An article on the augmented reality (AR) “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” the development plan for the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse,” and the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot” – all of which were co-developed by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai, Toshikazu Furuya (CEO, Teraverse Co., Ltd.), and colleagues –  was published in Kuensel, a national newspaper of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” a new platform that adds AR technology to the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot” which was developed by Prof. Kumagai and his team last year, has been completed. Prof. Kumagai and his team plan to add VR and other technologies to further develop the “Teraverse,” a Buddhist virtual world that combines Buddhism and Metaverse technology.

• Bhutanese Newspaper Kuensel, October 10, 2022, page 9
• Kuensel’s Website

https://kuenselonline.com/development-of-buddhist-ai-ar-and-vr-toward-the-establishment-of-buddhist-metaverse-tera-verse/

*Click on the image to view the newspaper article (PDF).

*“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse” have already been introduced in the following media:

https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Wie-ein-spirituelles-Metaverse-den-Buddhismus-retten-soll-7284851.html  (*German, Website of MIT Technology Review)
http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Daily)
https://udn.com/news/story/7086/6601376 (*Chinese, Website of United Daily News)
https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC-%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-ai%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%8A%A9%E5%96%84%E4%BF%A1%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-083157347.html (*Chinese, Yahoo Hong Kong)

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09CC00Z00C22A9000000/
(*Japanese, Website of Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20220909-003.html
(*Japanese, Website of Chugai Nippoh)

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-09-07-1 (Press Releases, Kyoto University’s Website/Japanese)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220908/p2a/00m/0sc/025000c (*English, The Mainichi)
https://www.hk01.com/%E9%96%8B%E7%BD%90/812262/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8E%A8%E5%87%BA-%E4%BD%9B%E7%B3%BBsiri-%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%9C%A8%E7%B7%9A%E7%AD%94%E5%A1%B5%E4%B8%96%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-5%E5%A4%A7%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E7%9C%9F%E4%BF%82%E7%A5%9E%E5%9B%9E%E6%87%89 (*Chinese, Hong Kong 01)
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220907/k00/00m/040/227000c (Mainichi Newspapers/Japanese)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00647578 (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun/Japanese)
https://www.ytv.co.jp/press/kansai/165201.html (Yomiuri TV)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220906/2000065953.html (NHK)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/zt/news/385415/ (*Chinese, NHK World JAPAN)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f3d517f2170fd03a3629caf292d1249f538433db (ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6bcb1023782e5e4ac5060ed47a900eb118753f0?fbclid=IwAR3SHGKbkb-LFrQZxB7xCfolqrTJ3NIfMKxkEPqOWGzvQOSetRSXgCZWPwI (Kansei TV)

…and many more.

*Buddhabot has already been introduced in the following media:

TV
NHK News (September 6, 2022)
News “Okaeri” (Asahi Broadcasting, September 6, 2022)

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/38954863 (*English version/Asahi Shimbun)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210424/p2a/00m/0sc/021000c (*English version/Mainichi Shimbun)
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/intnews/20210327/bkn-20210327213028488-0327_00992_001.html (*Chinese version/RTHK News)
https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20210328/00180_035.html (*Chinese version/昔日東方)
https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/537180（*Japanese version/Kyoto Shimbun）
https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2021-03-26-3(*Japanese version/Kyoto University Website)
…and many more.

Articles on the augmented reality (AR) “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” the development plan for the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse,” and the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot” – all of which were co-developed by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai, Toshikazu Furuya (CEO, Teraverse Co., Ltd.), and colleagues – were published in the Asahi Shimbun and Weekly Economist (both only have Japanese versions available).

“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” a new platform that adds AR technology to the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot” which was developed by Prof. Kumagai and his team last year, has been completed. Prof. Kumagai and his team plan to add VR and other technologies to further develop the “Teraverse,” a Buddhist virtual world that combines Buddhism and Metaverse technology.

Asahi Shimbun, October 14, 2022 morning edition, page 23

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQBF53JKQBDPLZB00N.html (Asahi Shimbun Website/Japanese)

Weekly Economist (Volume 100, Issue 40), October 25, 2022

https://weekly-economist.mainichi.jp/articles/20221025/se1/00m/020/027000c (Weekly Economist Online/Japanese)

*“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse” have already been introduced in the following media:

http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Daily)
https://udn.com/news/story/7086/6601376 (*Chinese, Website of United Daily News)
https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC-%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-ai%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%8A%A9%E5%96%84%E4%BF%A1%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-083157347.html (*Chinese, Yahoo Hong Kong)

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09CC00Z00C22A9000000/
(*Japanese, Website of Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20220909-003.html
(*Japanese, Website of Chugai Nippoh)

