Overview
Overview
Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Sociology, and Environmental Psychology applied to Design:
A Global Symposium and Course in Japan
Produced by Moving Boundaries
Exploring Life-Centered Architecture and Landscape Design in Kyoto and the Art Islands: Teshima and Naoshima
​
Lectures, Masterclasses, Hands-On Workshops, Social Events and Networking Dinners, Craft Experiences, Expert-led Tours: Visit temples, shrines, ancient Zen gardens and modern masterpieces: Art museums and churches by Tadao Ando, Pritzker-Prize winning Japanese architect based in Osaka.
See program below
Program Summary
The October 2026 Global Symposium and Course will take place between October 11-20, 2026 in Kyoto, Japan and on the two "Art Islands", Teshima and Naoshima. We will live for several days in Kyoto, and after we will travel to the islands. We will live on Teshima Island, where we will be immersed in nature and sacred history and rituals. We will be joined by 10 world-renowned experts in human sciences, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, health disciplines, architecture, architectural history and theory, philosophy, urban and landscape design, and in design of sacred spaces and gardens. In addition to faculty experts (including local specialists from Japan), we will be joined by participants from multiple disciplines, from more than 30 countries. You will experience dialogical lectures, masterclasses, workshops, social events and networking opportunities, special dinners, somatic (including onsen, spa, meditation) experiences, local craft experiences, and unique guided field trips and architecture/garden tours. Lodging will be in central Kyoto and in several hotels and BnB's on Teshima Island, near the sea. There will be an all-day field trip, by ferry, on Naoshima Island, where we will visit several museums designed by Tadao Ando. In addition to studying at the interface of human sciences, design and health (as is the custom at MB), we will also experience local rituals, history, cuisine, arts, craft, nature immersion, and tours throughout the 10-day course, conference and retreat. All participants will be invited to present during the conference and to contribute to the post-conference publication.
The MB Japan Global Symposium and Course will be developed in conversations and panel discussions with faculty between Winter 2026 and early Summer 2026. In Summer of 2026, the course learning goals and all lecture abstracts will be posted on this website. Two optional add-on experiences will be offered on Oct.21 (Tadao Ando tours) and on Oct.22 (Kurama Fire Festival near Kyoto). These experiences, after the end of the MB Program, will be offered to those who can stay for two more days. See this web page, below, for the daily schedule, lecture program, and the list of tours and immersive experiences. Confirmed faculty members for the October MB course have now been announced. See faculty group on this page, below. Also follow MB in social media for updates: @movingboundaries (Instagram) Moving Boundaries Collaborative (LinkedIn)
Phenomenon of Place: Design for Health and Wellbeing
​
Human Sciences and the Future of Architecture and Landscape Design
Click button to register to attend in person
Tuition Prices for On-Site Attendance:
Professional: $2,400
Fulltime student: $1,800
With MB alumni discount of $200:
Professional alumni: $2,200
Fulltime student alumni: $1,600
See prices for remote tickets for our online course, below.
Location: Kyoto, Japan
October 11-16, 2026
Topics: Neurophenomenology; Memory and placemaking; Mirror neurons and empathy in design; Restorative places for human health and wellbeing; Somatic design; Body-conscious design; Forest bathing and the 7 Strategies of landscape design for health; Wayfinding and navigation; Grounding in nature; Spiritual architecture and design for the 21st Century - learning from ancient wisdom; Bridging human sciences and design.
Lecture abstracts: to be posted in early Summer 2026
MB Japan Faculty: Faculty members have now been announced. We are delighted and honored to host these top experts in architecture and human sciences. Participants are also invited to present during (selected) afternoon lecture sessions at Seika University.
Cannot join in person? Join us remotely.
