Welcome to Sankei Australia, your one stop online information and budo shop! Sankei Australia hopes to bring to you the latest news, and updated information in regards to budo (mainly kendo) in Japan and around the world. At the same time offering quality budo equipments to be purchased online. For any inquiries please contact us.
Articles are often published in this News section and they can be submitted by an anonymous writer around the world or even in house. All articles are reviewed before being submitted online. Sankei Australia understands and respects that everyone has their own individual opinions. Whether an article is submitted from an anonymous writer or in house, Sankei Australia itself as an entity does not take sides in any opinion but publishes these articles for general viewing and discussion purposes.
Kenshikan Kendo Dojo
In mid October of 2009, I took the time to get away from the rush city life of Tokyo to take a break and relax in Hawaii, and of course squeeze in a session of Kendo. Having been an honourable member of Kenshikan Kendo Dojo in Melbourne, I knew of a dojo in Hawaii of the same name. Before arriving in Hawaii, I sought permission from Yamada Sensei to training with members of Kenshikan Kendo Dojo in Hawaii.
Kenshikan Kendo Dojo of Hawaii is located in the Japanese Cultural centre of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. When you walk into the dojo you can clearly see "Kenshikan" in Kanji hanging on the main wall, and a little stage for tradition cultural performances on the left.
For those who knows little about the history of Kenshikan Kendo Dojo in Melbourne and Hawaii. It was founded by Mr. Kenshiro Otsuka who contributed a large donation to help establish the two dojos.
Mr. Otsuka was a successful business man with a passion for Kendo, it is understood that in 1941, Mr. Otsuka established the Shidokan dojo in Tokyo in an effort to promote Kendo. Later in his life, together with his grandson, Hiroshi Otsuka, they had a desire to promote Kendo as a way to bring the relationship of Japan and other countries closer through the way of the Sword.
In the late 1980's, Hiroshi Otsuka, first flew to Australia to visit the Melbourne Kendo Circle, and who he met Mr. Nagae Sensei, a 7th Dan Kendo sensei. In 1988, Nagae sensei met with the Otsuka family in Tokyo to discuss the intention of building the first authentic Kendo Dojo in Australia.
Unfortunately in the Jan of 1989, Mr. Kenshiro Otsuka passed away before the dojo was established. His grandson, Hiroshi knew of his grandfather's hopes and wishes carried forward their dream. In April 1989 a suitable building was obtained in West Melbourne and for the next year the dojo was created through the hard efforts of crafts persons, members of the dojo, and volunteers. The Kenshikan Dojo officially opened on July 15th, 1990.
In the early 1990s, with the help of Hiroshi Otsuka, and the remembrance of his grandfather, he contributed a large donation to fund the completion of the Japanese Cultural Center in Hawaii, with a dojo, also named Kenshikan to promote Kendo. Today, Kenshikan Dojo in Melbourne and Hawaii is where people of all ages and nationalities can learn about Kendo and other budo (martial arts) such as Iaido (Melbourne), Karate (Hawaii), Aikido (Hawaii), Naginata (Melbourne and Hawaii), and Dance (Hawaii).
In essence, I hope my visit will bring the two Kenshikan Dojo's closer together, and promote the possibilities of cross boarder training. In the remembrance of Mr. Kenshiro Otsuka, the Otsuka goodwill taikai is held around June/July of every year in Kenshikan Dojo in Melbourne, and everyone is welcome.
Group photo of me in the center and members of the Kenshikan Dojo.
2009, 39 countries from around the World gathered in Sao Paulo between 26th ~ 31st of August to participate in the 14th World Kendo Championship. An event that might scare the history of Kendo for the second time after the surprising lost of the Japanese Men's Team to the USA team in last World Kendo Championship held in Taipei in 2006. If histroy were to repeat itself again then Kendo itself will much viewed to be a cultural martial art belonging everyone around the world. Since the last world Kendo championship, with the defeat of the Japanese team, it meant to everybody else that the World Kendo title can be taken. In the last 3 years, national teams around the world trained hard, worked hard, and put themselve in the most rigorous training possible.
