November 2008
Kenkyu kai practice this month has been cancelled because 1st Friday of the month is the day before State Tournament in Hilo. Instead, we have shinpan seminar conducted by Mr. Masashi Chiba, Hanshi 8 dan, on Thursday, Nov. 6th at 7PM at JCCH. Everyone is invited to participate or observe the seminar.
Hawaii State Kendo Championship is on Saturday, November 8th in Hilo. During the lunch we will have 1 kyu and dan examination for Hilo kenshis. The examination date was moved from Sunday to accommodate shinpan seminar on Sunday for Hilo people.
Dan and 1 kyu examination in Oahu will be on Sunday, November 16th at Kaimuki Gym.
Mililani Kendo Club Garage Sale on Saturday, Oct. 11th was successful. They wanted to raise fund for their Youth Trip to Japan next year. Hope Hawaii Kendo Federation will set up Youth Kendo Tour in the near future.
We are invited to Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation’s 34th Annual Tournament in Kent, Washington. Hawaii participants for the tournament on Saturday, November 15th are Chase Takenaka, Seth Denardi, Thomas Ham, Kevin Chun, Jerilynn Chun, Shea Barboza and myself.
Our fundraiser, Zippy’s Chili sale is in final stage. (Tickets are good till Nov. 12th.) If you were kind enough to hold tickets for sale, do your last efforts to sell all. I would like to have unsold tickets and money by Nov. 12th to wrap it up.
The following distinguished senseis from Japan will be visiting Hawaii during our State Championship in Hilo. We are fortunate and honored to have them in Hawaii.
Mr. Masashi Chiba, Hanshi 8 dan, from Tokyo/Mr. Kichibei Tsuchida, Kyoshi 7 dan, from Hiroshima/Mr. Mutsuo Yamauchi, Kyoshi 7 dan, from Tokyo/Mr. Kazuyoshi Inoue, Kyoshi 7 dan, from Fukuoka/Mr. Hisao Inazu, Kyoshi 7 dan, from Tokyo, and some others.
Mr. Hiroshi Sasaki, Kyoshi 7 dan, and his group will visit Hawaii from Jan. 4th till 9th. All or most of them are teachers from Akita Prefecture. They taught us good practice methods in their previous visits. We are looking forward to having them again.
At the end of practice with Hawaii kenshis on Sunday, March 2nd this year, Mr. Tadahiro Ajiro, Hanshi 8 dan, of Tokai University spoke to us and said, “The ultimate goal of kendo is to make friends.” By practicing kendo you will develop such characters as being friendly, considerate, thoughtful, patient, understanding, cooperative, supportive, flexible, hard working and loving to make many good lifelong friends. Something is wrong with your kendo if you cannot make friends through kendo.
Iwao Sato, Chief Instructor, Wahiawa Kendo Club