Robo-Buddhism and Techno-Religion in Japan Today
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May 5 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EDT
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The fusion of religion and technology has deep historical roots across the world’s cultures, including Japan, the focus of this lecture. In this talk event, Dr. Jennifer Robertson will highlight innovative uses today in temples and shrines (and churches) of hi-tech devices, including robots. Many Japanese roboticists building humanoids today seek to imbue their gendered robots with kokoro (mindful heart), drawing parallels with the Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon (Avalokiteśvara) known for her boundless compassion. Several years ago, the Japanese mass media announced the advent of robot priests, and roboticists at the University of Kyoto recently debuted a “Buddharoid.” Pet robots and electronic devices like smart phones and laptops are given Buddhist funerals when they break down or become outdated. A Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1606, today offers prayers and funeral services for humans via an orbiting satellite. Moreover, Shinto priests offer special prayers to protect computers from being infected by malware.
Finally, “unorthodox” psycho-spiritual healers offer self-help services through websites, YouTube channels, and other forms of social media. The technological devices and applications used by traditional and non-traditional religious bodies alike bridge the conceptual gap between science and religion, and between today’s hi-tech secularized world and more spiritual and ethereal realms.
This presentation on robo-Buddhism will be followed by a conversation between Dr. Robertson and Japan Foundation, Toronto’s Executive Director Noriko Yamamoto. The conversation will include topics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and Japanese Studies.
Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session and discussion with the speaker.
The Japan Foundation, Toronto Library will also host an optional Library tour for attendees prior to the lecture from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm.
The Centre for the Study of Global Japan, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy is a promotional partner for this event.
Speaker
Jennifer Robertson is Professor Emerita, Anthropology and the History of Art, and the Robotics Institute, University of Michigan. She is also Affiliate Professor, Tokyo College, University of Tokyo Institutes for Advance Study, and Anthropology and Japan Studies, University of Washington. A historical and visual anthropologist/anthropological historian specializing in Japan, her books and articles address a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary subjects ranging from the 17th century to the present. Her most recent book is Robo Sapiens Japanicus: Robots, Gender, Family and the Japanese Nation (California 2018); a Korean edition (Nulmin Books, Seoul) with a new preface was published in 2025. https://professorjenniferrobertson.com/
Moderator
Noriko Yamamoto (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Japan Foundation, Toronto, the Canadian branch of the Japan Foundation’s global network. The Japan Foundation’s mandate is to present Japan to the world through culture, language, and dialogue. During her career with the Foundation, she has been involved in multiple programs for international dialogue and education in North America, including a previous tenure in the New York office. She recently led the North American Japanese Literary Project and the Japan-Canada Fashion Exchange Project. She has also written chapters and translations in multiple books published in Japan in the field of cultural exchange.
This is a closed event and is only open to invitees. Thank you for your understanding.
Related Events:
ROM Bishop White Committee: Friends of East Asia
Almost Human – Robo Sapiens Japonicus
Monday, May 4, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM (ET)
In-person Level B1, Eaton Theatre | $55 regular tickets
In celebration of the ROM original exhibition, Shokkan, Material Encounters in Japanese Art, Almost Human: Robo Sapiens Japonicus is an evening of thought-provoking conversations examining robots, sensory perception, and the evolving relationship between humans and machines in post-industrial Japan.
This exclusive event complements the exhibition, which examines the sense of touch as a vital element of Japanese aesthetics and cultural expression. Curated by Dr. Akiko Takesue, Bishop White Committee Curator of Japanese Art and Culture, the exhibition brings together exceptional objects from the collections and loaned objects from Japan, inviting visitors to consider how tactile perception shapes beauty, meaning, and experience.
The presentation will be followed by a Japanese-themed reception featuring sake tasting, Japanese cuisine and special displays from the Japan collections held at ROM.