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-09-07-1 (Press Releases, Kyoto University’s Website/Japanese)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220908/p2a/00m/0sc/025000c (*English, The Mainichi)
https://www.hk01.com/%E9%96%8B%E7%BD%90/812262/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8E%A8%E5%87%BA-%E4%BD%9B%E7%B3%BBsiri-%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%9C%A8%E7%B7%9A%E7%AD%94%E5%A1%B5%E4%B8%96%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-5%E5%A4%A7%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E7%9C%9F%E4%BF%82%E7%A5%9E%E5%9B%9E%E6%87%89 (*Chinese, Hong Kong 01)
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220907/k00/00m/040/227000c (Mainichi Newspapers/Japanese)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00647578 (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun/Japanese)
https://www.ytv.co.jp/press/kansai/165201.html (Yomiuri TV)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220906/2000065953.html (NHK)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/zt/news/385415/ (*Chinese, NHK World JAPAN)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f3d517f2170fd03a3629caf292d1249f538433db (ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6bcb1023782e5e4ac5060ed47a900eb118753f0?fbclid=IwAR3SHGKbkb-LFrQZxB7xCfolqrTJ3NIfMKxkEPqOWGzvQOSetRSXgCZWPwI (Kansei TV)

…and many more.

*Buddhabot has already been introduced in the following media:

TV
NHK News (September 6, 2022)
News “Okaeri” (Asahi Broadcasting, September 6, 2022)

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/38954863 (*English version/Asahi Shimbun)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210424/p2a/00m/0sc/021000c (*English version/Mainichi Shimbun)
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/intnews/20210327/bkn-20210327213028488-0327_00992_001.html (*Chinese version/RTHK News)
https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20210328/00180_035.html (*Chinese version/昔日東方)
https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/537180（*Japanese version/Kyoto Shimbun）
https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2021-03-26-3(*Japanese version/Kyoto University Website)
…and many more.

An article on augmented reality (AR) called “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the concept of a Buddhist virtual space named “Teraverse,” co-developed by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai and Toshikazu Furuya (CEO, Teraverse Co., Ltd.) et al., has been featured in the Chugoku Shimbun. “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” a new platform that adds AR technology to the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot,” which Prof. Kumagai and his team presented last year, has been completed. They will add VR and other technologies to further develop the “Teraverse,” a Buddhist virtual world that combines Buddhism and Metaverse technology.

Article published on page 7 of the morning edition of the Chugoku Shimbun, dated October 3, 2022 (Japanese version only)
https://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/articles/-/220247

*“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse” have already been introduced in the following media:

http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Daily)
https://udn.com/news/story/7086/6601376 (*Chinese, Website of United Daily News)
https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC-%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-ai%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%8A%A9%E5%96%84%E4%BF%A1%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-083157347.html (*Chinese, Yahoo Hong Kong)

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09CC00Z00C22A9000000/
(*Japanese, Website of Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20220909-003.html
(*Japanese, Website of Chugai Nippoh)

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-09-07-1 (Press Releases, Kyoto University’s Website/Japanese)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220908/p2a/00m/0sc/025000c (*English, The Mainichi)
https://www.hk01.com/%E9%96%8B%E7%BD%90/812262/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8E%A8%E5%87%BA-%E4%BD%9B%E7%B3%BBsiri-%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%9C%A8%E7%B7%9A%E7%AD%94%E5%A1%B5%E4%B8%96%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-5%E5%A4%A7%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E7%9C%9F%E4%BF%82%E7%A5%9E%E5%9B%9E%E6%87%89 (*Chinese, Hong Kong 01)
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220907/k00/00m/040/227000c (Mainichi Newspapers/Japanese)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00647578 (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun/Japanese)
https://www.ytv.co.jp/press/kansai/165201.html (Yomiuri TV)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220906/2000065953.html (NHK)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/zt/news/385415/ (*Chinese, NHK World JAPAN)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f3d517f2170fd03a3629caf292d1249f538433db (ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6bcb1023782e5e4ac5060ed47a900eb118753f0?fbclid=IwAR3SHGKbkb-LFrQZxB7xCfolqrTJ3NIfMKxkEPqOWGzvQOSetRSXgCZWPwI (Kansei TV)

…and many more.

On September 27, 2022, augmented reality (AR) called “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and Buddhist virtual space concept “Teraverse,” co-developed by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai and Toshikazu Furuya (CEO, Teraverse Co., Ltd.), were featured in the news program “TSS Like!” (Television Shin-Hiroshima System).

“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” is a new platform that adds AR technology to the AI-Based chatbot “Buddhabot” that Associate Professor Kumagai and his team presented last year. The development team has since completed the new platform. They plan to further add VR and other technologies to develop the “Teraverse,” a Buddhist virtual world that combines Buddhism and metaverse technology.