This year, Japan didn't want history to repeat for the second time. While Shoji Teramoto taking first place in the Men's individual with the Korean players taking second and third. The Japanese Men's team had the pressure to perform flawlessly, beating Korea in the semi finals, while it's rival U.S.A beating Brazil in their home ground to meet Japan in the finals once again. Unfortuantely this time for the U.S.A team, with all their might and 3 years of hard training lost to the Japan with the score of 1-4.
On the women's side of the events, the Japan claim the title in the individual (1st: Yukiko Takami, 2nd: Sachie Shojima) and teams.
On the Australian front, Kirby Smith fought hard and made it to the best 8 and received a Fighting Spirit Award. Sankei Australia would like to congratulate the Austrlaian Kendo Team for their great efforts in this year World Kendo Championships.
Sankei International would like to also congratulate the U.K Kendo Team for their great efforts in this years World Kendo Championships.
For the 14th World Kendo Championships, Sankei Australia sponsored the Australian Kendo Team, all 14 members including team management with Kendo GI and HAKAMA to compete in the world most elite Kendo competition. Sankei International sponsored the U.K Kendo Team with custom made tenuguis.
Proud Sponsor of the Australian Kendo Team for the 14th World Kendo Championships
Proud Sponsor of the U.K Kendo Team for the 14th World Kendo Championships
Updated on 3rd of September, 2009.
34th Australian Kendo Championship and 2009 London Cup.
2009 has arrived and with a blink of the eye, March is already here. With World Kendo Championships taking place in Brazil this August, for those competiting there is little time left. Of every training and every point scored whether in jikeiko or at a local competition will count. Sankei Australia and Sankei International is working even harder to ensure that we provide the highest quality Shinai, Keiko Gi, Hakama, and Bogu to everyone. The world may be experiencing a difficult time but the spirit of Kendo will continue to strengthen around the world.
This year Sankei Australia and Sankei International is sponsoring the 34th Australian Kendo Championships and 2009 London Cup respectively.
Proud Sponsor of the 2009 London Cup
Proud Sponsor of the 34th Australian Kendo Championships
Updated on 8th of March, 2009.
The 56th All Japan Kendo Championship
The 56th All Japan Kendo Championship was held on the 3rd of November at the Nippon Budokan. The champion of this year's All Japan Kendo Championship is Shodai, followed by Wakou coming second, and in third place Yoneya and Ariba.
During the day there was a number of representatives from the AKR there including Nagae Sensei and Richard Ward just to name a few. Thank you to Chris Goletsos of Melbourne Budokai for sending the photo.
Updated on 23rd of November, 2008.
The Speed of Kendo
Sometimes when you witness a Kendo tournament, especially in Japan, and you see a match where both opponents strikes at lightning speeds, with one "ai-uchi" after another, and then one opponent scores, and the red flag goes up. Then you ask yourself, what happened? How did he score?
By watching this video clip on youtube, titled "Kendo in High Speed Camera (Slow Motion)", you will realize just how important Shinpans are in a match and especially for high level tournaments where opponent are known to strike at a blink of an eye and score without even you noticing it!
The Video is taken from last year's 2007 All Japan Kendo Championships. From the clip you can see that Teramoto-san claims the winning title with a MEN Aiuchi beating his opponent's strike by a fraction of 0.009 seconds!
Below are some translations for you for the first one minute of the clip before the subtitle appears as the Videos are entirely in Japanese.
[Time 0:12]: The opponent in red scores a men. [Time 0:17]: Nitto-ryu (Red) Vs Chudan (White)
Commentator: "We can see the opponent in Nito-ryu strikes for a men. The opponent (Nitoryu) on the left can be seen swinging/rotating his Shinai to strike a MEN. But the opponent on the left acted a fraction of a second faster and strike his kote." The opponent in White scores a Kote. [Time 0:45]: Chudan Vs Chudan
Commentator: "We can see that the opponent in white lures the other opponent with quick reflex and strikes a successful blow to the other opponent's MEN". [Time 1:00]: Introduction of the final match in the 2007 All Japan Kendo Campionship. In "Red" is Shoki Teramoto from Osaka, and in "White" is Susumu Takanabe from Kanagawa.
... Subtitles will appear
...
