Volume 31, number 7/8/9/10
July/August/September/October 2017
PNKF DATEBOOK
October 2017
- 10/21: Tacoma Taikai
- 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School,
8425 40th Street West, University Place, WA 98466.
- 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School,
November 2017
- 11/4: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am,525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 11/11-12: AUSKF Board and Kodansha Shinsa, Sat/Sun, TBD.
- 11/18: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S King St, Seattle, WA 98144.
December 2017
- 12/2: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kentwood High School, 25800 164th Avenue SE, Covington, WA.
- 12/10: PNKF Jodo Shinsa, Sat, 11:30am, 1st Kyu only, Mitchell Activity Center,
Seattle Central College, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122.
January 2018
- 1/6-7: Iaidaho 2018, Sat 12:noon-5pm/Sun 10am-2:30pm, Iaido Seminar, on Seitei topics,
competition, group enbu, and shinsa, Boise State University, Kinesiology Gym, Boise.
Kendo Fri 1/5, 6:30-8pm, West Boise YMCA.
February 2018
- 2/10-11: FIK America Zone Kendo Referee Seminar, Sat/Sun, Centre sportifETS, 1111 Notre-Dame
Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
June 2018
- 6/4: AUSKF Iaido Camp will be held on the campus of the University of Utah in
Salt Lake City, Utah on May 31 – June 4, 2018.
September 2018
- 9/14-16: 17WKC, Fri/Sat/Sun, Incheon, Korea.
CHANGES IN GOVERNANCE OF THE PNKF
For over a year, the Board has been working hard to forge new By Laws for the PNKF. Finally, at
their July 22, 2017 meeting, the Articles of Amendment and the Restated Article of Incorporation were
approved. As a result, this fall the composition of the Board will reflect the changes, and we are
using a new process for Board Member nominations. PNKF Clubs with permanent status having 10-30
members may appoint one individual to the Board, while Clubs with 30 or more members may appoint two
individuals. Club representation count is based upon each Club’s membership as of September 1, 2017.
Each Club has been sent notification requesting their selected Board Members, as well as outlining
the process for selection of five at-large Members. Requested response date is October 28, 2017. At
the November 18, 2017 Board meeting, the new Board will vote for five Members at large from the pool
of nominees. Then the new Board, including the five at-large Members, will elect Officers for the
new fiscal year of 2017-2018.
USNF 17th CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT AND 1st PANAMERICAN MATCH, July 29, 2017, Sonoma State University
Dangai Engi Yudansha Engi 1st place - Xinyuan Lai/Yuki Nishimura, NCKF 1st place - Shannon Lew/Andrew Hong, SCNF 2nd place - Karl Spargur/David Huynh, NCKF 2nd place - Kei Tsukamaki/Karen Schmucker 3rd place - Simon Wan/Alex Lin, GNYNF 3rd place - Josh Sloan/Frank DiMarco, RMNF Zen Nihon Naginata no Kata Dangai Women's Individuals 1st place - Bryce Harrop/Chris Coppeans, PNNF 1st place - Yuki Nishimura,NCNF 2nd place - Andrew Hong/Shannon Lew, SCNF 2nd place - Amy Coppeans, PNNF 3rd place - Karen Schmucker/Kei Tsukamaki, PNNF 3rd place - Michelle You, PNNF Dangai Men's Individuals Yudansha Women's Individuals 1st place - Alex Lin, GNYNF 1st place - Katie Roche, GNYNF 2nd place - Xinyuan Lai, NCNF 2nd place - Andrea Vyas, RMNF 3rd place - David Huynh, NCNF 3rd place - Emily Ewen, ECNF Yudansha Men's Individuals Women's Team 1st place - Axel Noorman, ECNF 1st place - Pacific Northwest Naginata Federation 2nd place - Ruben Ramirez, SCNF 2nd place - Greater New York Naginata Federation 3rd place - Saiyou Ohshima, NCNF 3rd place - Southern California Naginata Federation Men's Team 1st place - Pacific Northwest Naginata Federation 2nd place - Greater New York Naginata Federation 3rd place - Northern California Naginata Federation PanAm Match Women PanAm Match Men Winners Winners Yuki Nishimura, NCNF Andrew Boyd, CNF Veronica Gunawan, NCNF Alan McDougall, CNF Manon Dozois, CNF C.L. Chen, GNYNF Mary Phan, CNF Eduardo Pereira, BNA Jenny Bernot, SCNF Bryce Harrop, PNNF Tomomi Hasegawa, BNA Antoine Fromentin, CNF Kaori Kubo, CNF
10th ANNUAL PNKF IAIDO TAIKAI – September 22, 2017, Rain City Fencing Center, Bellevue, Washington
Mudansha Yudansha 1-2 Dan 1st place - S. Horita, Musokai 1st place - G. Pillei, AiShinKai 2nd place - K. Duong, Musokai 2nd place - K. Tekin, Norwalk 3rd place - M. Barlow, Musokai 3rd Place - V. Whitman, Seattle 3rd place - N. Varma, Seattle 3rd Place - Joe Cabrera, Palo Alto Yudansha 3-4 Dan (Noguchi Cup) Teams (Murosako Cup) 1st place - H. Fukumoto, Seattle 1st place - Musokai B (G. Goerlitz, S. Horita, K. Duong) 2nd place - C. Parkins, Renma 2nd place - Musokai A (L. Miyauchi, G. Pillei, M. Barlow) 3rd place - B. Blomquist, Everett 3rd place - C. Goeke, Renma
SHINKYU SHINSA
PNKF KENDO SHINSA, July 9, 2017, Boise, Idaho
5TH KYU: Ryley Leach (RMKIF). 4TH KYU: Amanda Ellers (SWKIF0, Avery Grubbs (Idaho),
Taisei Summerhays (RMKIF), Jacob Velasco (SWKIF). 3RD KYU: Nathan Grubbs (Idaho), Tyler
Morris (RMKIF). 1ST DAN: Carlos Mutates (Idaho), Tyler Peterson (Idaho). 2ND DAN:
Eric Marquart (Idaho). 3RD DAN: Wesley Horn (Idaho), Jonathan Kaufman (Portland), Jeff Lamb
(Spokane), Ken Tawara (Idaho), Ireneo Rodriguez Torres (Mexico). 4TH DAN: Ronald Sentany
(SWKIF), Christopher Tilt (Portland).
