Dr. Mikio Imamura, 7 Dan, from Sendai and Mr. Gary Imanishi of Seattle visited Kaimuki Honbu Dojo on Sunday, August 11th. They also visited Mililani Dojo on Monday, August 12th where they were joined by Mr. Tom Shiozaki of Oakland, California and Mr. Tomohide Ono of Saitama, Japan. It was amazing to find out that Dr. Imamura and Mr. Imanishi have beed kendo friends for 40 years and decided to meet in between Japan and Seattle. True kendo friendship is right there. Another visitor was Mr. Adam Martin, of Kenshikan, Melbourne Australia who visited Kenshikan of Hawaii on Saturday, August 31st. We want to thank him for annual repeat visits.

Wonderful Dan Promotion News continued in August, too. After 2 Hawaii kenshis passed 6 Dan examination in July, Mikio Koga Sensei had passed 7 Dan examination in Nagano on August 17th and Tusha Buntin Sensei did so in Fukuoka on August 24th. I was talking with Hawaii Kendo Federation President, Furutani Sensei, about Koga Sensei’s good news before Hawaii Daijingu Kendo Club practice when Buntin Sensei called me with his good news. Furutani Sensei and I were overjoyed and hugging each other for the celebration. Both gentlemen practiced hard to accomplish this. Thank you for those who practiced with them.

10th All Hawaii Kendo Championships will be held on Sunday, September 29th at Halawa
District Park Gym from 8:30am. Participants from our dojo are Noa Mulder, Shoshi Hashimoto, Megan Kirk, David Sato and Kojun Hashimoto. Tusha Buntin and I will volunteer for shinpan. Maruyama Kendo Supply will be there. If you need certain kendo equipments for sure or items require measurements, contact them and preorder items. Also, Hayashi Hiromichi Sensei, Kiyoshi 8 Dan is planning to support President Furutani by appearing in the tournament. I am hoping some high rank senseis come along with him from Japan. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to watch Championships so that we may increase supporters and members.

We expect to start our annual Zippy’s ticket sale in the middle or end of September. When I contact you, please help our club by selling/buying tickets.

Hamabe Yoshiharu Sensei, 7 Dan from Tokyo will visit Kenshikan Kendo Club on Saturday, September 7th. Come and practice with him. He contacted Matsumoto Sensei via email.

 

We are excited to know that Hiroshi Sasaki Sensei and his lovely wife, Keiko Sensei will visit Hawaii from October 18th through 27th. He retired as a physical education teacher specializing in kendo. His knowledge of kendo and teaching method are very good. Be with them.

We open 10 side doors in our practice hall to have breeze flow in during our practice. On July 31st, after the practice 10 years old Kotone who joined our club in April started to close doors. I called her and asked her who told her to do that. She answered, “No one.” She observed others to do that. Then, she decided to secure doors voluntarily without being told. That is what the kendo way of learning is all about. Observe and take it in as yours if it is good one. I am positive that Kotone will be a good kendoist as well as a good student at school because her close observation and willingness to learn is quite apparent. We, older one, can learn from 10 years old girl, Kotone.