Kobun Chino Otogawa

Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi was born in Kamo, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in 1938. He was from a long line of Soto Zen priests. In 1967 he was asked by Suzuki Roshi, the Zen priest who started the Zen Center in San Francisco, to come to California to help establish Tassajara. Kobun taught there, and in various other temples for many years. He also held the the World Wisdom Chair at Naropa University. Kobun was a skilled calligrapher, painter, and was a master of Zen archery. He died tragically in 2002 trying to save his young daughter who had fallen into a pond; they both drowned. Kobun’s fame outside of the Zen community rests with his connection to Steve Jobs. Kobun taught Jobs Zen, lived in his house for a time, and married Jobs and his wife. Kobun is the subject of a graphic novel depicting his relationship with Jobs, The Zen of Steve Jobs.