Mr. Yutaro Ueno from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel, Ashigara, visited Hawaii Daijingu Kendo Club on October 18th. On October 25th he brought Mr. Yasuhito Mitsudome and Mr. Tomoya Okazaki along to practice with Hawaii kenshis. I am happy and impressed by them to come to be with us during very busy duty assignments.

 

Mr. John D. K. Taylor from US Embassy Tokyo came to our dojo on October 30th during his work visit in Hawaii from October 27th to November 2nd . Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for visiting us.

 

Team Hawaii members for Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Tournament on Saturday, November 2nd in Kent, Washington, are Andy Fujimoto, Kevin Chun, Zidi Hiromoto, Daiki Miura, Koyo Yancey and Gina Kishimoto. Coming along are Trinity Kishimoto, Sharon Kay sato and me. Good luck on Team Hawaii. Enjoy the trip and friendship you are creating or renewing.

 

Hawaii Kendo Federation 1 Kyu and Dan examination is on Sunday, November 17th at Kaimuki Honbu Dojo. Our Club has 6 kenshis applying for promotion. Good luck on your examination.

 

Aiea Taiheiji Kendo Club is hosting their tournament on Sunday, November 24th at Halawa District Park Gym. 4 persons from our dojo entered in the tournament. Do your best and enjoy the tournament.

 

Our kendo friend in Houston, Texas, and a frequent Hawaii visitor, Shamina Chang-Kerstein has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and doesn’t have health insurance. Houston Kenshikan and Univerity of Houston Kendo Club started fundraiser to defray Chemotherapy cost.

 

Please donate through https://www.gofundme.com/f/shaminabeatcancer

 

Our yearly fundraiser, Zippy’s ticket sale, is in final stage. Thank you for your help with selling/buying $9 ticket which is good for a choice of Chili, Portuguese Bean Soup, or Meat Sauce. If you happen to need more tickets, let me know. Tickets are good till November 24th with 5 days additional grace period. Make sure to redeem tickets in time. If you have unsold tickets, be sure to return them to me by November 17th to get the proper credits from Zippy’s.

 

Kendo 8 Dan examination in Japan is known to be the hardest one there of all examinations combined. The passing rate is less than 1 per cent of all applicants. For us in kendo, those who pass are almost divine figures. After passing 8 Dan examination, Inoue Shigeaki Sensei went to thank his teacher, Matsumoto Toshio Sensei. Matsumoto Sensei told him, “Omae, homma mon no 8 Dan ni nare yo,” “You should become a real 8 Dan person.” Matsumoto Sensei was saying that everyone had room for improvement. In fact, he had a short sword in his limousine and was studying daily how to hold it while his driver took him to and back from his office. We should always work on improving ourselves. Do not satisfy what we are now.