December 3

Rural Decline, Migrant Laborers, Poverty & Homelessness

• Class Issue: In this unit, we begin to tie together many of the structural and cultural causes of individual suffering in the Disconnected Society (mu-en shakai). From the emptying out of the traditional farming communities in the countryside and the mass relocation of people into the cities, we see some of the early roots of the Mu-en Shakai in the two-tiered labor system of the economy and the exploitation of blue-collar labor. The Mu-en Shakai perhaps reaches its zenith with the 3/11 Triple Disaster and ongoing nuclear problem in Fukushima. This incident has presented a serious challenge to Japanese Buddhists who since the end of WWII have tried to avoid entanglement in issues perceived as political and anything critical of national development policy. In this unit, students will have the opportunity to examine a wide range of issues and responses by contemporary Japanese Buddhists trying to build an alternative society.
• Content: A Buddhist Path through Rural Decline, Migrant Laborers, Poverty & Homelessness Part I: Connecting Suicide Prevention & Community Decline with Structural Violence and Economic Development. (PDF) click here for audio lecture of all three parts
• Content: Part II: The Exploitation of Nuclear Reactor Workers with Video: The Nuclear Ginza 26 mins. During the video takes notes using the Iceberg of Dukkha from the Buddhist Social Analysis model.
• Content: Part III: Homelessness & the The Activities of the Hitosaji Association
• Video: NHK Documentary on the Hitosaji Association

December 10

Nuclear Energy & the Eco-Temple

• Class Issue: The Mu-en Shakai perhaps reaches its zenith with the 3/11 Triple Disaster and ongoing nuclear problem in Fukushima. This incident has presented a serious challenge to Japanese Buddhists who since the end of WWII have tried to avoid entanglement in issues perceived as political and anything critical of national development policy. This unit reviews their response and then looks at the inspiring work of Rev. Hidehito Okochi to build a participatory, democratic, and ecological society in Japan and abroad. 
• Buddhist Engagement with the Nuclear Crisis and Rev. Okochi’s Eco-Temple Activities (PDF) click here for audio lecture 
• Videos: Buddhist SDGs in Japan & Thailand: The INEB Eco-Temple Community Development Project & the recent gathering in India (both videos made by Watts Keio alumni!)

• Recommended Reading: Selections from the book Lotus in the Nuclear Sea
• Recommended Reading: Chapters 10-13 from Engaged Buddhism in Japan, Volume I: An Engaged Buddhist History of Japanfrom the Ancient to the Modern