Website of “TSS Like!” (Television Shin-Hiroshima System, dated September 27, 2022).
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5f2dcac1c16d297424f0530cdfbb9c87dbf39965

*“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse” have already been introduced in the following media:

http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Daily)
http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Darget=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>https://udn.com/news/story/7086/6601376 (*Chinese, Website of United Daily News)
https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC-%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-ai%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%8A%A9%E5%96%84%E4%BF%A1%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-083157347.html (*Chinese, Yahoo Hong Kong)

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09CC00Z00C22A9000000/
(*Japanese, Website of Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20220909-003.html
(*Japanese, Website of Chugai Nippoh)

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-09-07-1 (Press Releases, Kyoto University’s Website/Japanese)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220908/p2a/00m/0sc/025000c (*English, The Mainichi)
https://www.hk01.com/%E9%96%8B%E7%BD%90/812262/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8E%A8%E5%87%BA-%E4%BD%9B%E7%B3%BBsiri-%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%9C%A8%E7%B7%9A%E7%AD%94%E5%A1%B5%E4%B8%96%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-5%E5%A4%A7%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E7%9C%9F%E4%BF%82%E7%A5%9E%E5%9B%9E%E6%87%89 (*Chinese, Hong Kong 01)
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220907/k00/00m/040/227000c (Mainichi Newspapers/Japanese)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00647578 (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun/Japanese)
https://www.ytv.co.jp/press/kansai/165201.html (Yomiuri TV)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220906/2000065953.html (NHK)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/zt/news/385415/ (*Chinese, NHK World JAPAN)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f3d517f2170fd03a3629caf292d1249f538433db (ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6bcb1023782e5e4ac5060ed47a900eb118753f0?fbclid=IwAR3SHGKbkb-LFrQZxB7xCfolqrTJ3NIfMKxkEPqOWGzvQOSetRSXgCZWPwI (Kansei TV)

…and many more.

Augmented Reality (AR) technology “Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse,” co-developed by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai and Toshikazu Furuya (CEO, Teraverse Co., Ltd.), were featured in Overseas Chinese Daily News, Sing Tao Daily, United Daily News, Yahoo Hong Kong (these four newspapers are published in Chinese), Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Chugai Nippoh (these two are published in Japanese).

“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0,” a new platform that adds augmented reality (AR) technology to the AI-based chatbot “Buddhabot,” which Associate Professor Kumagai and his colleagues presented last year, has been completed. The development team plans to add VR and other technologies to further develop the “Teraverse,” a Buddhist virtual world that combines Buddhism and metaverse technology.

*Related Websites
http://www.ocdn.com.my/news.cfm?NewsId=105005 (*Chinese, Website of Overseas Chinese Daily News)
https://epaper.singtaousa.com/flippingbook/epaper_boston/2022/20220908/7/
(*Chinese, Website of Sing Tao Daily)
https://udn.com/news/story/7086/6601376 (*Chinese, Website of United Daily News)
https://hk.finance.yahoo.com/news/%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC-%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%85%83%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%99-ai%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%8A%A9%E5%96%84%E4%BF%A1%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-083157347.html (*Chinese, Yahoo Hong Kong)

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC09CC00Z00C22A9000000/
(*Japanese, Website of Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/news/20220909-003.html
(*Japanese, Website of Chugai Nippoh)

*“Tera Platform AR Ver1.0” and the Buddhist virtual space “Teraverse” have already been introduced in the following media:

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-09-07-1 (Press Releases, Kyoto University’s Website)
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220908/p2a/00m/0sc/025000c (*English, The Mainichi)
https://www.hk01.com/%E9%96%8B%E7%BD%90/812262/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%8E%A8%E5%87%BA-%E4%BD%9B%E7%B3%BBsiri-%E4%BD%9B%E7%A5%96%E5%9C%A8%E7%B7%9A%E7%AD%94%E5%A1%B5%E4%B8%96%E7%85%A9%E6%83%B1-5%E5%A4%A7%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E7%9C%9F%E4%BF%82%E7%A5%9E%E5%9B%9E%E6%87%89 (*Chinese, Hong Kong 01)
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220907/k00/00m/040/227000c (Mainichi Newspapers/Japanese)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00647578 (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun/Japanese)
https://www.ytv.co.jp/press/kansai/165201.html (Yomiuri TV)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220906/2000065953.html (NHK)
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/zt/news/385415/ (*Chinese, NHK World JAPAN)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f3d517f2170fd03a3629caf292d1249f538433db (ABC News, Asahi Broadcasting)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c6bcb1023782e5e4ac5060ed47a900eb118753f0?fbclid=IwAR3SHGKbkb-LFrQZxB7xCfolqrTJ3NIfMKxkEPqOWGzvQOSetRSXgCZWPwI (Kansei TV)
…and many more.

Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai was appointed as Program Director (PD) for Goal 9 of the Cabinet Office Moonshot R&D Program: ‘Realization of a mentally healthy and dynamic society by increasing peace of mind and vitality by 2050’. An article on this project appeared in Bunka Jiho (April 22, 2022, pages 1 and 6), a newspaper specializing in religion.

Under this goal, the 13 selected program managers (PMs) will lead the development of science and technology (Kokoro-tech) to promote peace of mind and vitality.

*Click the image to see the newspaper article (Japanese version only, PDF).

A serial article on Bhutanese Buddhism (Part 3) by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai (Divisional Director, Uehiro Research Division) was published in Kuensel, a national newspaper of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In this series, entitled “The Life and Legacy of Tsangpa Gyare: A three-part series,” Prof. Kumagai provides an overview of the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211).

The article appeared in the printed edition of the Newspaper Kunsel (April 7, 2022, page 9) and in their online edition (April 7, 2022). https://kuenselonline.com/the-life-and-legacy-of-tsangpa-gyare-2/

In the last part of the serial articles, Prof. Kumagai outlines the establishment of the main monasteries by Tsangpa Gyare, the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, the training of his disciples, and his later years.

*Click on the image to view the newspaper article (English version, PDF).

An interview with Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai (Divisional Director, Uehiro Research Division for Ethics and Spirituality) appeared in the Bunkajiho, a newspaper specializing in religion (March 8, 2022, page 2). He was interviewed regarding the withdrawal of operations by the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji sect at the Asoka Vihara Hospital (Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture), a stand-alone palliative care hospital.

The hospital opened 10 years ago as a Buddhist hospice, but the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji sect, the governing body of the hospital, decided to withdraw from the operation. In the interview article, Prof. Kumagai states that while the withdrawal from the operation itself is regrettable, there are many aspects of the past challenges and achievements to date that should be evaluated. He also argues that the accumulation of these achievements, including the issues involved, could be passed on to future generations, leading to significant social contributions.

*Click on the image to view the newspaper article (in Japanese, PDF).

A serial article on Bhutanese Buddhism (Part 2) by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai (Divisional Director, Uehiro Research Division) was published in Kuensel, a national newspaper of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In this series, entitled “The Life and Legacy of Tsangpa Gyare: A three-part series,” Prof. Kumagai provides an overview of the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211).

The article appeared in the printed edition of the Newspaper Kunsel (April 2, 2022, page 8) and in their online edition (April 2, 2022).

https://kuenselonline.com/the-life-and-legacy-of-tsangpa-gyare/

In the second part of the serial articles, Prof. Kumagai outlines the history of Tsangpa Gyare, the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, from his childhood to his student and training years. This article also includes pictures of ruins where Tsangpa Gyare was born and spent his childhood. Based on ancient documents, Prof. Kumagai located and discovered these sites, and he was the first in the world to publish these locations in photographs (Kumagai 2018). 

*Click on the image to view the newspaper article (English version, PDF).

A serial article on Bhutanese Buddhism (Part 1) by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai (Divisional Director, Uehiro Research Division) was published in Kuensel, a national newspaper of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In this series, Prof. Kumagai gives an overview of the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211), in the article entitled “The Life and Legacy of Tsangpa Gyare: A three-part series.”

This article appeared in the printed edition of the Newspaper Kunsel (March 30, 2022, page 7) and in the online edition (March 30, 2022).

https://kuenselonline.com/the-life-and-legacy-of-tsangpa-gyare-a-three-part-series/

This article, the first of a total of three articles in the series, outlines the history of Bhutanese Buddhism.

*Click on the image to view the newspaper article (English version, PDF).

An article on the new book by Associate Professor Seiji Kumagai, entitled “The Traditional Tibetan Wisdom of Bon Religion: Surviving as the Weak” (Japanese version, Sogensha), was published in Chugai Nippo.

https://www.chugainippoh.co.jp/article/kanren/books/20220218-004.html

The book proposes the view that the “flexibility and resilience” of the Bon Religion may provide hints for living in uncertain times after the COVID-19 pandemic, since it teaches about coming to terms with an opposing party, rather than trying to defeat them.

Prof. Kumagai’s new book “The Traditional Tibetan Wisdom of Bon Religion: Surviving as the Weak” has already been featured in the following media (in Japanese):

 Chugai Nippo (February 18, 2022, page 7)

Kyoto University Website

https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/research-news/2022-01-20

Kyoto University Twitter

https://twitter.com/univkyoto/status/1484063936064503808?cxt=HHwWgIC-0a6SupgpAAAA