museum, both in Akita Prefecture, profile the culture of the Matagi. Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Hokkaido is the largest public facility dedicated to the promotion of Ainu culture. As David suggests, it might be best to visit Upopoy in conjunction with or prioritise a visit to Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, along with the Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum. David will be a guest speaker at the event ‘New and Critical Perspectives on Global Studies', presented by the Graduate School of Global Studies (GSGS) Sophia University on February 16th 2024.  Make sure to checkout the episode page on the Snow Country Stories Japan website for more information, images and links.  00:00  Episode Introduction 03:09  A Little of David's Story 05:01  Arctolatry: A (Very) Brief History 07:30  Bear Worship in Japan: Where & By Whom Is It Practiced? 09:49  The Matagi & The Ainu 14:08  Matagi ‘Kuma Matsuri' & Ainu Bear ‘Iomante' / Part 1 22:41  Matagi ‘Kuma Matsuri' & Ainu Bear ‘Iomante' / Part 2 26:23  The Story of Japan: One People, One Culture? 28:45  Matagi & Ainu Museums in Northern Japan 35:02  Recommended Reading & Where to Follow David 38:46  Episode CloseSnow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Dr. Brett Blair is the founder and president of Best Life Global. Headquartered in Durham, NC,  Best Life Global is a high-performance coaching and organizational consulting company. Brett is also the founding partner of Sanford Rose Associates, an executive search firm based in Brighton, MI. You can connect with Brett at https://www.brettblairphd.com/ Brett was previously employed with 3M Corporation and Alcoa in a variety of executive leadership positions, including General Manager of Alcoa's $200M automotive electronics division. Brett holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, with an emphasis on applied positive psychology. Brett attended the University of Missouri where he earned his BS-Industrial Engineering degree. He also holds an MBA-Finance from Tennessee State University and studied at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.  Brett is also a member of the RTP Capital Angel Investment Group and is currently a co-founder of two early-stage startups. He has published two books, From Autopilot to Authentic and Living at the Summit, and his latest book, Born-Love-Die comes out September 10, 2023 on Amazon. Enjoy this conversation with my friend, Dr. Brett Blair!

