Check out Takumi’s NEW English youtube channel🎵
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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway
Today’s Seminar Delivered on a Noh Stage
A Yoshiken-Produced Seminar—Here’s the Magic！！！
Keisuke Nakao’s Talk Was Incredible!
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Takumi Yamazaki × Keisuke Nakao
Starting off with a cross talk!
1. Opening (Setting the Tone with Respect)
Awe and respect for the “piercing presence” radiating from the speakers.
Awareness that expressions capable of reaching many people touch on what “the Japanese people have been seeking.”
Noh was originally a dedication to the gods.
Today’s seminar is approached with that same spirit of offering.
2. Theme Setting: Awareness of Death and Life Stages
20s: Death is abstract, a fantasy.
30s: Transition from spectator to player.
40s: Conversations shift to parents’ aging and health.
50s: Friends begin to pass away, death becomes a close reality.
The sudden realization of “I don’t know when I will die” strengthens the resolve to leave behind what hasn’t yet been conveyed, especially to family (wife, son).
3. Metaphor of Awakening: Attachment to Stories
We struggle to wake up because of attachment to “unfinished stories” in dreams.
In life, too, attachment to ongoing stories (like children’s growth) fuels our clinging to life.
But “the end (death)” always comes—so the core question is: What do we engrave and leave behind now?
4. What Should Be Left Behind = “Stories”
Ultimately, what endures—like sacred texts—are stories.
Even fame fades (an example: his son doesn’t know celebrities he himself admired).
→ This means “engraving further” requires effort; we fade all too easily.Limits of family memory (3 or 7 generations…) underline the importance of recording, preserving, and passing on, illustrated with references to archives, artworks, and local legacies (e.g., Hosokawa clan in Kumamoto).
5. The True Meaning of Expression: Noh as Dedication
Noh was never meant as a show for the people, but as an offering to the gods.
Likewise, stage, words, and songs should be performed with the same spirit of dedication.
Reference to reaching a state where the ego thins (theta waves), sensing the “core of existence” that runs through both the sacred and the worldly (e.g., even motorcycle culture).
6. Purpose and Attitude of Today
To share, in depth, the teachings (say “seven”) that we want to leave behind for children and future generations.
The same message, when “offered” in a different setting, carries a different worldview and demands a reexamination of one’s sincerity.
To leave behind nourishment for each listener’s loved ones and descendants to “climb upward.”
7. Conclusion (Message)
With the premise that “we will all die someday,” use this present moment as an offering, shaping stories and teachings.
Because memory fades so easily, engrave through records, works, and spaces.
Send today’s very words into the world with the attitude of “dedicating them to the divine.”
1. Premise: For Those in the Midst of Hardship
Many people currently face difficulties such as work, money, separation, or illness.
While we cannot definitively affirm or deny the presence of “the workings of the universe / gods / Buddha,” we can speak from the standpoint that events occur in order to move us toward a better direction.
2. Basic Principle: Good and Bad Are Not Fixed (The Parable of Saiō’s Horse)
“Good things are always good” / “Bad things are always bad” is not necessarily true.
As the classic parable shows (horse runs away → returns with fine horses → son falls and breaks a leg → avoids conscription…), evaluations can later reverse.
3. Framing Adversity: Notice of Misalignment & The Law of Ups and Downs
Misfortune is a “notice of misalignment” pointing toward what needs to be corrected to move in a better direction.
Life and emotions are always fluctuating; nothing remains fixed at 100%.
“Once you hit bottom, you’ll rise.” But unless you become aware of and adjust the causes (thoughts, actions, environment) that created the situation, the same scenario will repeat.
4. Distinguishing Fate and Destiny
Fate (宿命): Unchangeable givens (parents, birth order, birth date, etc.) = the “water” itself.
Destiny (運命): The outcomes that shift through interaction with environment (time, space, human relationships = the “three ma”).
Metaphor: Just as applying “fire” to water turns it into steam, changing the environment changes destiny.
5. Alignment with Natural Laws (Yin-Yang & Five Elements)
Humans also exist under the order of nature (the sun’s course, seasons, etc.).
Reference to Sanmei (Chinese fate analysis), which interprets the rhythm and structure embedded in one’s birth date.
