Meet Your Host

Vajra Acārya Kenmei Foxworth

Shingon Vajra Acārya · Shugendo Hōin · Monk of Imperial Temple Sennyu-ji

TEDx Speaker · Director of International Education, Ishizuchisan Shingon School

A Journey That Began With Questions

Some people find their path through books. Others find it through people. Kenmei Foxworth found his through questions that the world around him simply could not answer.

Born in the West, Kenmei experienced things in his youth that left him searching for a deeper understanding of life, suffering, and what it means to truly exist. Unable to find what he was looking for at home, he made a decision that would change everything. He went to find the answers himself.

That search led him to Japan, and eventually deep into the world of Shingon Buddhism and Shugendo — two of the oldest and most demanding spiritual traditions on earth. It is a path that few are permitted to walk, and fewer still complete.

Kenmei completed them all.

Kenmei at the Sennyuji Gate

A LIVING PIECE OF HISTORY

Kenmei is not simply a monk. He is a landmark.

He is the first person of non-Japanese origin to have received the highest transmissions and qualifications in not one but two traditions — Shingon Buddhism and Shugendo — in Japan. A distinction that speaks not only to his dedication, but to the extraordinary trust placed in him by some of Japan's most revered spiritual institutions.

As an Ajari of Imperial Temple Sennyu-ji — the personal temple of the Japanese Imperial Royal Family — Kenmei has had the rare and profound honour of serving the Royal Family directly, with frequency. Very few people in the world can say the same.

To stand inside Sennyu-ji is to stand inside over a thousand years of living history. To have Kenmei as your host is to have someone who belongs to that history — and who can bring it to life for you.

What Is Shugendo

The original mindfulness practice — raw, real, and thousands of years old

Shugendo is an ancient Japanese Buddhist mountain practice, rooted in the belief that nature — particularly mountains — holds profound spiritual power. Practitioners, known as Shugenja, undergo intense physical and mental training in remote mountain environments to cultivate wisdom, endurance, and compassion.

Holding the highest qualification of Shugendo Hōin, Kenmei carries this living tradition into every encounter. His presence is not performative. It is genuine.

A Voice the World Is Listening To

Mountains of Compassionate Wisdom

TEDxKollerschlag

In his TEDx Talk, Kenmei drew on his extraordinary background to explore how we can find purpose and live with greater compassion — not through grand gestures, but through the quiet, steady practice of being present for one another. His message resonated far beyond the Buddhist world. It is a talk about being human.

We can be like a mountain, with rivers of love and compassion flowing down from the top into the community.
— Kenmei Foxworth, TEDxKollerschlag

Credentials

—Shingon Vajra Acārya, Sanboin Kenjin-Gata lineage, Ishizuchisan Shingon School

—Shugendo Hōin, Tozan-ha, trained at Gokurakuji, Ishizuchisan

—Ajari of Imperial Temple Sennyu-ji

—First non-Japanese to receive highest transmissions in both Shingon & Shugendo in Japan

—Director of International Education, Ishizuchisan Shingon School (from 2025)

—TEDx Speaker — Mountains of Compassionate Wisdom, TEDxKollerschlag

—Has served the Japanese Imperial Royal Family directly with frequency

What Guests Can Expect

You will not be following a script

A visit with Kenmei is unlike anything else available in Kyoto — or anywhere in Japan. You will not be part of a crowd. You will be welcomed, personally and genuinely, into one of Japan's most sacred and exclusive spaces by a man who has dedicated his life to understanding it.

Guests are frequently surprised by how accessible Kenmei makes the experience. He has a rare gift for meeting people where they are — whether you are deeply curious about Japanese spirituality, or simply looking for something that feels truly authentic and memorable.

Kenmei warmly welcomes all guests, regardless of background, faith, or familiarity with Japanese culture. His only requirement is an open heart.

Exclusively Available Through RHC

Bring Kenmei to your clients

Kenmei is available exclusively through RHC Co., Ltd. All experiences led by Kenmei — at Sennyuji, Ishiyamadera, and beyond — are arranged through our authorised trade partner network.

Submit a Trade Enquiry

Exclusively available through RHC Co., Ltd. — Authorised Tourism Curator, Imperial Temple Sennyu-ji