HEALTH NEWS   ·         Intermittent fasting improves Alzheimer's pathology ·         Melatonin and its derivatives found to enhance long-term object recognition memory ·         Heat therapy boosts mitochondrial function in muscles ·         Too young for arthritis? 15% of global population over age 30 have condition ·         Decreased acetyl-L-carnitine levels associated with depression ·         Floatation Therapy for Specific Health Concerns      Intermittent fasting improves Alzheimer's pathology  University of California San Diego School of Medicine, August 21, 2023 One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is disruption to the body's circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that regulates many of our physiological processes. Nearly 80% of people with Alzheimer's experience these issues, including difficulty sleeping and worsening cognitive function at night. However, there are no existing treatments for Alzheimer's that target this aspect of the disease. A new study from researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine has shown in mice that it is possible to correct the circadian disruptions seen in Alzheimer's disease with time-restricted feeding, a type of intermittent fasting focused on limiting the daily eating window without limiting the amount of food consumed. In the study, published in Cell Metabolism, mice that were fed on a time-restricted schedule showed improvements in memory and reduced accumulation of amyloid proteins in the brain. The authors say the findings will likely result in a human clinical trial. “Circadian disruptions in Alzheimer's are the leading cause of nursing home placement,” said Desplats. “Anything we can do to help patients restore their circadian rhythm will make a huge difference in how we manage Alzheimer's in the clinic and how caregivers help patients manage the disease at home.” Compared to control mice who were provided food at all hours, mice fed on the time-restricted schedule had better memory, were less hyperactive at night, followed a more regular sleep schedule and experienced fewer disruptions during sleep. The test mice also performed better on cognitive assessments than control mice, demonstrating that the time-restricted feeding schedule was able to help mitigate the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers also observed improvements in the mice on a molecular level. In mice fed on a restricted schedule, the researchers found that multiple genes associated with Alzheimer's and neuroinflammation were expressed differently. They also found that the feeding schedule helped reduce the amount of amyloid protein that accumulated in the brain. Amyloid deposits are one of the most well-known features of Alzheimer's disease.     Melatonin and its derivatives found to enhance long-term object recognition memory Sophia University (Japan), August 21, 2023 Multiple studies have demonstrated the memory-enhancing effects of melatonin and its derivatives in animal models. It is also known that the formation of both short- and long-term memories require the phosphorylation of certain memory-related proteins. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying melatonin-induced memory enhancement have remained elusive. Now, medical researchers from Sophia University, Japan, have made important findings that contribute significantly to the elucidation of the underlying mechanisms in a recent article that was published NeuroReport on June 7, 2023. The research team, which included Dr. Masahiro Sano (currently affiliated with Tohoku University) and Dr. Hikaru Iwashita (currently affiliated with Kansai Medical University), examined the effects of three compounds on memory formation; these compounds were melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland located in the brain; N1-acetyl-5-methoxyquinuramine (AMK), melatonin's biological metabolite; and ramelteon, a drug that binds and activates the melatonin receptor. Initial experiments conducted on male mice clearly showed that the administration of melatonin, ramelteon, or AMK at a dose of 1 mg/kg facilitated the formation of long-term memory. The researchers did not investigate the effects of the three compounds on female mice to avoid any likely data variability resulting from the reproductive cycles occurring in female mammals. Prof. Chiba concludes, "Our findings suggest that melatonin is involved in promoting the formation of long-term object recognition memory by modulating the phosphorylation levels of memory-related proteins such as ERK, CaMKIIs, and CREB in both receptor-mediated and nonreceptor-mediated signaling pathways."   Heat therapy boosts mitochondrial function in muscles Brigham Young University, July 31, 2023 A new study finds that long-term heat therapy may increase mitochondrial function in the muscles. The discovery could lead to new treatments for people with chronic illness or disease.  Mitochondria, the "energy centers" of the cells, are essential for maintaining good health. Exercise has been shown to create new mitochondria and improve function of existing mitochondria. However, some people with chronic illnesses are not able to exercise long enough--previous research suggests close to two hours daily--to reap the benefits. Rodent studies have suggested that heat exposure may also induce the production of more mitochondria. Researchers from Brigham Young University in Utah studied 20 adult volunteers who had not participated in regular exercise in the three months prior to the study. The research team applied two hours of shortwave diathermy--a type of heat therapy generated by electrical pulses--to the thigh muscles of one leg of each person every day. The researchers based the six-day trial of heat on the minimum amount of exercise needed to measure changes in muscle, or about two hours each day. They designed the treatment to mimic the effects of muscle heating that occurs during exercise.  Mitochondrial function increased by an average of 28 percent in the heated legs after the heat treatment. The concentration of several mitochondrial proteins also increased in the heated legs, which suggests that "in addition to improving function, [repeated exposure to heat] increased mitochondrial content in human skeletal muscle," the research team wrote. "Our data provide evidence to support further research into the mechanisms of heat-induced mitochondrial adaptations," the researchers explained. People who are not able to exercise for long periods of time due to their health may benefit from [heat] treatments.   Too young for arthritis? 15% of global population over age 30 have condition Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (US), August 21, 2023 Arthritis is just a problem for the elderly, right? Not so fast. A recent study finds that osteoarthritis affects 15 percent of individuals over the age of 30 worldwide. Contributing factors include obesity, as well as an aging and growing global population. Remarkably, excess weight is responsible for 20 percent of these cases. Moreover, for those over 70, osteoarthritis ranks as the seventh leading cause of years people live with a disability. Experts forecast that by 2050, one billion people will be afflicted by this condition. Women tend to be more susceptible than men. The most commonly impacted areas include the hands, hips, knees, and other joints like the shoulders and elbows. By 2050, estimates predict a 78.6-percent increase in hip pain cases, 75 percent in the knee, 50 percent in the hand, and a staggering 95.1-percent increase in other areas. This research, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle, assessed three decades of osteoarthritis data from over 200 countries. In 1990, the global count was 256 million individuals with osteoarthritis. By 2020, this number skyrocketed to 595 million, marking a 132-percent increase from 1990. The dramatic rise can be attributed to three primary causes: aging, population growth, and the obesity epidemic. The team's findings underscored the mounting influence of obesity over time as its rates have soared. They estimate that effectively addressing obesity could reduce the osteoarthritis burden by one-fifth.   Decreased acetyl-L-carnitine levels associated with depression Stanford University, July 30 2023  An article that appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported a link between low levels of acetyl-L-carnitine and a greater risk of depression. Acting on the findings of animal research conducted by lead author Carla Nasca, PhD, the researchers recruited men and women between the ages of 20 and 70 years who had been admitted to Weill Cornell Medicine or Mount Sinai School of Medicine for treatment of acute depression. Clinical assessments were conducted upon enrollment and blood samples were analyzed for levels of acetyl-L-carnitine. In comparison with levels measured in blood samples provided by 45 demographically matched healthy men and women, acetyl-L-carnitine blood levels in depressed subjects were substantially lower. Acetyl-L-carnitine levels were lowest among depressed patients who had severe symptoms, a history of treatment resistance, or early onset disease. Having a history of childhood abuse was also associated with low acetyl-L-carnitine levels. "We've identified an important new biomarker of major depression disorder,” Dr Rasgon stated. “We didn't test whether supplementing with that substance could actually improve patients' symptoms. What's the appropriate dose, frequency, duration? This is the first step toward developing that knowledge, which will require large-scale, carefully controlled clinical trials."   Floatation Therapy for Specific Health Concerns  Medical University of South Carolina, August 6, 2023 We conducted a search of multiple databases using the following search terms: float, floatation therapy, floatation REST, isolation tank, stress, relaxation response, magnesium sulfate, transdermal magnesium, cortisol, pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, and addiction.  The reviewed studies revealed benefits of floating, specifically regarding participants experiencing muscular pain, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. Long-term benefits appear variable. Traditionally, isolation tanks are enclosed to inhibit light and sound as much as possible and reduce all incoming stimuli. The float experience minimizes sensory signals including visual, auditory, olfactory, thermal, tactile, and gravitational.  The studies discussed were conducted with the combination of water and Epsom salt. The salt-saturated water in most commercial centers is cleaned with a filtration system that runs between each session, in addition to manual skimming and treatment with ultraviolet light, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. Generally, a float session lasts for 60 minutes, although it can be shorter or longer. The benefits of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), better known as Epsom salt, are well known. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists it as an essential medication.   A proposed mechanism of action of the aforementioned benefits of floatation therapy lies in the transdermal absorption of MgSO4. Given the selectivity of the stratum corneum layer of the skin and the ionic nature of elemental magnesium, it appears that specific lipophilic carriers are required for MgSO4 to cross the dermal layer into the circulation. Among the benefits the analysis of studies suggest include: Pain:  Kjellgren and colleagues found a significant improvement with floatation therapy in those who experienced the most intense muscle pain (P=0.004), but there was no benefit found in participants who experienced lower levels of pain. There were 37 participants in this study, all of whom had chronic muscular pain of the neck and back regions. Individuals floated 9 times during a 3-week period. Of the 32 participants in this study, 22% became pain-free, 56% had improvement of pain, 19% experienced no increase or decrease of pain, and 3% experienced worsening of pain. Depression and Anxiety:  At the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma, researchers have extensively studied floatation therapy, particularly in the areas of depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). One study involving 50 participants at LIBR examined the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of floating. Results showed a significant reduction in anxiety among participants, regardless of gender. All changes were significant. Anxiety and stress-related disorders in this study included post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and social anxiety disorder. In addition to reduced anxiety, there was a significant improvement in mood characterized by “serenity, relaxation, happiness, positive affect, overall well-being, energy levels, and feeling refreshed, content and peaceful.” Stress:  Research generally finds floatation therapy to be beneficial for stress reduction. The relaxation response (which is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system) occurs when floating, lowering blood pressure and lowering cortisol levels in some studies.  Sleep:  People have used floatation therapy to aid with sleep. Since magnesium is a common supplement used to aid with sleep, this is a logical area of float research interest. In a study looking at 19 athletes and floating, participants not only had improved athletic performance recovery, but also experienced significant improvements in having “deeper sleep, fewer awakenings during the night, and a sense of renewed energy upon awakening in the morning.”

