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He is the chief priest of the Soto Zen sect Tokuyuzan Kenkoji Temple, professor emeritus at Tama Art University, and garden designer. After graduating from university, he trained at Daihonzan Sojiji Temple. He has created "Zen gardens" rooted in Zen philosophy and traditional Japanese culture, and has received high praise both in Japan and overseas. He is the first garden designer to receive the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists. He has been awarded the Governor General's Medal of Canada and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was also selected as one of the "100 Japanese People Respected by the World" by the Japanese edition of Newsweek magazine in 2006. His main works as a garden designer include the gardens of the Canadian Embassy, the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, and the Japanese Garden in Berlin. His main books include "Zen: The Advice for a Simple Lifestyle" and "90% of the Things You Worry About Never Happen."