6. Structure of the Stars (Overview) and View of Humanity
12 Major Stars (the “ages” of the soul): fetus, infant, child, youth, young adult, adult, middle age, old age, sick, dead, tenkō (boundary), tenshō (leader).
(Lecture used animal metaphors: fetus = god, child = monkey, youth = black panther, adult = lion, old age = raccoon dog, sick = koala, dead = sheep, tenkō = pegasus, etc.)
Example: Those with the Fetus Star often struggle with planning and punctuality. Harsh scolding without understanding deepens self-denial.
Example: Those with the Old Age Star excel at calmness, perspective, and judgment.
10 Main Stars (Yin-Yang × Five Elements): the roots of individual traits and roles.
Five Instincts (talent axes):
Defense (protecting)
Communication (teaching, transmitting)
Charm (attracting)
Attack (breaking through, contributing)
Learning (acquiring knowledge)
→ Each person receives 5 out of the 10 stars as their foundation, with unique combinations. Untapped talents are like “living without limbs,” creating difficulty in life.
7. Practical Application: Child-Rearing, Education, Career Paths
By knowing a child’s “soul age” and instinct stars, you can optimize:
How to respond (scold / wait / structure)
How they learn (lecture style / experiential / flipped learning)
What environment fits (quiet vs. active, individual vs. group, level of deadlines)
Forcing parental values or strengths (parents’ stars) onto a child causes mismatch.
The blanket advice “Bloom where you are planted” is risky. The key is to find the vase, soil, and climate (environment) that matches one’s “water.”
8. Self-Understanding and Career Design
Knowing your stars and designing your strongest instincts to be “used outwardly” leads to results.
Example: Those strong in Communication Stars don’t need to “speak well”—their core gift is that “somehow, it gets across.” Repetition and experience refine it best.
Example: Even if weak in Learning Stars, one can still learn by changing strategy (audio, physical practice, collaboration, etc.).
9. Intention for Family Precepts & Legacy
Envisioning the recording of learnings as family precepts (kaō, family records) to pass on to children and grandchildren.
Core points (three articles / outline):
Know your stars (awareness of fate).
Choose environments that fit you (design of destiny).
Have the courage to not “bloom” in places that don’t suit you (reassignment).
10. Conclusion (Translated Into Action)
Adversity is a sign for course correction. Evaluations can reverse over time.
Understand Fate × Environment = Destiny, and actively design your environment.
Make visible your own and your family’s stars (12 major, 10 main, 5 instincts), and align child-rearing, learning, and work policies.
Record learnings → turn into family precepts → pass them on, to prevent fading away.
1. Positioning (Introduction)
Check in with participants before moving into the main theme.
Transition from the earlier topic of “Fate and Destiny” into a discussion of fortune = flow.
Example: As of September 2025, some people will enter their annual fortune “Tenchūsatsu” starting next February.
2. Basic Concepts
Fate (宿命): The givens of birth (unchangeable).
Destiny (運命): The way one’s path changes through environment and choices.
Tenchūsatsu (Heavenly Void):
In short: A “nighttime” period when fortune tends to be unnatural / incomplete / paused / dormant.
Dream metaphor: In dreams, it may feel like something is fulfilled, but when you wake, reality returns.
Principle: Things started during this time are difficult to bring to completion.
3. Types of Tenchūsatsu (Four Layers)
Major Fortune Tenchūsatsu (about 20 years): Only for those affected. Amplifies the mental plane—beware of swings between overconfidence and depression.
Annual Tenchūsatsu (2 out of 12 years): Comes to everyone. Unnaturalness tends to appear in tangible areas (money, reputation, health).
Monthly / Daily Tenchūsatsu: Smaller influence. Just avoid scheduling major events if possible.
General importance ranking: Major > Annual > Monthly/Daily.
4. Understanding as a Natural Philosophy
Rain ≠ bad. For crops, it’s a blessing.
Life also needs rest periods. Tenchūsatsu is a time of “night, pause, recharging.”
Therefore, it is not something to fear, but something to learn how to handle.
5. Principles for Tenchūsatsu Periods (Attitude & Action)
No overreaching: Excessive drive, desire, or obsession backfires.
Take a receptive, humble stance: Engage in helpful actions, accumulate virtue, focus on learning and training.