USNF NAGINATA SHINSA, July 30, 2017, Sonoma State University
1ST DAN: Andrew Boyd (CNF), David Huynh (NCNF), Xinyuan Lai (NCNF), Adam Lew (SCNF), Alan
McDougall (CNF), Marie-Angelique Metzger (SCNF), Wolfgang Metzger (SCNF), Michelle You (PNNF).
2ND DAN: Yves Crepeau (CNF), C.L. Chen (GNYNF), Jessica Espinosa (ECNF), Richard Metzger
(SCNF), Rebecca Pomeroy (ECNF), Talanda Williams (NCNF, Grace Wu (SCNF). 3RD DAN: Johanne
Chalifour (CNF), Manon Dozois (CNF), Axel Noorman (ECNF), Eduardo Pereira (BNA), Rytis Prekeris
(RMNF). 4TH DAN: Chris Coppeans (PNNF), Sasha Corchado (GNYNF), Frank DiMarco (RMNF), Bryce
Harrop (PNNF), Juan Hernandez (SCNF), Andrew Hong (SCNF), Saiyou Ohshima (NCNF), Antoni Rossi (SCNF),
Kelsey Shamrell-Harrington (PNNF).
AUSKF KENDO KODANSHA SHINSA, August 6, 2017, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
5TH DAN: Julie Chen (PNKF).
PNKF IAIDO SHINSA, August 12, 2017, Kent
3RD KYU: Abigail Benoit (Tonbo), Duane Benoit (Tonbo), Zehran Li (Musokai). 2ND KYU:
Nikhil Varma (Seattle), Nicodemus Edwin Widjonarko (Obukan). 1ST KYU: Adam Clark (AiShinKai),
Khoi Duong (Kent), Donald Wentworth (Tonbo). 2ND DAN: Thane Mittelstaedt (AiShinKai), Ken
Tawara (Idaho). 3RD DAN: Christopher Parkins (RenMa).
PNKF KENDO SHINSA, August 12, 2017, Kent
6TH KYU: Madeleine Day (Kent), Owen Frederick (Northwest), Ezra Corcoro Marx (Federal Way),
Kenjiro Maxfield-Matsumoto (Highline). 5TH KYU: Juah Paik (Tacoma), Hoeun Son (Federal Way),
Dan Terao (Cascade). 4TH KYU: Carolyn Baker (Cascade), Nicholas Chu (Bellevue), Devin Chung
(Cascade), Teo Dage (Bellevue), Justin Davis (Northwest), Brandi Heyer (Edmonds), Matthew Hutchins
(Seattle), Daniel Kao (Tacoma), Sean Kim (Seattle), Ian Krupp (Cascade), Takakazu Maxfield-Matsumoto
(Highline), Krystal McIntosh (Federal Way), Matt Miyamoto (Northwest), Taiki Miyamoto (Northwest),
Emilio Peralta (Obukan), Maro Sciacchitano (Portland), Alec Yuen (Seattle). 3RD KYU: Robin
Allen (Portland), Bruce Alter (Portland), Aidan Chervin (Portland), Danny Chung (Cascade), James
Fadell (Portland), Raymond Fish (Edmonds), Leo Gao (UW) Kyle Hale (Seattle), Chizuko Heyer (Edmonds),
Daniel Heyer (Edmonds), Allyson Hinzman (Tacoma), Yeh Seo Jung (Portland), Hana Koob (Bellevue),
Isabella Lee (Federal Way), Jierong James Lee (UW), Laura Ohata (Bellevue), Neo Smith (Bellevue),
Royce Sessions (Tacoma), Abigail Tan (UW), Sun Terao (Cascade), Kassidy Ting (Northwest), Timaeus
Ting (Northwest), Nikhil Varma (Seattle), Jacob Weese (UW), William Wellborn (Bellevue), Anthony
Yorita (UW). 2ND KYU: Kamia Acoba (Everett), Victor Blancarte (Sno-King), James Faulkner
(Edmonds), Kiana (Ai) Fukuda (Cascade), Kyle Fukuda (Cascade), Hyunjun Jang (Cascade), Jin Ho Jeon
(Bellevue), Raymond Kao (Tacoma), Eugene Kim (Seattle), Kasey Kitchel (Sno-King), Daniel Lee
(Tacoma), Simon Lee (Federal Way), Elysia Midorikawa (UW), Jason Nguyen (UW), Poul Nichols (Edmonds),
Timothy Okamura (Bellevue), Joshua Paik (Tacoma), Catherine Park (Bellevue), Jonah Redaja (Edmonds),
Blake Sprenger (Obukan), Francis Walsh (UW), Fred Wang (UW), Shota Wetlesen (Obukan), Nicodemus Edwin
Widjonarko (Obukan). 1ST KYU: Eric Bortz (Alaska), Hien Katayama (Edmonds), Evan Kriechbaum
