166: Minimalist Presenting

<p>Zen study is a way to strip out all of the non-essentials in life.  The noise, the distraction, the things that are not so important.  People sit around concentrating on their breath cycle or one word or any number of other methods to quiet the mind. They are seeking to get more clarity about themselves and what are their real priorities.  As presenters, this is a good metaphor for when we are in front of people speaking.</p> <p> </p> <p>You would think with all those thousands of years of Zen in Japan, in art, in design, in temples, gardens, in history etc., that the Japanese people would be legends of simplicity and clarity when presenting.  Not true!  Presenting as an idea only came to Japan around 160 years ago.  Fukuzawa Yukichi who founded Keio University and who graces the 10,000 yen bank note, launched public speaking in Japan in the Meiji period.  There is still an enzetsukan or speech hall preserved on the grounds of Keio University, where presumably the first public speeches were given.</p> <p> </p> <p>Western society plumbs the wisdom of ancient Greece and Rome, parliaments allowing debate and Hollywood for models on speech giving.  Japan has no traditional home grown role model. If the authorities needed you to know anything in old japan, a notice board would have it written there for you.  No shogunal oratory from the castle walls to the assembled masses.  No Mel Gibson Braveheart style speeches before vanquishing the foe in battle.  Japan bypassed all of that until Fukuzawa Yukichi decided this was another area of modernization that needed implementation in Japan, like wearing ties, boots, hats and petticoats. </p> <p> </p> <p>Of course there were no slide decks in those days, but Japan certainly was an early adopter of the technology for giving presentations – the overhead projector, the slide projector, the modern light weight projector, large screen monitors, electronic pointers, etc.  Any venue you go to in Japan will be bristling with cool tech gear.</p> <p> </p> <p>Interestingly, the conte