Ryo Umezawa is a Partner leading Antler's expansion into Japan. Prior to Antler, Ryo was a Principal at East Ventures, Japan, an early stage venture capital firm. As a serial entrepreneur, Ryo founded two companies, including AllCoupon Japan (acquired), and was Japan's country manager for companies such as Tinder, Homeaway (Expedia Group) and Hailo. Ryo spent 10 years in the Philippines prior to studying International Business and Economics at Sophia University in Tokyo. Ryo has been selected as a Leader of Tomorrow at the 40th + 44th St. Gallen Symposium, as well as one of the first members of World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Community (GSC) in its Tokyo hub. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryoumezawa/ ロング： 10年間のフィリピン滞在を経て、2007年上智大学・比較文化学部卒業。在学中の2005年からインターンとしてジェイ・シードに参画し、複数の投資先企業で事業立ち上げやマーケティング業務に携わる。2008年から株式会社トラフィックゲート（現リンクシェア・ジャパン株式会社）にてiPhoneのアドネットワーク事業やアプリプロデュースを経験したあと起業。その後スタートアップや上場企業の顧問や株主として累計30社＋に携わり、グローバルスタートアップタクシー配車アプリの日本法人HAILO株式会社の代表取締役社長、バケーションレンタル事業を展開しているNASDAQ上場企業HomeAwayの日本支社長、ソーシャルマッチングアプリ最大手のTinder日本支社長、East Ventures株式会社にてPrincipalを務め、現在はグローバル投資ファンドAntlerのパートナー・Antler株式会社の代表取締役、クリエイターニンジャ株式会社の代表取締役社長、株式会社nommocの取締役。 ライフワークとしては2010年及び2014年にSt. Gallen SymposiumにLeaders of Tomorrowに選出、続く2011年には世界経済フォーラム（World Economic Forum：通称ダボス会議）グローバルシェイパーズコミュニティ（Global Shapers Community）日本の若手リーダーに選出され活動。 ショート： 10年間のフィリピン滞在を経て、2007年上智大学・比較文化学部卒業。在学中の2005年からインターンとしてジェイ・シードで事業立ち上げやマーケティング業務に携わる。2008年から株式会社トラフィックゲート（現リンクシェア・ジャパン株式会社）にてアドネットワーク事業やアプリプロデュースを経験後に起業。タクシー配車アプリの日本法人HAILO株式会社代表取締役社長、バケーションレンタル事業HomeAway日本支社長、マッチングアプリTinder日本支社長、投資ファンドEast VenturesのPrincipalを経て、2022年グローバル投資ファンドAntlerのパートナーに就任。 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Welcome back to the Soul Care for Therapist podcast. In this episode, host Dawn Gabriel invites special guest Alexis Ward, LMFT, to talk about sacred plant medicine and its integration with therapy. Alexis Ward shares her background as a transpersonal psychotherapist and her journey into specializing in working with men's issues and sacred plant medicine integration. About Alexis Ward, LMFT Alexis received her master's degree in counseling psychology from Sophia University in Palo Alto. After receiving her license in Marriage and Family Therapy, she opened a private practice in Los Gatos, CA. Alexis moved to Colorado in early 2014 and eventually opened a practice in the DTC area. She specializes in working with spiritual emergence/emergency, plant medicine integration, men's therapy, EMDR, individuals, and couples. Introduction and Background Dawn introduces Alexis Ward, a therapist specializing in sacred plant medicine integration. Alexis talks about her practice and her background as a transpersonal psychotherapist, explaining how she integrates existential concepts, spirituality, and religion into her work with clients. "I recently relocated down to Castle Rock, as you said. Um, but I've been in practice for a little over 15 years now, and, um, more recently have come to specialize in working with men's issues, um, and then also with sacred plant medicine integration." Exploring Spiritual Emergence and Plant Medicine Dawn and Alexis discuss spiritual emergence and its connection to sacred plant medicine. Alexis defines spiritual emergence as a point in someone's life where they are exploring the deeper meaning of their own existence. They also touch on the potential challenges and overwhelming experiences that can arise during spiritual emergence, especially when working with plant medicines. "Spiritual emergence really just being, you know, a point in somebody's life where they are looking at the deeper meaning of their own existence. Um, so that can be after a, like a near-death experience. That could be through a plant medicine experience, that could be through getting divorced, um, or just kind of reaching a point in life where they're questioning more of those things for themselves." "Sometimes even a more difficult outcome is the sort of disappointing experience. Cuz sometimes nothing happens, or from the life perspective, nothing happens. Or sometimes it's just kind of minimal and it's not the life-changing event that they were hoping that it would be." Types of Sacred Plant Medicines The conversation shifts to discussing different types of sacred plant medicines and their psychoactive properties. Alexis mentions some commonly known psychoactive substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, cannabis, and ayahuasca. She also explains the distinction between natural derivatives and chemically altered versions used in clinical settings. "The more commonplace ones that are psychoactive are psilocybin mushrooms, um, cannabis, we all know that one. Um, there is iboga or Ibogaine. So iboga is, um, it comes from a shrub that grows in Africa, and the natural bark of that is something that you can ingest and have the psychoactive experiences from." "For a lot of these substances, there's a natural derivative and then there's like a more, um, chemically altered type version of it. And often it's that second group that's used in the, um, like the clinical trial settings or in ibogaine clinics, in ketamine clinics and things like that." Therapeutic Applications and Integration Dawn and Alexis explore the therapeutic applications of sacred plant medicines. They discuss how different substances can be beneficial for various conditions, including trauma, depression, PTSD, and addiction. Alexis emphasizes the importance of psychedelic integration work and the role of therapists in helping clients process their experiences. "A lot of times, people are very excited about going into the experience, but they don't necessarily think about what happens afterwards. And sometimes, um, you know, there can be things that kind of come up that maybe didn't during the experience that need to be processed, need to be integrated into the daily life, you know, sort of things like that. And so, you know, therapists who do this work are often there to help with the integration process." "So a lot of times, we're doing integration work after the fact. Sometimes I will work with clients prior, uh, to kind of set the stage, and then we continue on afterwards. Sometimes it's just afterwards. Um, but there's a lot of times when, um, you know, people will come in and we're talking about, okay, how do I take what I learned in this space and apply it to my daily life?" Plant Medicine and Spirituality The conversation delves into the intersection of plant medicine and spirituality. Alexis discusses how plant medicine experiences can deepen one's spiritual connection, even for individuals with a religious background. She highlights the potential for transformation and a shift in priorities based on direct experiences during plant medicine journeys. "You know, that doesn't feel in any way in conflict for me because that you've already got a running start in a way, because there's some valuation there of there being a connectedness to all existence. There's some questioning of like, who am I beyond my little human personality and what's my relationship to everything that exists?" "And so I think a lot of times these things lead to an even deeper experience of, uh, religion or spirituality, or sometimes even a shift in what their spiritual priorities are. Um, it's not uncommon for somebody to, you know, have a deep spiritual practice and then have a psychedelic experience, and then their priority becomes a little bit more focused on, you know, sort of a direct relationship with the divine rather than the more structured kind of religious perspective." Ethical Considerations and Safety Dawn and Alexis address the ethical considerations and safety measures associated with working with sacred plant medicines. Alexis emphasizes the importance of thorough screening and preparation before engaging in a plant medicine journey. They discuss the significance of setting intentions, ensuring a safe environment, and having a trusted guide or facilitator to navigate the experience. "In terms of the ethics of it, you know, one of the biggest things is that this is not something that should be done recreationally. You know, I think there's a big difference between somebody going to a festival and just kind of having this experience, and somebody who's working with a guide, somebody who's doing integration work, somebody who is just a lot more intentional about the process." "And then, um, you know, just safety-wise, it's really important to have a good set and setting. Um, I think there's a lot of people that want to go off to the jungle and do ayahuasca, and it's like, you know, maybe I should make sure that I'm, you know, safe and I'm cared for in a way that, um, isn't, um, potentially dangerous." Conclusion In this episode, Dawn Gabriel and guest Alexis Ward delve into the topic of sacred plant medicine and its integration with therapy. They discuss spiritual emergence, different types of sacred plant medicines, therapeutic applications, ethical considerations, and the importance of integration and therapeutic support. Listeners gain insights into the potential benefits and challenges of working with sacred plant medicines and how therapists can play a vital role in this process.   Links and Resources 12 Faces Web Site Twelve Faces on Facebook Twelve Faces on Instagram Podcast Production and Show Notes by James Marland  

In this episode, Jesse Stein joins me to discuss the latest content marketing hacks, and the best practices when it comes to gaining market share in the digital space.Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com. Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners. Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo.Jesse gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:55] How to create a system for content marketing and why it matters [4:15] Leveraging AI to help you with content marketing [9:30] Keeping your ego out of your content  [16:50] Not creating duplicate content [19:05] How to talk about your wins without being overpowering  [23:05] Creating content that is authentic and relatable  [27:55] Meeting your audience where they are [35:35] Learning from your mistakes and trying again [40:00] Jesse's book review [42:00] One key takeaway to implement right away Resources mentioned in this episode:The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott PeckConnect with Jesse here: www.instagram.com/audience.co www.twitter.com/audience.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessejstein/ www.Audience.co Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com 

