Korinji People: Advisors, Officers and Board 
Dr. Seiko Nakashima
Born on February 14, 1928, Dr. Seiko Nakashima moved to the United States in 1948. She graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1964 and was engaged in medicine as a microbiologist until 1987.
A master teacher of Ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement), Nakashima Sensei established the Ikenobo Ikebana Chicago Chapter in August 1964, and was awarded the highest degree of “Sokatoku,” Senior Professor First Grade, by the Ikenobo School. The Ikenobo school is the oldest tradition of flower arrangement in Japan, founded in the Muromachi period (mid-15th century). Nakashima Sensei is also a teacher of Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony: in 1981, she established a Chicago chapter of the Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony and became its president.
Nakashima Sensei continues to teach Japanese cultural arts, and is a beloved teacher to many students internationally. In 2006, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan bestowed upon Nakashima Sensei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays. This award is one of the most prestigious decorations in Japan; it was given to honor her lifelong activity as an Ikebana and Chanoyu teacher, through which she has served as a "cultural ambassador" promoting friendship and cultural exchange between the United States and Japan.
The Korinji Foundation is grateful for Nakashima Sensei's ongoing advisory support, and her keen insight continues to guide our evolution.
Honored Advisor
2010 Korinji Foundation Officers and Board of Directors
President: Meido Zentetsu Roshi
[email to meido@korinji.org]
Meido Zentetsu (Moore) Roshi began Buddhist practice in 1988, training in India and Nepal. In 1990 he began six years' residence as apprentice (uchideshi) to the Zen and martial art master Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji, also at that time becoming a student of Kizan Dogen (Hosokawa) Roshi, then abbot of Daihonzan Chozenji in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was ordained in 2003. He later trained under one of Hosokawa Roshi's dharma heirs, So'zan Daitetsu (Miller) Roshi of Daiyuzenji. He received inka shomei (recognition as a Dharma successor of Rinzai Zen) in 2008.
In 2005 Meido Roshi founded the Korinji Foundation. Aside from working to develop Korinji, he is active with Daiyuzenji temple in Chicago, and is the teacher for the Northwestern and DePaul University Zen Societies and for the Japanese Cultural Institute. Before his ordination he was a professional bujutsu (martial art) teacher. He founded Shinjinkai, The Japanese Martial Arts Society, in 2002, and has directed several international and not-for-profit organizations promoting Japanese cultural arts.
Secretary/Treasurer: Enmei Hunter
[email to enmei@korinji.org]
Enmei Hunter Sensei began training under the late Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji in 1994; her father had been a long-time practitioner of vipassana meditation, and she cites this as a strong influence on her decision to later undertake Zen training.
Enmei has served with several organizations promoting Zen meditation as well as traditional Japanese cultural arts, including the Japanese Culture Center of Chicago, Aikido Association of America, Aikido Association International, and the not-for-profit Aikido International Foundation. Enmei is active with Korinji's Collegiate Zen Initiative, helping to lead instruction at the Northwestern University Zen Society. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Daiyuzenji temple in Chicago. In her professional life, Enmei is the Marketing Communications Manager for a major greeting card company.
Enmei is an avid student of Ikebana: Japanese flower arrangement. A martial art teacher, she is active with Shinjinkai, the Japanese Martial Arts Society, where she is an adult and youth instructor as well as the leader of women's martial art programs. In this context, she has introduced meditation techniques to her childrens' classes, helping them to develop attention and focus.
Board Members:
So'zan Daitetsu Roshi
So’zan Daitetsu (Miller) Roshi began Zen training in 1979 under the late Tenshin Giryu (Tanouye) Roshi of Daihonzan Chozenji in Honolulu, Hawaii. He later trained under Kizan Dogen (Hosokawa) Roshi when that teacher was appointed Abbot of Chozenji. He was also a long-time student of the late Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji. So'zan Roshi was ordained in 1993 and received inka shomei (recognition as a Dharma successor of Rinzai Zen) in 2002. He currently serves as Abbot of Daiyuzenji in Chicago, and is President of that temple's board of directors.
So'zan Roshi received a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Chicago. He has had an accomplished career as a university professor and administrator, and today is Dean of the DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media.