Updated on 23rd of June, 2008.
S.S.P Seal
Last year, 2007, in Japan, the S.S.P Seal was introduced to protect the authenticity of Shinais produced and sold in Japan. The S.S.P stands for "Shinai Safety Promotion". In fact, all Shinai produced must go through a quality check before it can be sold in the retail market throughout Japan. For Shinai that do not pass quality checks, these Shinai must be destroyed. However, today, there are many factories in China which assemble Keichiku and Madake Shinais that is to be shipped back to Japan to be sold in shops. Those Shinais that gets shipped back to Japan are the ones which have passed the quality assurance test. But for those that did not, they were not destroyed by the locals but instead sold to other countries outside of Japan with false advertising. Some of these Shinais have even made it back to Japan through oversea Kendo players visiting Japan or false distribution. In some cases, these Shinais that should have been destroyed has been used in trainings in Japan and has in some cases caused injuries and even near death accidents where the Shinai cracked or split during training.
Therefore the S.S.P Seal was introduced in Japan to distinguish the authenticity of the Shinai and only a few Kendo Manufacturing Companies have the right to carry this S.S.P Seal on their Shinais and Sankei Co. Ltd is one of them. As a regulation today, if your Shinai is not S.S.P approved, then you will not be able to use your Shinai during any tournaments in Japan, and insurance companies in Japan will not insure any damage caused by Shinai which does not carry this S.S.P seal.
All Shinais sold through Sankei Australia and Sankei International are S.S.P approved, and hence rest assure that there will be no problems when you take your Shinais to Japan for some training.
Updated on 2nd of March, 2008.
Sponsorships
Since the start of the new years, the people of Sankei Australia has been working hard because of the unexpected attention from our customers in Australia and around the world. In February, Sankei Australia has officially launched its international team with will be looking after customers in all regions of the world (Oceania, Asia, Europe, U.K, America, Latin America, and South Africa).
At this point of time, Sankei Australia is officially sponsoring the 33rd Australian Kendo Championships, and Sankei International is officially sponsoring the London Cup Goodwill Kendo Tournament. As our recognition continues to increase, Sankei Australia and Sankei International looks forward to improve our services in supporting the local Kendo community as well as the Kendo community across all borders.
Proud Sponsor of The 33rd Australian Kendo Championships
The annual Mumeishi 3 took place on 4th of November 2007, the UMKC Team B took the title this year by defeating Mumeishi Team B coming 2nd, followed by Ballarat Team A coming 3rd. The event was held successfully, and Zen Sankei posters could be seen on the walls with Trophies and Medals all sponsored by Sankei Australia.
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the event. Below are some photos from the Mumeishi 3.
Mumeishi Team B
Trophies and Medals sponsored by Sankei Australia, and Zen Sankei Posters on the wall.
Ben Nedic Vs Alvin Chen
Congratulations to Homesey-san taking home the Fighting Spirit Award!
Updated on 17th of November, 2007.
2007 The 48th Setagaya University Kendo Taikai
The taishou of Komazawa Daigaku gets pushed over by his opponent and lands head first and had to be carried away on a stretcher. His team members gathers around and his parents runs to his side hoping he is O.K.
The notorius one handed player from Nittaidai Daikaku beats his oppenent with two cuts to the men, and all the Nittaidai supporter claps. The taishou of Nittaidai struggles to score during the first minute of his match and then end it all with a tsuki, and then a men, ending a frustrating match in less then 10 seconds. This puts Nittaidai in the finals against the forever rival university, Kokushikan.
The final ended in an encho, and the most favourable player beside the Taishou from Nittaidai and Kokushikan was selected. The match went for 5 minutes, and then with a move to strike and delay by a few second, his opponent reacts with a slight block and with a final blow, kokushikan scores and wins the 48th Setagaya University Taikai.
Everytime Kokushikan and Nittaidai meet in the final, the atmosphere was intense, each mtach was fought in silence, and the breathing of the Kendoka could be heard. Each unsuccessful or successful attempt to score was awarded with scores of people clapping. The University Kendo are lightning fast, and only the train eyes can be a sinpan. Counter attacks after counter attacks, men cuts at lighting speed, and debana kote like there is no tomorrow.
