Kyoto Lectures

Kyoto still preserves its ancient cultural tradition as one of Japan's major academic centers and a meeting place for scholars from around the world. Organized in collaboration with the École Française d’Extrême-Orient and the Institute for Research in Humanities at Kyoto University, the Kyoto Lectures offer specialists in East Asian cultures and societies the opportunity to present their ongoing research results in Kyoto.
Zen’s Smugglers

Kyoto Lectures

Zen’s Smugglers

Towards a Connected Cultural History

Emmanuel Lozerand

July 13th, 2026 18:00

Zen swept through Western culture in the 1950s and 1960s. How did this cultural transfer occur, and who were its key actors? Answering these questions requires reconstructing a largely overlooked history. This involves moving beyond national and disciplinary boundaries, considering the agency of both Japanese exporters and Western importers, and examining the historical contexts that turned individual encounters into a collective phenomenon.

Emmanuel Lozerand is Professor of Modern Japanese Literature at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO, Paris, France). His research focuses on the language, literature, thought, and history of modern Japan, as well as on major authors such as Natsume Sōseki, Mori Ōgai, and Masaoka Shiki.

This hybrid lecture will be held on site and via Zoom.

 Registration required in advance from here.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87452093537

Meeting ID: 874 5209 3537