Toshio Suzuki is an award-winning Japanese film producer. He is the producer and executive director of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.

Shinsuke Hosokawa spent nine years in training at Myoshin-ji Temple in Kyoto and completed a master's degree in Buddhist Studies at the Graduate School of Letters, Hanazono University. Has been the head priest at Ryuunji Temple in Tokyo, since 2013. Dedicated to explaining Zen in an accessible manner and promoting its understanding, his publications include You Don't Need Belief in Life: An Introduction to Zen for Thinking.

Nanrei Yokota was ordained as a monk during his university studies and underwent training at Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto after graduation. He also served as the head monk at Enkaku-ji Temple before being appointed as the head of the Enkaku-ji School of the Rinzai Zen sect in 2010. Known for explaining Zen in accessible language, he has gained a wide following. He is the author of A Drop of Buddha's Mind.

After working in various fields, Sokyu Gen'yu trained at Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto. He is currently the head priest of Fukuju-ji Temple in Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to his priestly duties, he continues his literary career and received the 125th Akutagawa Prize in 2001 for his work The Flowers of the Middle Realm. He's also the author of The Bamboo Grove Hermitage.