In this episode, Jesse Stein joins me to discuss the latest content marketing hacks, and the best practices when it comes to gaining market share in the digital space. Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer.  Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com.  Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners.  Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. Jesse gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:55] How to create a system for content marketing and why it matters [4:15] Leveraging AI to help you with content marketing [9:30] Keeping your ego out of your content  [16:50] Not creating duplicate content [19:05] How to talk about your wins without being overpowering  [23:05] Creating content that is authentic and relatable  [27:55] Meeting your audience where they are [35:35] Learning from your mistakes and trying again [40:00] Jesse's book review [42:00] One key takeaway to implement right away Resources mentioned in this episode: The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck Connect with Jesse here: www.instagram.com/audience.co www.twitter.com/audience.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessejstein/ www.Audience.co Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com 

In this episode, Jesse Stein joins me to discuss the latest content marketing hacks, and the best practices when it comes to gaining market share in the digital space. Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures. Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer.  Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018. Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com.  Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners.  Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us. Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. Jesse gives listeners actionable tips on: [2:55] How to create a system for content marketing and why it matters [4:15] Leveraging AI to help you with content marketing [9:30] Keeping your ego out of your content  [16:50] Not creating duplicate content [19:05] How to talk about your wins without being overpowering  [23:05] Creating content that is authentic and relatable  [27:55] Meeting your audience where they are [35:35] Learning from your mistakes and trying again [40:00] Jesse's book review [42:00] One key takeaway to implement right away Resources mentioned in this episode: The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck Connect with Jesse here: www.instagram.com/audience.co www.twitter.com/audience.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessejstein/ www.Audience.co Connect with me Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter Karin on Twitter Karin on LinkedIn Conroy Creative Counsel on Facebook https://conroycreativecounsel.com 

In episode 62 of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Professor Haruhiko Tanaka about how having ibasho can serve as a source of empowerment for people.Professor Haruhiko Tanaka recently retired from the role of professor in the Faculty of Human Science at Sophia University. He completed his doctorate at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Education. His areas of research include lifelong education, youth education, development education, and environmental education. He has also written several publications, including, Kaihatsu kyoiku: Jizokukano na sekai no tameni (Development education: Toward a sustainable world) and Wakamono no ibasho to sanka (‘Ibasho' community for youth and youth social participation).

Two Japanese professors, Dr. Kumiko Noguchi and Dr. Yuka Mizutani, share insights from their experiences and work with Native American and Indigenous communities, which underscore the significance of Native American Studies in Japan and throughout the world. Noguchi is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of International Studies at Meiji Gakuin University. She received her Ph.D. in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis under the Fulbright Graduate Studies Scholarship Program. Her research interests include Native American Critical Theory, California Indian history, Tribal Sovereignty, Community Development, and Indigenous Movement.  Mizutani is a professor at the Center for Global Education and Discovery, and the Graduate Program of International Cooperation Studies, at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. She holds a Ph.D. in Area Studies from Sophia University. As a doctoral student with the JSPS fellowship, she worked on her research at the Department of Ethnic Studies of the University of California, Berkeley. Mizutani was also a Fulbright visiting scholar at the Department of American Studies of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her current research interests include Indigenous people's experiences at geographical margins of the U.S. territory, the representation of Indigenous perspectives in museums and public spaces, and the relationship between Indigenous peoples and research institutions.  Recommended Sources:Publications of Kumiko Noguchi, including Indian and Gaming: American Light and Shadow (Tokyo: Chikuma Publication, 2019); A California Indian History the 'Invisibles' to a Federally Recognized Tribes (Tokyo: Sairyusha Publication, 2015); and “Keeping the Indian Tribal Community Together: Nation Building and Cultural Sovereignty in the Indian Casino Era,” The Japanese Journal of American Studies, no. 31 (2020), 133-156. Esther Avila, "Researching the Tule River Tribe," The Porterville Recorder, November 10, 2011.Rick Elkins, "Tule Tribe history in Japanese," The Porterville Recorder, September 16, 2015.Yuka Mizutani's award-winning book (selected for the Award for Budding Scholar of the Japan Consortium for Area Studies), Integration of the Pascua Yaqui into the United States: Border Crossing and the Federal Recognition (Hokkaido University Press, 2012). Also see Mizutani, "Promotion of Gastronomic Traditions in the Sonoran Desert and Changes in the Representation of the US-Mexico Borderlands," The Japanese Journal of American Studies, no. 33 (2022). Mizutani's recent interviews in English for ʻŌlelo Community Media in Hawaiʻi: http://olelo.granicus.com/player/clip/85731https://olelo.granicus.com/player/clip/85723Shozo Ssaito (斎藤省三), アメリカ先住民 アリゾナ・フェニックス・インディアン学校 (世界人権問題叢書) | Jr.トレナート ロバート.A., Trennert,Robert A.,Jr., 省三, 斎藤 |本 | 通販 | Amazon 

EPISODE 1480: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of POWER RIVALS, Carl Delfeld, about what he sees as the Republican existential challenge of reaching non-aligned voters Carl Delfeld is Hay-Seward Senior Fellow at the Center for Economic Security, Chief Global Analyst at Cabot Wealth, and author of new book, Power Rivals: America and China's Superpower Struggle and a Managing Partner of Blackthread LLC, began his career with the First National Bank of Boston later becoming director of the Japan and South Korea group. As vice president and Asia director for the investment firm Robert W. Baird & Company, and managed two campaigns in Wisconsin before joining the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and U.S. Joint Economic Committee as an Asia advisor and as an emerging markets advisor to the U.S. Treasury Department.  Carl was then appointed by President George H.W. Bush to represent America on the executive board of the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines. Carl was a co-founder and CFO of Pacifica Holdings, editor and columnist with Forbes Asia, served as a member of the US National Committee on Pacific Economic Cooperation, and was chairman of the Asian Pension Forum. He is also an advisor to Asia Frontier Capital and the author of three books on investing as well as Red, White & Bold: Building a New American Century. He earned a MALD from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University with study and research at Sophia University, Keio University, and Harvard University's Center for International Studies. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures.Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise.Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate.Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018.Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com.Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners.Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years.Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board.He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us.Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures.Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise.Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate.Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018.Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com.Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners.Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years.Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board.He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us.Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Jesse has founded, operated and sold multiple online ventures.Jesse started SportsMemorabilia.com, growing it from a raw domain into the world's biggest autograph store and a Top 500 Internet Retailer. The company was sold to Fanatics, the global leader in sports merchandise.Before that, Jesse started and ran a direct-to-consumer online skincare brand that generated $48M in revenue in the first two years. Jesse sold the company to a direct-marketing conglomerate.Jesse is also Founder & CEO of DietSpotlight.com, a nutrition website with more than 130 million visitors and an Inc 5000 fastest-growing company in 2018.Jesse also purchased, developed and sold category-defining domain names, including Hobbies.com, Boating.com, Yachting.com and Biking.com.Before that, Jesse was Co-Founder and CEO of Soho Digital, a $32M digital agency with 200+ clients. He sold Soho Digital to a portfolio company of Insight Venture Partners.Before his endeavors in the Internet, Jesse worked and lived in Tokyo for six years.Jesse is a member of Young President's Organization (YPO), where he was Chapter Chairman and served on the regional board.He was also also a finalist in Retail and Consumer Products for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.Jesse is an angel investor in Integral Ad Science, TMRW, Dstillery, Data.world, SKTCHY, Blanket and WhereBy.Us.Jesse holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute and a BA, with Honors, in Sociology and Asian Studies from UC Santa Barbara and Sophia University in Tokyo. [PARTNER WITH US] Get instant 1-on-1 access to over 26 of the top agents in the country to help scale your business.