Videos from the 48th Setagaya Kendo Taikai.
The one handed player from Nittaidai scoring 2 men cuts on his opponent.
Lighting fast kote against a jodan player.
Final encho between Nittaidai and Kokushikan.
Updated on 9th of September, 2007.
2007 Kyoto Taikai
The Kyoto Taikai was held this year over the Golden Week between the 2nd ~ 5th of May. Many Kendoka from around Japan came to participate in the event held at the budokukai each year. The event did not limit to just kendo as Naginata practitioner can also be seen competing at the Kyoto Taikai.
Below are some videos taken from the 2007 Kyoto Taikai, and a rare footage of Nitoryu Vs. Nitoyru.
Watch some clips from the Kyoto Taikai:
Chudan Vs. Chudan
Kendo Vs. Naginata
Nitoryu Vs. Nitoryu
Updated on 22nd May, 2007.
Doma Dojo: The 31st Publisher Kendo Competition
On 9th of June, the 31st Publisher's Kendo Taikai took place in Noma Dojo. For those who have never been to Noma Dojo, it is one of the oldest Dojo in Tokyo. Located in the heart of an industrial area you will never guess such traditional dojo like Noma Dojo will be found there. Just by looking from the outside, you can see the history, the tradition, and the Gi and Hakama hanging next to the window. When you enter Noma Dojo, you will walk along a small hallway on the side of the building, with sliding doors stretching from both sides from end to end. For more information visit http://www.kodansha.co.jp/dojo/noma_dojo_e.html.
Unfortunately, Noma Dojo will be torn down sometime this year, a decision made by the Kodansha Publishing Company, which have plans for new development on the land. A decision opposed by all Kendo practitioners around the world. Noma Dojo should remain as long as Kendo is continued being practiced and studied around the World, and should be considered a national treasure more than anything else.
Here are some videos taken from the 31st Publisher's Kendo Taikai at Noma Dojo:
Experience watching the Publisher's Kendo Taikai in Noma Dojo.
Chudan Vs. Nitoryu, in this clip you can see the Kendoka scoring a point with Nitoryu, and his attempt to Tsuki his opponent towards the end.
Updated on 10th of June, 2007.
The people behind Kendo
In the heart of Kyushu lies a town Isahaya, there you will find Sankei Budo Shop. When you walk in you will see walls to keigo-gi, hakama, shinai, bogu, and countless Kendo accessories which you would not have seen before.
All shinai's are displayed in Bamboo form, and when the customer selects a shinai, the shop assistant will ask you to hold the shinai in chudan no kamae. If you like the shinai then the shop assistant will assemble the shinai for you on the spot, tailor your keiko-gi, and hakama if necessary.
Behind the shop is the factory of Sankei, where all shinai, keigo-gi, and hakama are assembled and distributed. There is where plain bamboo is turned into shinai, fabric turned into keiko-gi and hakama, and jigsaw like items turned into bogu. The culture of quality before profit displaying the effort of perfecting the finishing product, and the strictest quality control implementation to ensure the end product is of the best, and second to none.
In Sankei there are apprentices learning the traditional ways of shinai making and the way of thinking so that generations of traditional craftsman skills is never lost when the old generation retires, and the next take its place. A 1st class shinai craftsman can shake a shinai in its bamboo form, listen to the vibration of the bamboo pieces and tell you whether it is well balanced or not, watch a person do a cut and balance the shinai according to his physique. All Sankei Australia products are completed in Japan, and distributed internationally around the world. The products assembled by Sankei is of quality, durability, and affordability, and with 30 years of manufacturing experience, the name "Sankei" has gained trust by many Kendo players around the world.
Here is a quick introduction of how a shinai is made. A shinai is put together by 4 pieces of bamboo. The bamboo is first dried for a certain period of time, then from 1 single bamboo branch it is cut into 4 pieces which will form a typical shinai. The craftsman then shaves the shinai to take its basic shape and form, at the same time taking great care not to over shave each piece so that all 4 bamboo piece are uniform and equal.
The shinai is then taken through the pruning process where its surface is pruned from millimeters to micrometers to balance the shinai toward its completion phase. Once the pruning is completed, the shinai is then buffered and waxed to give its perfect surface finish and shine.
