Brian Victoria

Researcher, Kyoto, Japan

Brian Victoria is a senior research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. He is also a Buddhist priest in the Soto Zen sect. He is author of Zen War Stories (2003) and Zen at War (2006). His most recent publication is entitled Zen Terror in Prewar Japan: Portrait of an Assassin (2020).

Written by Brian Victoria

Black and white photo of a bald Japanese man in traditional attire, wearing glasses, surrounded by a group of men in suits and ties.

essay

Religion

Zen terror

Master Nissho Inoue and his band of assassins teach some uncomfortable truths about terrorism, for those who will hear

Brian Victoria

A Japanese monk in traditional clothing on the porch of a building at night with large flags displayed outside next to trees.

essay

Religion

Breath of life

Shinto is uniquely Japanese, yet embodies a once-universal animistic religion of wind and fire, gods and animal spirits

Brian Victoria