Prof Mitsuyo Sakamoto of Sophia University in Tokyo grew up with three languages. Many people consider her as an ideal trilingual but Prof Sakamoto see herself as barely bilingual. - 2つの言葉を流暢に話せればすべてがバラ色でしょうか。バイリンガルたちの実際の姿をさまざまな角度からバランス良く見ていこう、というのがセミナーのテーマでした。

Parissa Haghirian is Professor of International Management at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. She has lived and worked in Japan since 2004 and is an internationally renowned expert in international management practices with a focus on Japan. She has published numerous books, academic papers, and articles on the topic of Japanese management. In addition to academics and research, Professor Haghirian advises major multinational companies on intercultural understanding and cooperation, and she coaches top global managers for success when working across cultures by providing new perspectives and skills. Professor Haghirian is a regular keynote speaker at conferences and corporate events in Europe, Japan, and Asia. Topics covered in today's episode include: -evaluating the unique strengths of Japanese corporate culture and management styles -the power of taking cultural breaks to cope with the stress of life abroad -why living and working in a foreign culture is invaluable for your professional development -why and how conflict is managed so differently in Japanese companies -how embracing the role of a “one-woman circus” could get you further than fighting to project competence in Japan Parissa's Links: Website: www.haghirian.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parissa-haghirian-7399554/ Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

Rika Beppu was adamant she would forge her career through her own hard work as an English lawyer working in a UK firm. When her firm offered her the role of a lifetime and an opportunity to be the founding partner of a new office in Tokyo, this really challenged her idea of how she had planned her career and it did not include Japan! Listen as we hear how Rika navigated her career to where she is today. In this episode you'll hear: How Rika came to be inspired to study law after living with a law student in the US. Why she decided to pursue her law career in the UK, intentionally avoiding firms with connections to Japan What happened when she was offered a founding partner position in Tokyo How Rika has thrived in her board role as an outside director Her favourite saying and other fun facts About Rika Rika Beppu is a corporate M&A lawyer who has been practicing law in Tokyo as a foreign-registered lawyer for the past two decades. After her first degree from the English Language and Foreign Studies faculty of Sophia University, Rika studied and worked in the UK as an English law solicitor. She then came to Tokyo to open the first joint enterprise between a large Japanese law firm and an international law firm. Rika advises Japanese corporates in their global M&A transactions which span the globe. More recently she has been involved in divesting non-core global businesses of Japanese companies. She is passionate about equality in the workplace and in society and has been inspired by her experience as an Asia Society Young Global Leader fellow to contribute to and give back to society in different ways. This led her to be instrumental in founding Women in Law Japan in 2016 together with a group of amazing like-minded female legal professionals. She has also become active in the Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network in Japan which fully supports equal marriage rights in Japan. In her role as chair of the legal services committee of the European Business Council (that is, the EU Chamber of Commerce in Japan), she advocates for a level playing field for foreign registered lawyers, in particular, she is advocating that the three-year work experience rule should be abolished in its entirety. In June 2022, Rika was appointed as an outside director of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and is relishing this new challenge. Connect with Rika LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rika-beppu-21b55830/ Links Segafredo Hiroo Who moved my cheese Asia Society Young Global Leaders Connect with Catherine Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.oconnell.148 Twitter: https://twitter.com/oconnelllawyer YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair

Want a college level Japanese church history lesson? Kai adjuncts at various universities and seminaries in Japan, and has taught Japanese Church history at Sophia University. Today, Kai talks about the early Japanese protestant 'bands' of Christians popping up in various places, and focuses on the 'Yokohama band' and the first protestant church in Japan.

A discussion journey, a simple preventive conflict analysis looking int to the status of the Liberian State. For that, there is nothing better than to explore one of the oldest democratic states ever built in Africa, questionably from scratch waiving local and regional threats because of the conflicts between Liberian natives and the Settlers, Americo-Liberian repatriates in the 1800s. Baba Sillah is a researcher in Global Studies at Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan. And Ali Kaba, a researcher in International Development at the American University. Your host: Leopoldino Jeronimo Website: https://thinkingthroughwithlj.com/ Episode Cover: Evanto elements, by SteveAllenPhoto999 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-through-wi/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-through-wi/support

Roland Kelts is a Japanese-American writer, journalist, and author of the book Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US. He has also written numerous articles for the Guardian, The New York Times, The Japan Times, The New Yorker, CNN, BBC, and NHK, among others, exploring how pop culture intersects with and influences society and politics. Kelts has taught at many leading universities such as The University of Tokyo, New York University, Columbia University, and Sophia University, and held talks at many embassies and pop culture conventions. He received a Nieman Fellowship in Journalism from Harvard University in 2017.In this episode, we discuss his most recent book, The Art of Blade Runner Black Lotus, a deep-dive into the artwork that went into making the first-ever Blade Runner animated series. Along with commentary from Roland, the book includes concept art, sketch work, pre-viz, animation tests, final frames, and interviews with the masterminds behind the show. It's an absolutely gorgeous book that pairs well with coffee tables and kotatsu alike. LINKS: Monkey: New Writing From Japan Roland's Personal Website/Blog United States v. Handley (Wiki) 'Obscene' U.S. Manga Collector Jailed 6 Months (Wired)Devil Lady (Wiki) Blade Runner Black Lotus OST (YouTube) SUPPORT: The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show. Got something to say? You can reach me at the following:www.facebook.com/groups/deepinjapan/ deep.in.japan.podcast@gmail.comAs always, thanks for listening! Support the show

The Japanese government has launched an inquiry into the power and influence of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, also known as the Unification Church, or the Moonies. Critics have called this group a cult. This comes after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July. The murder suspect says that he targetted the politician for his connection to the Unification Church, which he alleges is responsible for draining his family's life savings. What's been revealed in the killing's wake are deep, historic ties between Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church. Ex-believers have also started speaking out about the group's alleged predatory fundraising practices. This week on Nothing is Foreign, we dig into how some of Japan's most powerful politicians became close with the religious group better known for mass marriage ceremonies — and the costs of this association. Featuring: Koichi Nakano, political scientist with Sophia University in Tokyo

