In the last fifty years the culture of Zen has spread far beyond Japan. Zen centers and zen retreats have sprung up throughout America and Europe.  When Dogen, the founder of Soto Zen, brought Zen to Japan from China 800 years ago, it quickly took root and became an integral part of Japanese life. Yet what do we know about zen practice in Japan today? The Zen Mind is a fascinating journey across Japan to explore zen in its natural habitat.

The Zen Mind

The Japanese sword ... prized as much for its exceptional beauty as for it's deadly cutting ability. For a thousand years it has been the pinnacle of Japanese culture. Now enter a world rarely seen by outsiders. Experience the true story of the Art of the Samurai Sword told in the swordsmiths own words that separate the myth from fact. Follow the swordsmiths dream of creating a masterpiece.

Art of the Japanese Sword

In traditional martial arts, mastery of the art is not acquired through technical skill alone. In following ‘The Way’ one must look beyond technique. In Japanese archery or Kyudo, hitting the target is not enough. In order to shoot correctly we are told to “Shoot from the Heart”. As Takeuchi sensei says “As a national team member I had to hit the target no matter what. Eventually all that technique became obsolete in exchange to express myself through the bow”. This is One Shot. One Life. Zen of Japanese Archery.