October 11 (Pre-MB Day)
Early Morning Zazen Meditation
(Optional) 6:00-8:00am at
Enko-ji Temple (pre-register)
​
Evening gathering
Pre-MB get together at central hotel, later in Gion District (meet the community) small group dinners
October 12 (Day 1)
​
Seika University Check-In at 9:00am
Northern Kyoto venue: Arrive between 9:00-9:30am to check in and receive your name badge, meet the group for coffee before lectures
​
Welcome Speeches at 10:00am
(Seika Main Hall)
​
Participants' Introductions
Coffee Break
Lecture 1
​
Lunch in Main Gallery; Networking Session
​
Lecture 2
followed by Panel Discussion and Q&A
​
(Optional this afternoon)
Travel to Kurama-dera Monastery
​Evening get-together at hotel
​
October 13 (Day 2)​
​
Morning Temple Visits
Eikan-do Temple; Ginkaku-ji Temple
​
WELCOME LUNCH (complimentary) (address shared later), Kyoto City Center 1:00-3:00pm
​
Lecture 3
​
Lecture 4
October 14​ (Day 3)
​
Morning Temple Visits
Tofuku-ji Temple; Fushimi-nari Taisha Walk
​Lunch on one's own; See outdoor Art Museum by Tadao Ando
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
​
Evening Izakaya Experience, followed by Gion District visit
​
October 15​ (Day 4)
​
Free Day - Recommended Trips: Osaka, Nara, or explore other districts in Kyoto
​
October 16 (Day 5)
​
Morning Temple Visits
Tenryu-ji Temple and Garden; Myoshin-ji Temple complex; Ryoan-ji Temple
​
Lunch on one's own
​
Lecture 7
​
Panel Discussion and Q&A ​​
​
Evening: free time and pack for trip to the Art Islands on Oct.17
Faculty October 2026
(Additional faculty to be announced by Spring '26)
Team
Join us online
Get our Livestream Pass and have Remote Access to the Lectures
We have early-bird prices to help you join the MB Japan Global Symposium and Online Course in October '26 at very affordable rates.
You can get your ticket now by selecting one of the options below.
What’s included:
- Live access to all lectures during 6 days, from October 11-20, 2026 (except free day and the 'travel days');
- Realtime captioning and translation of zoom into multiple languages;
- Live access to Q&A and Panel Discussions
- Participate in facilitated breakout sessions to share ideas and questions about symposium themes; Share your work (optional)
- Pre-Course Remote Meeting scheduled for early Fall 2026, for all remote participants; Facilitated by course director and selected faculty members
- Post-Symposium free access, with your own password, to recorded sessions (videos) for 6 months after the program ends;
- Digital Certificate of Participation signed by MB director and faculty, emailed to you after the Symposium
- Access to the MB Online Campus Library; Access to MB Alumni Free Resources
- Access to Webinar Series before and after the MB Japan Course
- Access to the Community Forum for the MB Japan Online Course;
- Access to a curated digital resource pack from the speakers, including lecture abstracts, proceedings, and authors' information
​
Who is this for?
Architects, designers, scientists, health professionals, artists, historians, psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, landscape designers, educators, students and others who cannot attend MB Japan in person, in October '26, but want to join the lectures and conversations remotely. In addition, you will have access to a variety of free resources and to video recordings of all lectures and discussions, for 6 months after the course ends. Everyone will receive a signed Certificate of Completion.
​
About prices: Please find four remote ticket options below
We offer early-bird prices for MB Japan remote tickets. The regular ticket price (early-bird) is $480 for lectures/discussions during 6 course days. In addition, we are offering special discounted ticket prices for fulltime students and for people living in Latin America and SAARC countries including India and others. Please browse through the ticket options below until you find the category that applies to you. If you order a discounted remote ticket for Latam residents (Latin America), for Saarc residents, or for fulltime students, the MB team will follow up with an email, asking for a student ID/email, or for a copy of your resident card or passport photo page, to confirm residence. We hope that you will find these discounted prices helpful and affordable, to allow you to learn during and after the MB Japan course. Our aim is to make MB programming accessible to all.