Today's guest is author and investigative journalist Jake Adelstein.  Jake has spent most of his professional life in Japan as a reporter. He is considered one of the foremost experts on organized crime in the country. After graduating from Sophia University in Tokyo in 1993, he became the sole non-Japanese journalist at Japan's largest newspaper.  Jake would go on to uncover major stories on the Yakuza, as detailed in his memoir Tokyo Vice which is now a series on HBO Max.    He is also the author of  Pay the Devil in Bitcoin: The Creation of a Cryptocurrency and How Half a Billion Dollars of It Vanished from Japan and Operation Tropical Storm: How an FBI Jewish-Japanese Special Agent Snared a Yakuza Boss in Hawaii. Jake's forthcoming podcast entitled Gone with the Gods explores Japan's missing person phenomenon: More than 80,000 people are reported missing in the country every year. Jake's sequel to Tokyo Vice, Tokyo Private Eye, is set to release in 2023.  You can follow Jake Adelstein on Twitter @jakeadelstein and on Instagram @tokyovice . Sponsors: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today's episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle Coffee Company. Check out the latest here.  SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here. Featured Gear Ten Thousand: Today's featured gear segment is brought to you by Ten Thousand. Ten Thousand is offering our listeners 15% of their purchase! Go to tenthousand.cc and enter code DANGERCLOSE15 to receive 15% off. Black Rifle Coffee    Leather Works Minnesota    High Peaks Knife Works Blade

Shizuka Anderson and Max D. Capo talk about our experiences going to college in Japan at Sophia University specifically in Tokyo. What are the good and bad things about university life in Japan based on our experiences? We go into some personal anecdotes from our experience at Sophia. Max went to Sophia 2010-2013 after doing 2 years at North Carolina State University 2008-2010 Shizuka went to Sophia 2009-2013 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/halfxhalf/message

In today's episode, we interview Saima Khan. She is a PhD Scholar in Global Studies at Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan; a teacher of Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy & Interdisciplinary Studies, GCU Lahore, Pakistan. Her areas of interest and research are multidisciplinary; including Postcolonial theories, Feminism in South Asia, Philosophy of education, Cultural History, Political Philosophy, Gender Empowerment, Global Studies, Human Rights and Muslim world, and Cultural Philosophy/Philosophy of Culture. Her PhD research is examining applicability of Girls' Education as a Global Idea on Postcolonial society of Pakistan. She is exploring the oppressed Global Image of Pakistani women, and how this representation is leading to collective suffering of all women of Pakistan. She is also the mother of two young daughters.We learn from Saima about her meandering academic path, and how she ended up in the PhD program at Sophia University in Japan. We also learn how she has been dividing her time between Japan and Pakistan, and the choices she made along the way to balance her roles as a mother and a scholar. We also get an insight in the PhD program in Japan, as well as Saima's experience as an academic parent. Based on her experience as an academic mother, Saima shares what she has learned that works for her as an academic parent, and a PhD candidate.ReferencesFeminism: Manifestation of Power in Colonial ContextEmpowerment of Women through Education - Emancipation or Enslavement? A Case Study of Pakistani WomenWomanhood in Pakistan: Role of Nationalism, Islam and Colonial LegacyFollow Saima on TwitterSophia University graduate programsAnother announcement: Anna Clemens (from Ep. 54) and Eva will be organizing a live webinar on May 12th 11am Eastern time. Learn more about the webinar here.

Sherry Pedersen-Ajmani is a Principal and Organizational Development Consultant at Talent Craft, a Human Resources firm specializing in Organizational Design, Talent Management, and Culture Change. Sherry's trademarks include versatility, innovation and collaboration. She is known as a quick study who is agile and credits that agility to her move to Japan when she was 18 years old. She is a graduate of Sophia University in Tokyo, has an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business, and has worked for Toyota, Maple Leaf Foods, and Walmart.We chat about:moving to Japan at 18 and learning the language and fully immersing herself the power of a networking meeting redefining herself with an MBA, targeting a strategy role and deciding on another pathcareer assessment and her own 1 year re-assessment executive career transition and more! 

How might efforts to end previous conflicts inform the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine? Why was U.S intervention in Afghanistan a failure? What role can the UN play in conflict mediation? What is China's stance on the Russian invasion? This week, RBI director John Torpey talks with Professor Daisaku Higashi of Tokyo's Sophia University about his book Inclusivity in Mediation and Peacebuilding: The UN, Neighboring States and Global Powers and his extensive research on conflict to draw lessons for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Katheryn Gronauer is an executive coach and corporate trainer who helps professionals live, work and thrive in Japan. Her specialties include leadership coaching, cross-cultural transition, and wellness programs.She has a degree in International Business from Sophia University, a certification in training and change-management from ATD, and a coaching certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She was raised between Japan and America with firsthand sensitivity to the cultural differences and challenges that expats encounter every day.Katheryn's company Thrive Tokyo has been named “One of Tokyo's hotspots to satisfy anyone” by Eurobiz Magazine. Her work and accomplishments have been featured in Women'sHealth, HuffPost, Mobility Magazine, Mindbodygreen, JapanToday, Savvy Tokyo, Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, The Everygirl, Thought Catalog, and Elite Daily.Katheryn has worked with a wide variety of clients across a range of industries from multinational corporations to start-up companies to professionals and spouses. She has been a guest public speaker on wellness and lifestyle transition at the US Embassy, Toyo University, FEW Japan, and Roppongi Cooperative. For more information, visit https://thrivetokyo.comLinks:Website: www.thrivetokyo.comLinkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauerTedx Talk: https://youtu.be/BAylBaYF5FEInstagram: instagram.com/katheryngronauer

Welcome to the Psychedelic Conversations Podcast! Episode 36: In this episode, we sit down with Dr. James Fadiman as he shares with us his wealth of knowledge regarding microdosing and gives us a unique insight into the fascinating world of psychedelics. 00:31 - Introduction 03:14 - Psychedelics In The '60s 05:38 - The Popularization Of Psychedelics 08:00 - The Benefits Of Microdosing 10:37 - Psychedelics In Silicon Valley 12:45 - The Practicality Of Microdosing 16:40 - Microdosing Being a "Smart Drug" 18:22 - The Placebo Effect 19:44 - Thoughts On Microdosing Being A Shortcut 22:32 - Exploring Psychedelics In Group Therapy 31:30 - Thoughts On The Future Of Psychedelics 36:15 - Fear Around Taking Psychedelics 37:40 - Paul Stamets "Stacking" Method 41:35 - The International Microdosing Association 45:02 - Microdosing Different Medicines 48:42 - James' Book "Your Symphony of Selves" 56:11 - The Problem With AA Meetings 59:54 - James' Plans For The Future 56:44 - Outro About James: James Fadiman, PhD. Author, lecturer, Senior Research Fellow, Sophia University, Palo Alto, California, Microdose researcher, research design consultant has been researching psychedelics since 1961 and the effects of microdosing since 2010. His book The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys growing in popularity as the psychedelics making their way back into the mainstream. He is currently working on a new book about microdosing, the new frontier in Psychedelic use. Connect with James: Email: psychedelicsrsearch@gmail.com Website: https://www.jamesfadiman.com Website: https://sites.google.com/view/microdosingpsychedelics/home Thank you so much for joining us! Psychedelic Conversations Podcast is designed to educate, inform, and expand awareness. For more information, please head over to https://www.psychedelicconversations.com Please share with your friends or leave a review so that we can reach more people and feel free to join us in our private Facebook group to keep the conversation going. https://www.facebook.com/groups/psychedelicconversations This show is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide mental health or medical advice. About Susan Guner: Susan is a trained somatic, trauma-informed holistic psychotherapist with a mindfulness-based approach grounded in Transpersonal Psychology that focuses on holistic perspective through introspection, insight, and empathetic self-exploration to increase self-awareness, allowing the integration of the mind, body and spirit aspects of human experience in personal growth and development. Connect with Susan: Website: https://www.psychedelicconversations.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susan.guner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guner/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susanguner Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanguner Blog: https://susanguner.medium.com/ Podcast: https://anchor.fm/susan-guner #PsychedelicConversations #SusanGuner #JamesFadiman #PsychedelicPodcast #Microdosing #MicrodosingMushrooms #PlantMedicines #PsychedelicResearch #Entheogens

