Ancient wisdom, future thinking.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Tokyo, Japan — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 20, 2026
Yuval Noah Harari · Tokyo International Forum · September 21, 2026
Historian and public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari explores how emerging technologies are reshaping human cooperation and imagination. The talk includes a moderated audience discu…
Atul Gawande · The University of Tokyo — Yasuda Auditorium · September 22, 2026
Surgeon and author Atul Gawande presents on how systems thinking can improve clinical outcomes and health policy design. The session includes case studies and a discussion with Uni…
Takashi Murakami · Mori Art Museum · September 22, 2026
Takashi Murakami examines the intersections of commerce, popular culture, and fine art in the 21st century. The talk will include slides from recent projects and a short audience d…
Thomas Piketty · Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku · September 22, 2026
Economist Thomas Piketty discusses recent trends in global inequality and proposals for progressive tax and social policy. The session will include a short presentation and audienc…
Shinya Yamanaka · The University of Tokyo (Public Lecture Series) · September 22, 2026
Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka presents recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell research and their clinical potential. He will address ethical questions and pathways for r…
David Mitchell · Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku · September 22, 2026
David Mitchell reads from his recent novel and discusses the architecture of storytelling across time and place. The reading will be followed by a moderated conversation and audien…
Fareed Zakaria · The University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus) · September 22, 2026
Journalist and foreign-affairs commentator Fareed Zakaria examines shifting geopolitical alignments and their implications for Asia. The lecture is free and open to the public, inc…
Naomi Klein · Mori Art Museum · September 22, 2026
Journalist and activist Naomi Klein discusses the intersection of climate policy, grassroots movements, and cultural production. The talk will highlight case studies from Asia and …
Naomi Klein · Tokyo International Forum (Hall B5) · September 22, 2026
Naomi Klein presents her latest analysis of climate policy and grassroots resistance, followed by a panel Q&A with Japanese activists. Recommended for policymakers, students, and c…
Banana Yoshimoto · Jimbochō book district · September 22, 2026
Banana Yoshimoto presents readings from a forthcoming collection and reflects on the role of everyday emotion in modern Japanese literature. There will be a short Q&A and book sign…
Pankaj Mishra · Iwanami Hall (Jimbochō) · September 22, 2026
Writer Pankaj Mishra reflects on the intellectual history of global inequality and the rise of new political movements. He will engage with Japanese and international perspectives …
Evan Osnos · The University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus) · September 25, 2026
Pulitzer-winning journalist Evan Osnos discusses the evolving landscape of reporting on China and the ethical dilemmas foreign correspondents face. The lecture will include time fo…
Shoshana Zuboff · Tokyo International Forum · September 25, 2026
Shoshana Zuboff returns to Tokyo to update her analysis of surveillance capitalism in light of recent regulatory and technological shifts. The lecture will cover corporate data pra…
Masha Gessen · Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku · September 25, 2026
Journalist and essayist Masha Gessen addresses the rise of authoritarianism and strategies for civic resilience. The talk will interweave personal reporting with analysis of global…
Homi K. Bhabha · Tokyo Art Book Fair — Public Program · September 25, 2026
Cultural theorist Homi K. Bhabha participates in a panel on decolonial approaches to art publishing and the circulation of critical texts. The session is part of the fair’s interna…
Margaret Atwood · Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku · September 25, 2026
Margaret Atwood reads from her recent fiction and essays, then discusses the role of speculative literature in shaping political thought. Attendees can participate in a Q&A and boo…
Erik Brynjolfsson · Tokyo International Forum (Hall B) · September 25, 2026
Economist Erik Brynjolfsson explores how automation and AI are reshaping labor markets, productivity, and policy choices for inclusive growth. The presentation will be followed by …
Hans Ulrich Obrist · National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo · September 25, 2026
Renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist reflects on curatorial practice in a globalized art world and the changing role of museums. Topics include cross-cultural exchange, commissionin…
Yuval Noah Harari · Tokyo International Forum · September 25, 2026
Historian Yuval Noah Harari gives a keynote on the long-term trajectories of human societies in the face of technological change. The talk will be followed by a moderated discussio…
Judith Butler · University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus) · September 25, 2026
Philosopher Judith Butler explores contemporary debates around gender, performativity, and political assembly in a public lecture. The session will include a moderated audience Q&A…