11-02-13 - Tozen Akiyama interview on Sweeping Zen

Bio from Sweeping Zen

Mini bio on Milwaukee ZC site

Tozen Akiyama
Resident Priest Emerita

Tozen Akiyama was ordained by Reiyu Tamiya Roshi in 1977 and later received dharma transmission. He trained at Daieiji Monastery from 1977 to 1978. He has lived in the United States since 1979, when he started working at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Los Angeles. He moved to Wisconsin and became the resident priest of the Milwaukee Zen Center in 1985. In 2001 he became the head of the Anchorage Zen Community and retired in 2006. The Japanese Soto School held its first and second 90-day Overseas Training Monastery sessions from September to December 2007 and 2008, both in France. Tozen was the Dokan, or Overseer, in both training periods.

7-28-12 - Picking up Tozen Akiyama in a while in Santa Rosa. Taking him to Green Gulch to have lunch with Shohaku Okumura. In honor of this event, posting  many more lectures given in earlier years by Tozen, now happily retired and avoiding most ceremonies and social obligations. - dc

Tozen Akiyama Roshi dharma talks and more on him

Only Fear Not-Practice - excerpt from Milwaukee ZC book

Tozen Akiyama remembers almost  meeting Shunryu Suzuki

10-12-14 - From Hideko Oga: My friend, Rev. Akiyama sent me an e-mail but he forgot the photo to attach. Then, he responded –  ”I sent you one of the most important Buddhist teachings in my last email, ‘Attachment is empty.'"

From Our Great Friend and Teacher Kobun Chino by DC

Tozen Akiyama came from Japan to be a priest in America. Kobun had agreed to be his sponsor and was to pick him up at the airport. He didn’t nor did he respond to any of Tozen’s attempts to contact him. Finally when it was too late, Tozen met him somewhere. Kobun apologized. Tozen asked him again if he would be his sponsor upon his return. Kobun said yes and details were quickly agreed on. When the time came Kobun didn’t show and couldn’t be located. Tozen found another sponsor. But he still remembers Kobun fondly.