If you are finding that you are letting your current circumstances stagnate your legal career, then this is the episode for you. Rika Nakajima is one of the first Japanese women lawyers to hold the office of Representative Corporate Executive Officer in Japan, and as a single parent to two boys she has definitely not let her circumstances get in the way of her career and taking the leaps that have led her to where she is today. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we'd love it if you would leave us a message here! In this episode you'll hear: How Rika convinced her father to let her study abroad and ultimately become a lawyer The transitions through various phases of Rika's legal career both in the US and Japan Why she decided to leave her role at PWC and what happened when she made that decision The importance of diverse and impartial voices in the corporate boardroom Why Rika was chosen for promotion to Representative Corporate Executive Officer at her organisation Her favourite books and other fun facts About Rika Born and raised in Japan first attending Sophia University's Comparative Cultural department in 1990 Rika then took herself over to the United States to transfer to Brown University, graduating with a bachelor of arts and honors. In 1992 Rika then went on to take her Juris Doctorate qualification at American university, Washington College of Law in 1997 passing the New Jersey State Bar in 1998 and the New York State Bar in 2001. Rika has had over 20 years experience, having worked in prominent law firms and companies across Japan and the US. Her first law role as a qualified attorney was Ernst & Young, both in New York and in Tokyo as a tax manager. She then transitioned to tax associate at Baker McKenzie and then moved to become the Legal and Compliance Manager at Macquarie Group in 2008. Rika joined Shearman and Sterling, LLP as an associate in March 2012, After Shearman, Rika took on the role of Senior Manager at PWC and the office of General Counsel from October 2014, right through to December 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic Rika changed jobs being hired at Oracle, Japan as the associate general counsel and in fast succession, in July 2021 Rika took up the role of corporate executive officer followed by a second promotion to representative corporate executive officer in August 2021. Connect with Rika LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikanakajima/ Links Bubby's Restaurant Happiness Becomes You, by Tina Turner Nitori CEO's book: 運は創るもの ―私の履歴書 Connect with Catherine Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

This week's episode of Fascinating People is an interview with Cliff Hsia, co-host of Fascinating People. Cliff Hsia is a realtor, marketer, podcaster, and writer. During his over 17-year corporate marketing career in China and the Bay Area, California, Cliff worked for companies including Alibaba, Cisco, and Google. In 2014 and 2015, Cliff's family went on a gap year of world travel in more than a dozen countries with short-term study abroad experiences for their two daughters in Guatemala, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Spain. Cliff Hsia is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii where he graduated from 'Iolani School. He has a Bachelors of Arts in International Economics from UCLA and studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Sophia University. On this podcast, Cliff Hsia talks about growing up in Chinatown of Honolulu, Hawaii, how some timely interventions have helped change the trajectory of his life, and how lucky he was to receive the Stone Scholarship to attend 'Iolani School. Cliff also shares how he traveled the world together with his family to 25 countries on 4 continents, how he's overcome various obstacles and setbacks in his life, and he gives his perspective on happiness, grace, discipline, and freedom. Cliff Hsia's mantras for life are live abundantly, love your journey, and be present with aloha. Listen to Cliff's interview on Fascinating People to learn how he strives to live a full and present life of joy and wonder, each and every day.

We talk with Dr. James Fadiman — independent researcher, psychologist, and author of the "Psychedelic Explorer's Guide." We discuss personal transcendent experiences, how often to macrodose, and the guide debate.Highlights— THE NUGGET: the DEA is being sued for legalization of plant medicine (0:35)— THE NOODLE: Preventive care psychedelics for healthy people (1:27)— Thank you, Jim (2:14) — What 2021 Jim would say to 1966 Jim (3:22)— The "George Bush Mission Accomplished" moment for psychedelics (5:06)— What does society look like with ubiquitous plant medicine (7:41)— Jim and Ray's profound experiences on high dose sessions (9:19)— When you return from transcendence (12:12)— When you understand time and the true nature of reality (14:08)— How he discovered the Fadiman microdosing protocol (16:09)— How often to engage larger doses (18:07)— Does everyone need a guide for bigger doses? (21:43)— Integrating with your internal personas (25:58)— SOUL SEARCH: the psychedelic Mt. Rushmore, alien invasions, psychedelic effects in the bedroom, and the meaning of life (28:14)— SLAP and a CLAP: Compass Pathways & Fireside Project (31:56)BioDr. James Fadiman, PhD, holds degrees from Harvard and Stanford, and wrote his dissertation about LSD-assisted therapy. As well as holding consulting, training, counseling and editorial jobs, he has taught psychology and design engineering at San Francisco State, Brandeis, and Stanford and, for three decades, taught Sufism and other classes at Sophia University that he co-founded. He has published textbooks, professional books, a self-help book, a novel, a produced play and videos including: "Drugs: the children are choosing" for National Public Television. He was featured in a National Geographic documentary and had three solo shows of his nature photography. He has been involved in researching microdosing psychedelics since 2010. In addition to the "Psychedelic Explorer's Guide," he most recently wrote "Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are" (with Jordan Gruber).Find Jim here:https://www.jamesfadiman.com/ ---See the inspiration behind the Psychedelic Diaries here:https://www.textpert.ai/post/the-psychedelic-macrodose-diary-what-you-learn-when-you-journey-inward

Thomas Dabbs speaks with John Yamamoto-Wilson, Sophia University, Tokyo, (retired) about his book entitled 'Pain, Pleasure, and Perversity', about rare early modern books, Shakespeare and also about his YouTube channel, Ano Sensei.SEGMENTS:0:00:00 Intro0:02:05 Pain, Pleasure, and Perversity / Clark's Martyrology0:06:10 Research at Cambridge / Attitudes toward suffering0:07:35 John's education / Family and religious background0:09:20 Peter Milward / Sophia / Shakespeare as a Catholic?0:18:00 John as antiquarian / Digitizing (scanning) rare books / Gunpowder plot0:23:24 Early English Book Online (EEBO) searching / David McInnis, Lost Plays, OED0:27:38 Consciousness revealed through digital searches / religious doctrines0:29:05 Early modern religion, pain and pleasure and suffering0:35:14 Early modern perversity, religious to secular print and drama0:41:51 Ano Sensei / English language training / British poetry and history0:44:35 Ano Sensei and the enormous global interest in British poetry0:49:20 The accuracy of auto-generated subtitles0:57:02 John as a mentor to the SOS program, given to teaching0:59:17 John's youth and formative years / education / graduate education1:08:15 Setbacks, and back to Spain then Japan:1:13:30 Utilitarian approaches to ESL vs content and cultural studies1:19:38 Recent and new on Ano Sensei and closing remarks#Shakespeare#DigitalHumanities#aoyamagakuin#poetry#literature#esl#reformation#rarebooks#englisheducation#shakespeareperformance#shakespeareadaptation