Once the shinai is complete, it is then stringed together to be displayed on the shelf.
Updated on 24th March, 2007.
Is Budo lost in Kendo forever?
For the first time in Kendo history, the Japanese team has lost a title in the 13th World Kendo Championship. Not to their neighbor Korea as everyone thought it would be, but to the USA team. When the 'Taisho' of the US team scored a point in the last match and ran the time out, history was made.
I didn't attend the 13th World Kendo Championship (13WKC), but I did feel the impact when I returned to training in Japan after the news was announced almost instantaneously like a plague. To the Japanese it was another National icon lost forever, at first it was Judo, then Sumo, and now Kendo. Some said after the defeat of the Japanese Team, budo in Kendo is lost forever, and Kendo is just a sport now. Is it?
Whether Kendo is a sport or not, it is very hard to debate over, but when it comes to competition where there is a point scoring system. More or less, there has to be a winner, and when it comes to sport, there is always a winner. Kendo competition can be seen as a sport originated from the way of the samurai with a touch of sport's point system to give it a flavor and attraction. The point system gives a performance indication of who is the best in Kendo.
When Japan introduced kendo to the rest of the world, and educated the non Japanese what kendo is about, crossing borders to improve relationship with Japan and the rest of the country, there was a huge sacrifice. Unlikely some foundation being setup, improving relationships with kendo, the huge responsibility placed among the Japanese themselves was to maintaining their pride in Kendo at the cost of losing a national icon when the day comes that a kendo title is given to a non Japanese nation. With the growing popularity in Kendo internationally, it is only a matter of time before it happens. That day came on 10th of December, 2006.
In the opinion of Sonoda sensei, a member of Michinoko Dojo in Omote Sando, who happens to see his country men lost before his eyes, said Budo is lost forever. A fellow student, who also witness the lost also agreed. Other blames it on the poor and inexperience judgment of the Shinpan. Whatever it was, history can't be undone, and that is the reality, and it's just patriotism at its work. I am sure the rest of the world is trying to follow the foot steps of the US team.
The Japanese may see it as a lost in their national icon. But I personally believe there is no lost of anything but a win-win situation for all. The Korean maybe had beaten the US Team with no problems, and claimed the title as the 13th Kendo World Champions. It may not be how they wanted to claimed the title. They might have wanted to take it away from Japan themselves. The American's have showed that it is possible to a non Japanese nation to beat Japan, leading the way for harder training for other nations to achieve the same. As for Japan, they have taught the world about Kendo, their lost may not come from lack of training or dedication, but due to their success in their teaching of Kendo to the rest of the world. That international player has come a long way in reaching the mentality, skills, and understanding that is of the Japanese people. It is a form on unity, a form of "Ki-Ken-Tai-Ichi" with people. Kendo can be seen as a sport with a touch of culture, or culture with the attraction of being a sport also. This also reminds me of what a Nittaidai sempai said to me once, not in the exact words but on the line of:
"When I am young, I will play kendo like a sport. But when I am old, it will not be a sport anymore, and the Budo will grow in me and it will show through my Kendo."
Therefore no matter how many wins and loses in Kendo, in the end, the Budo will show and never be lost.
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Last year, 2007, in Japan, the S.S.P Seal was introduced to protect the authenticity of Shinais produced and sold in Japan. The S.S.P stands for "Shinai Safety Promotion". In fact, all Shinai produced must go through a quality check before it can be sold in the retail market throughout Japan. For Shinai that do not pass quality checks, these Shinai must be destroyed. However, today, there are many factories in China which assemble Keichiku and Madake Shinais that is to be shipped back to Japan to be sold in shops. Those Shinais that gets shipped back to Japan are the ones which have passed the quality assurance test. But for those that did not, they were not destroyed by the locals but instead sold to other countries outside of Japan with false advertising. Some of these Shinais have even made it back to Japan through oversea Kendo players visiting Japan or false distribution. In some cases, these Shinais that should have been destroyed has been used in trainings in Japan and has in some cases caused injuries and even near death accidents where the Shinai cracked or split during training.
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