November 2011
Mrs. Atsuko Kimura, 6 Dan from Hokkaido, came and left great impression on us when practiced with us at Myohoji Kendo Club, Kenshikan Kendo Club and Honbu dojo. I was happy that I could perform kata and short mohan keiko with her in 2 occasions.
Ronald Joannis, Hawaii Kendo Federation long time member and supporter, had passed away on October 8th. His funeral was on Saturday, October 22nd.
Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation sponsored tournament is on Saturday, November 5th. The followings are participants from Hawaii. Nicole Lee, Todd Sato, Rina Ono, Braxton Fukutomi, Yusuke Suzuki, James Okada, Kevin Chun, Corinna Sato, Andy Fujimoto, Seth Harris and Ken Sato chaperoned by Cindy Fukutomi, Iwao and Sharon Sato.
Our Club Fund Raise of Zippy's ticket sale will end as tickets good till November 16th. Return unsold tickets and money for sold tickets to me before November 16th so that I can close the transaction promptly with Zippy's. We still have some tickets left in case someone can sell more at this late stage. Thank you for your help every year.
Mr. Kazuyoshi Inoue, 7 Dan from Fukuoka, will be in town from November 28th till December 18th. Go and practice with him. He is such a wonderful kenshi and teacher.
Our Club year-end party will be on Wednesday, December 7th. We will start and end our practice early to have potluck party. Please invite your friends and family members.
Hawaii Kendo Federation 1 Kyu and Dan examination will be on Sunday, December 11th. Those who want to take the examination are coming to our Kaneohe and Wahiawa keikos and practicing kata.
Owen Nishioka Sensei, Hilo Hongwanji Kendo Club, is taking children to Kamakura, Japan for kendo training in March 2012. If you are interested in coming along with them, let Nishioka Sensei know as soon as possible and get more information. I am hoping Hawaii Kendo Federation will organize children kendo trips instead of individual dojos in the future. Kendo will not prosper if we fail to bring up young ones.
Steveston Kendo Club 50th Anniversary Tournament is on Saturday, Feb. 11th followed by commemoratory luncheon next day. Prepare to go and participate. I am.
At Oct, 1st practice, Rev. Eijo Ikenaga talked about Rei (Bowing.) When you do rei, you make sure that you do not finish earlier than sensei. Mrs. Ethel Akagi, my tea ceremony teacher, said that before doing rei we should check guests if they were ready to receive your rei. When I am a chief referee, I have kenshis do rei again when they do not rei properly with aiki (together.) Rei is not just one of rituals. When we do rei, we have to have our sincerity for expressing appreciation, respect, welcoming, farewell and so forth.
Iwao Sato, Chief Instructor, Wahiawa Kendo Club