The Olympic games are less than a month away and ordinarily, protectors across the globe would be making preparations to facilitate their client's attendance. However, in the current climate of uncertainty, many HNW's will be apprehensive and undecided about travelling. Are you ready for Tokyo, if you get the call?  This week we're looking at how we can thrive in a facilitation mindset when protection skills are less called upon. Our guest is Kenji Okamoto, MD of Vector Risk Management, based out of Japan. We're going to hear what it's like to operate in Japan, drill down into the cultural nuances, and look at how protection is viewed through Japanese eyes. In this week's episode, Kenji paints a picture of what the landscape looks like for EP practitioners operating in Japan; we'll hear… What is it about Japanese culture that makes for such a different operating environment compared to the West? How 80% of the Japanese population do not want the games to go ahead and believe them to be a public health risk. So, what are the considerations for keeping your clients safe and protected? That the official response to most logistical questions is ‘To be Determined.' So, how does that affect your planning and preparation? Because Japan is considered such a safe country, bodyguards and personal protection is an alien concept to many. Even clients who employ protection want them to blend in and not stand out. There's a saying in Japan, as Kenji puts it…   “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” Tune into the show for this week's illuminating interview with Kenji Okamoto. More about Kenji: Kenji Okamoto has been in the risk management and security services industry since 2004 and currently heads operations in Japan and Korea. He is engaged in all aspects of the security and risk management space including close protection, security consulting/management, site security assessments, and due diligence investigations, supporting various foreign MNCs and public sector entities in Japan and Korea. Notable clients include ultra high net worth individuals including three of the Top 10 HNWs, CEOs/founders of several Fortune 500 companies, a US lobby group which met the Japanese Prime Minister at the PMO, and foreign dignitaries who met the Japanese Imperial Family. Kenji graduated from Sophia University and holds an MBA from McGill University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenji-okamoto-915a56152/ (Kenji Okamoto) https://vector-risk.com/ (Vector Risk Management) More about the Circuit  The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. https://circuit-magazine.com/read/ (Find out more >) If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. http://bit.ly/OntheCircuit (Opt in here >) The Circuit team is: Elijah Shaw Jon Moss Shaun West Phelim Rowe Connect with Us:  https://circuit-magazine.com/ (Circuit Magazine) https://mailchi.mp/the-bba.org.uk/bba-connect (BBA Connect) https://www.theprotectorapp.com/ (NABA Protector) https://the-bba.org.uk/ (British Bodyguard Association)

This event is sponsored by the Asia Initiative Lecture Series at The Institute of World Politics. About the lecture: After 20 years of White House National Security Strategies premised on the hope that great power competition might be mitigated by cooperation with China on counter-terrorism, financial governance or climate change, the Trump administration announced unapologetically in its 2017 National Security Strategy that the United States is in strategic competition with China. The same year the State Department introduced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and brought back the US-Japan-Australia-India “Quad” to check Chinese expansion in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. No matter who wins the Presidency in November, these key pillars of U.S. strategy should continue. But serious changes are necessary or the strategy will fail. Over the next four years, the United States must re-invest in alliances, multilateral institutions, trade negotiations, and military deterrence or the framing of strategic competition with China will become hollow. About the speaker: Michael Jonathan Green is senior vice president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He served on the staff of the National Security Council (NSC) from 2001 through 2005, first as director for Asian affairs with responsibility for Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and then as special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asia, with responsibility for East Asia and South Asia. Before joining the NSC staff, he was a senior fellow for East Asian security at the Council on Foreign Relations, director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center and the Foreign Policy Institute and assistant professor at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and senior adviser on Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also worked in Japan on the staff of a member of the National Diet. Dr. Green is also a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, a distinguished scholar at the Asia Pacific Institute in Tokyo, and professor by special appointment at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Strategy Group, the America Australia Leadership Dialogue, the advisory boards of Radio Free Asia and the Center for a New American Security, and the editorial boards of the Washington Quarterly and the Journal of Unification Studies in Korea. He also serves as a trustee at the Asia Foundation, senior adviser at the Asia Group, and associate of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Dr. Green has authored numerous books and articles on East Asian security, including most recently, By More Than Providence: Grand Strategy and American Power in the Asia Pacific Since 1783 (Columbia University Press, 2017). He received his master's and doctoral degrees from SAIS and did additional graduate and postgraduate research at Tokyo University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his bachelor's degree in history from Kenyon College with highest honors. He holds a black belt in Iaido (sword) and has won international prizes on the great highland bagpipe.

Widows, widowers, and anyone who has lost a partner knows just how hard it is to cope with grief on Valentine's Day. Claudia Coenen, widow and creative grief counselor, shares creative ways to cope with grief and heartache on Valentine's Day, as well as activities and practices to honor and celebrate you love that undeniably very much present. She also shares tips from her upcoming book release, The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement: A Practitioner's Guide. Heather Stang's guided meditation, a Journey To Your Heart Center, follows the interview. Both Heather and Claudia hope this special Valentine's Day edition of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast will bring you some peace. Recommended Reading & Listening Shattered by Grief: Picking up the pieces to become WHOLE again The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement: A Practitioner's Guide Karuna Cards: Creative Ideas to Transform Grief and Difficult Life Transitions The Karuna Project: Compassion & Creativity for Grief with Claudia Coenen on the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast About Claudia Coenen, CGC, FT, MTP Claudia Coenen became a certified grief counselor after she was widowed suddenly. She focused on creativity in her Masters in Transpersonal Psychology program at Sophia University and holds an Advanced Grief Counseling Certificate from Brooklyn College. Claudia has been certified in Thanatology for 9 years and is now a Fellow in Thanatology, through the Association of Death Education and Counseling.  Claudia's lifelong experience as a performer and creative person provided her with techniques to process her own grief which in turn led her to help others through expressive modalities. In private practice, Claudia helps bereaved clients find resilience in the midst of their losses - through compassionate presence, creative process, somatic and expressive therapy techniques. While working with dying patients and family members in a hospice program in New Jersey, she developed the Karuna Cards, a deck of creative ideas for grief and difficult life transitions. Claudia presents workshops on Grief, living with illness as well as the use of creativity in counseling. She has delivered in-service training on vicarious trauma in the workplace at conferences, hospice agencies, and mental health clinics.  Claudia is the author of Shattered by Grief: Picking up the pieces to become WHOLE again. Her newest book, The Creative Toolkit for Working with Grief and Bereavement: A Practitioner's Guide, explores some well-researched grief models and 30 creative activity sheets that can be reproduced to use with bereaved clients.