Soen Jikai Roshi
Soen Jikai (Linxweiler) Roshi began Zen training in 1988 under Kizan Dogen (Hosokawa) Roshi, then abbot of Daihonzan Chozenji in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was ordained in Chicago at Daiyuzenji in 1997, and received inka shomei (recognition as a Dharma successor of Rinzai Zen) in 2002.
Soen Roshi has worked for twenty years in public relations, leadership education and training, and international meetings for non-profit humanitarian service organizations. She is the Customer Service Director for Rotary International, a global network of community volunteers. She is active as a priest and teacher at Daiyuzenji temple in Chicago, where she also serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Daiyuzenji board.
Nick Kolick
Nick Kolick began practicing martial arts and Zen in 1994 with Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji and Meido Moore Roshi. His career as managing director with a major US bank gives him a knowledge base that makes him an invaluable business and financial advisor to the Foundation, as well as a participant in all levels of our visioning. His appreciation for Japanese aesthetic arts, particularly nihonto (the Japanese sword), has made him an avid asian art collector in his free time; he is a member of the NBTHK (Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai) , JSSUS (Japanese Sword Society-US ), and the Midwest Token Kai.
Dr. Nicole Porter
Nicole Porter serves on the Korinji board as coordinator of research collaboration. She completed her dissertation research as a member of the Institute for Mind and Biology at the University of Chicago in collaboration with DePaul University. She currently works as a research scientist studying chronic illness, and is conducting reviews of complementary and alternative treatments, expanding Buddhist-scientific theories, and writing grants for meditation research in psycho-neuro-immunology. In 2008 she was selected as a Research Fellow to the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute. She is also active with Korinji's Collegiate Zen Initiative as faculty sponsor of the DePaul University Zen Society.
Nicole began practicing Zen in 1988 under Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, founder of the Los Angeles Zen Center. In 1994 she began studying under Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji and Meido Moore Roshi.
John Mazza
John Mazza Sensei began practicing meditation and martial arts arts in 1964. In August, 1977 he met the late Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji, and realized immediately that he had found the teacher he wished to follow; by September of 1977 he had relocated to Chicago, where he began an intensive study of both martial arts and Zen.
For many years, Mazza Sensei has worked to promote Japanese cultural arts. He has served as President of Aikido Association International, Director of the Aikido Association of America, and President and Chairman of Aikido International Foundation. He has instructed the Northwestern University Aikido Club for many years since its founding in 1974.
His professional background includes expertise in construction management and owner representation. He has served with the Northwestern University Architect Office for Northwestern University, engaged in numerous construction projects on the Evanston and Chicago, Illinois campuses. He has also coordinated construction projects for The Field Museum of Chicago, where he served as Facility Manager. Presently, he is an Owner Representative for the Chicago Public Schools.
James Tabor
Jim Tabor began studying martial arts in 1993 with Toyoda Tenzan Rokoji and Meido Moore Roshi. His Zen practice began in 1995 under the Reverend Ko'gen Nagle, and he began studying under So’zan Miller Roshi in 2005.
In his professional life, Jim is a musician, composer and music instructor, traveling across the United States and to Europe regularly to perform. In his music teaching he often supplements traditional instructional methods with breathing and visualization techniques informed by his Zen practice.
Jim has founded a zazen group, the Chicago Southland Zen Center, to provide individuals living in Chicago’s southern suburbs an opportunity to practice meditation. He is an Aikido instructor with Shinjinkai, the Japanese Martial Arts Society, and leads an Aikido group in Tinley Park, Illinois. He has taught for the Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International, and at Oakton College in Des Plaines, Illinois. Jim studied Zen Bodytherapy with the famous bodyworker William “Dub” Leigh and with the Reverend Ko'gen Nagle, becoming a certified practitioner in 1997.
Greg Dekker
Greg Dekker has been a student of Japanese cultural arts since 1993 and has trained under Meido Roshi since 1998. Greg spent many years studying Japanese language and culture, went to Kansai Gaidai University in the mid 90's and spent several years of his professional career for Japanese companies in both the United States and Japan. He has been a project manager and account executive in the OEM automotive and manufacturing industries for 13 years. Greg is a Project Manager for Korinji's Monastery Project, and is our key coordinator of Japanese language outreach. He is an avid Aikido student.
Greg also serves on the Board of Directors for Milan's Miracle Fund, a childrens pediatric cancer foundation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Tom Teterycz - coming soon
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