Avoid major undertakings: Founding a company, large investments, over-expansion, marriages for purely personal gain.
Health first: Overdoing it invites accidents or illness—treat warning signs with rest.
6. If You’ve Already “Started Something” During This Period
Reframe the meaning:
Example: Marriage → not “for my happiness,” but as service to bring happiness to the partner.
Work → run the business for customers and colleagues.
Maintain humility: View achievements as “thanks to others,” pair success with giving back.
Expectation management: Accept that this is a time when things won’t go as planned, and adjust accordingly.
7. Risks & Coping (7 Key Mindsets)
Even “good results” may appear unnaturally → especially in big success, plan to “give back.”
Overreaching leads to spinning wheels → walk the middle path (neither overjoyed nor despairing), do what needs to be done steadily.
Decline in clear thinking → beware of sweet deals. Secure objective advice from a mentor (e.g., monthly check-in).
Signs of injury/illness → don’t ignore; rest and review. Pushing through invites larger breakdowns.
Safe driving & self-cultivation → best time for study and skill refinement.
Hardship = catalyst for growth → cycle of “awareness → improvement → results” leads to expansion after the period ends.
Starting new things is disadvantageous → avoid major new launches. If already begun, run with humility, gratitude, and service.
8. Practical Template (For Those Entering Annual Tenchūsatsu)
Do: Execute study plans, review and strengthen existing businesses, maintain health, build trust steadily, expand social contribution.
Don’t: Take on high-leverage loans, make large investments, indulge in self-centered status spending, rush personnel decisions or contracts.
Safety net: Monthly third-party review meetings, maintain cash reserves, prevent accidents (manage travel and workplace safety).
9. Learning from Participant Sharing
Even if marriage timing overlapped with Tenchūsatsu, it can work if approached with receptivity and service.
Reassurance that if one thoroughly applies the usual principles of “way of being (middle path, fundamentals)”, Tenchūsatsu is nothing to fear.
10. Conclusion (Next Actions)
Tenchūsatsu = blessed rain / nighttime recharging. Handled well, it becomes a springboard for growth in the following 10 years.
Steer current choices toward service, virtue-building, and learning; restrain overreaching.
Fix into practice: monthly external brakes (mentors), and prioritization of health and safety.
It was a talk packed with an enormous amount of insights!
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From Takumi Yamazaki’s part into the cross talk
1. Introduction & Premise
Picking up from the previous section (“Fate / Fortune” and “Tenchūsatsu”), Yamazaki shares that he himself will enter annual Tenchūsatsu from February 4 next year.
His stance: “Not karate (attacking) but aikido (receiving and redirecting).” → Live leaning back, not forward.
2. View of Life: This World as a “Laboratory”
Though seen as a “challenger” by others, his reality is one of hypothesis → experiment → verification on repeat.
Continuously updating the optimal approach through A/B testing as times change.
3. Externalizing Achievements
Consolidating learnings into books (62 published + 2 in progress).
In co-authoring with Hidetomo Tomabechi, he takes on the role of “translating difficult concepts into accessible Japanese.”
4. Timeline Self & Gratitude
A 40-year business life starting at age 20. Gratitude to his younger self supports who he is today.
A reverse-engineering perspective: How would his future selves (at 70, 80, 90, 100) view him now?
5. The Law of Amplifying “Small Joys”
Those who celebrate small things in a big way inspire others to want to make them even happier, creating a virtuous cycle.
A metaphor: 20,000 breaths per day = 20,000 miracles → cultivating awareness of subtle blessings.
6. The Three-Box Memory Model (Tomabechi)
When past memory is maximized, one clings to precedent and loses adventure.
When present memory is saturated, busyness overwhelms and essence is lost.
Maximizing future memory starts with the question:
“If there were no limits, what kind of life / what kind of self would you choose?” → expands imagination.
7. Goal Design: W1 / W2 / W3
If a goal is set in W1 (within current reality) → achievable through effort/talent, but personality and life change little.
If placed in W2 (outside current reality) → self-transformation (personality shift) occurs.
Once W2 feels attainable, expand to W3 (further outside). As you progress, W2 becomes just a passing milestone.
8. Identity Shift (Already-Been)
Instead of “working hard to achieve goals,” live as if you are already the self who has achieved them.
