Rev. Zenji Nio is the only one to represent the Indo-Japanese culture of the Samurai at the world's most prestigious forums including the US Congress, Faith Council that liaisons with the White House, Canadian Legislature, National Museum of India, Rio Olympics & Paralympics, Korea Olympics & Paralympics, Toronto Panam & Parapan Am Games, Official Service to mark the death of the King of Thailand, Official Proclamation of Buddha Day by the Mayor of Toronto, Special Lecture with the Head of the Shaolin Temple, first Multifaith Commemoration of the Holocaust in association with the Simon Wiesenthal Center - and the largest ever audience for a Dharma Talk in honor of the iconic human rights champion Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (well over 1 million people) at a special event organized by the Govt. of India and the Japanese Buddhist temples. Nio's lectures have been praised by the professors of many major universities including Harvard, Oxford, Yale, George Washington, Tokyo, Toronto, Korea, Hong Kong, Ryerson, Concordia, Indian Institute of Management and Nagpur. Nio is also the only expert to have lectured on Buddhism to every Buddhist demographic in almost every Buddhist nation -- and the only one who can chant key Buddhist mantras in Sanskrit, from memory. This makes him the most influential Indian voice for Buddhism in the last 1000 years.

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Furthermore, Nio organized what the media dubbed "the most successful Indo-Japanese Samurai art exhibit ever held in Canada" -- sponsored by the Govt. of Canada and inaugurated by India's senior-most diplomat Akhilesh Mishra, head of ICCR -- as well as Canada's Minister of Immigration & Citizenship, Japanese Diplomats and Lt. Governor and Head of Royal Ontario Museum. He was even awarded a special commendation by the Canadian Parliament. Similarly, Nio's Samurai Display was cited as "the biggest attraction in the Athlete's Village" for America's biggest ever sporting event the Panam Games -- and was praised by a record number of Olympians at the Rio Olympics. Nio was also chosen to conduct the first wedding in the Olympic Village. 

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Born in Canada, Nio spent time learning Buddhism across Japan as well as with Japanese monks in India where his grandfather helped the Japanese priests build the first Buddhist temple since the Nalanda holocaust -- which was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi and frequented by the President of India. Furthermore, Nio's family temples have been awarded the highest distinction of "Heritage Temples of National Importance" by the Govt of India and his team has been awarded a Gold Medal from the President of India as well as a citation from President Abdul Kalaam for initiatives to preserve the Buddhist heritage of India (that was passed on to Japan). Nio's own family alter of the Indo-Japanese Samurai God (and patron deity of Tokugawa Clan) Kannon has been dated to the 6th century period of Japan's first Buddhist temple Shitennoji by Prince Shotoku and is kept in the Indian Museum. Nio is also the first and only Indian to perfect Indo-Japanese Buddhism across Japan including Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagano, Mount Koya, and Kamakura. He also is the only Indian and the only Westerner to have had special ordination services performed in historic temples linked to the Tokugawa Clan -- and he is the only Indian to head his own temple and museum in one the most sacred areas in all of Japan and former capital of Samurai culture.

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In addition, Nio is the only Buddhist invited to speak at the Official Govt of India Independence Day Reception and has been praised by India's leading spiritual institutions from Vivekananda and Chinmoy to Arya Samaj and Swami Dayanand. Nio has even been endorsed by the highest leaders of the Jain, Sikh, and Parsi communities. His speeches have also earned bi-partisan praise from numerous world leaders and Cabinet Ministers of both India and Canada -and he has raised millions for charities as well as supported the vulnerable via RevNio.org

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Due to his peerless and unique achievements, Nio was selected by the heirs of Rabindranath Tagore and experts linked to Okakura Tenshin, Vishwa-Bharati University and the Supreme Court of India to head the Indo-Japan Samurai Center -- and thus preserve the Samurai culture and Buddhist heritage of Japan as well as celebrate its ties to India -- as the Indo-Japan Alliance is the world's most important. Nio's background in Motivational speaking and creative arts -- as well as a CEO of landmark projects -- and his proven track record of social service and altruism -- makes him the ideal choice to uphold the Samurai Code of Chivalry to inspire and empower the world.