Align all aspects—gestures, posture, language, planning, dining, even bedtime—consistently with that self.
This practice led to verified outcomes like quadrupling income and securing book contracts.
9. Meditation & the “Muscle of Returning”
Begin by moving the body and voicing, then enter still meditation.
Repeatedly noticing and returning from distraction builds the “muscle of returning.”
No self-criticism: drifting off is natural, the act of returning is what strengthens awareness.
10. Money & The Structure of Giving (The Giver’s Way)
Order of success: Giver > Balancer (Give & Take) > Taker > those who let givers be exploited.
Giving to top-level givers tends to amplify itself, since returns come back as reciprocation.
Homework: Inventory the intersection of “what you love × what you’re good at × what helps others.”
Build not on motivation, but on driven energy (effortless immersion).
11. Japanese Virtue and Conduct
The true strength of the Japanese is not so much being “serious,” but being “attentive / careful (teinei)”.
Conduct (attentiveness) → mindfulness → transformation of worldview. Start by shaping the form first.
12. Buddhist Insights
Enlightenment is reached not through asceticism, but through Vipassanā-style meditation.
Value not “happiness” but ease (raku = the opposite of suffering), aiming for a natural state of being.
No-self / Emptiness: Thoughts are like bubbles, and the self exists in the space between those bubbles. Perception creates the world.
Do not deny desire; instead, elevate it from selfish “small desire” to altruistic “great desire.”
13. Practicing Virtue (Hidden Virtue)
Virtue is invisible, but it accumulates as real capital.
When you make a mistake, don’t just try to “fill the hole”—instead, build a new mountain elsewhere (accumulate good deeds in another area).
The longest-lasting impact comes from giving in ways that bring neither reward nor praise.
14. Nature and the “Natural Position”
Self-check: Are you aligned with nature? (Trees and sky appear to “shine” when you are.)
Make it a habit to step back from immersion in the city—returning to the audience seat (meta-cognition).
15. Dialogue Techniques for Parenting & Leadership
Use “I-messages” to communicate feelings (non-attacking, non-preaching).
For children: nurture self-efficacy with the three pillars of “I believe in you / You can do it / You’ll be okay.”
Apply the same approach in organizations to convey trust and expectations.
16. Closing: Co-Creation & Social Concern
Learning does not end today; its impact deepens over time.
Continue creating spaces for co-creation.
Call for awareness and participation in addressing social issues such as child poverty (1 in 6 children).
Kurama-chan Rushed Over to Join Us
I presented her with my book after.
Yoshiken, Master of Calligraphy (5th-Dan)
Thank you！
Experiencing the Shō in Traditional Gagaku Music!
The shō (笙) is a wind instrument of gagaku (Japanese court music), made of 17 bamboo pipes bound together at the base by a bowl-shaped chamber called the kashira (“head”).
It is one of the rare instruments in the world capable of producing chords.
Because it produces the same sound whether you exhale or inhale, it allows for uninterrupted playing.
In gagaku ensembles, the shō provides the harmonic background, and its tone is often described as “light streaming down from the heavens.”
When asked, “Why do you want to play the shō?!”
I explained that I’m irresistibly drawn to its spacey, cosmic sound,
and that it reminds me of Debussy.
They were surprised—saying no one had ever expressed it that way before—
yet pointed out the fact that Debussy actually incorporated the sound of the shō into his compositions.
I Captured the Actual Experience on Video
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https://www.facebook.com/takumi.yamazaki
Seminar in Nagoya. Thank you Taka-chan
I went to eat tacos with Miyagi.
Thank you to Team Okada too!
Thanks to everyone in Hamamatsu too〜〜〜
My Junior from Fumioka Middle School!
Midnight strategy meeting!
Thank you！
↓↓↓Wakasa live information↓↓↓
Open Chat
“Flowing Clouds — Stage Play, Osaka Performance”
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I’ve created an open chat so we can coordinate!
Looking forward to it!
I’ll be attending the 3:00 pm performance on the 28th.
Details about tickets will be shared in the open chat,
so please check there!
We’re hosting an event in New York! 🎉
And Mark will be joining us all the way from Bangkok, Thailand!
Thank you so much! 🙏✨
Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s
ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”