(Portland), Michizane Ohata (Bellevue), Young-ki Paik (Tacoma), Chi Pak (Portland), Edward Park
(Sno-King), Shun Wetlesen (Obukan), Victor Whitman (Seattle), Donna Wilson (Seattle), Binah Yeung
(Seattle). 1ST DAN: Drake Imanishi (Seattle), David Nash (Edmonds), Bryant Pae (Northwest).
2ND DAN: Clyde Bailey (Portland), Maya Blechschmidt (Bellevue), Kenneth Gordon (Obukan),
Soo-Hyung Kim (Seattle), Sadako Markle (Idaho), Keeley McManus (Kent), Andrew Miller (Portland),
Stephen Ting (Northwest), Andrew Yuen (Seattle). 3RD DAN: Jennifer DeJong (Highline), Laurel
Durkan (Seattle), Jongwon Lee (Portland), Maina Oya (Northwest), Dan Park (Bellevue). 4TH
DAN: Paul Gattone (SWKIF Tucson), Yoshihito Kanamori (Alaska), Lei Yu (Northwest).
BCKF/PNKF JODO SHINSA, August 19, 2017, Justice Institute of BC, Vancouver, BC
1ST KYU: Michael Harris (Tonbo), Jessica Hilliam (Hoshu Vancouver), James Jerrard (Calgary
Iaido), Josh MacDonald (Calgary Iaido). 1ST DAN: Rhona Mae Arca (Calgary Iaido), Roy Gawlick
(Hoshu Vancouver), Elena Kay (Calgary Iaido), Ronen Totonchi (Everett). 2ND DAN: Denis Boko
(Hoshu Vancouver), Kathleen Jorgensen (Tonbo), Keith Simpson (Calgary Iaido), Bruce Vail (Hoshu
Seattle). 3RD DAN: Brian Blomquist (Everett), Hiroaki Fukumoto (Seattle), Gao Gaitian (Hoshu
Vancouver), Jeffrey Kamo (Hoshu Vancouver), Kathleen Newcomer (Tonbo), Michael Park (Hoshu
Portland).
THE LAST WORD
My father always considered himself Japanese. During the War he was
threatened with prison. But not for long. My five sisters were nurses and their contributions were
needed desperately in the hospitals filled with wounded soldiers. They threatened to quit if he were
jailed. Their nursing skills trumped any perceived threat from my father and he returned home. His
longing for Japan, and to die in his homeland, was finally realized after the War when he returned to
his ancestral lands in Kure, leaving my mother behind. He lived there until he died at the age of 79.
In Japan, when a man went to war, it was assumed he would die, not that he “might” die. That is
something to ponder well, so I’ll say it again: “In Japan, when a man went to war, it was assumed he
would die.” The samurai warrior of old considered himself already dead, so he could be clear and
calm. Because I am a human being, I will die, but because I am a human being, like all human beings,
I don’t want to die. I don’t know when or under what circumstances I will die, but as I was a
soldier, I knew I would likely die sooner rather than later. This is a fact, “mono no aware” the
realization of being human. This is an acceptance. I accepted my fate, and when death came, I would
die with honor. That was part of being a traditional Japanese, and Busen was certainly traditional.
It is said that the sword and the brush – and the cherry blossom – reflect the soul of Japan. This is
a soul that is reflective of nature that all that live must die, but that while living, life can be
contemplative, discerning and beautiful. These natural qualities form the ideals of martial arts
which emphasizes skill but also wisdom, harmony and serenity. This is “Yamato” (Japan) “Damashi”
(soul). “Yamato Damashi” is difficult to explain. It is a term indicative of the people’s will. It is
the fighting spirit of the Japanese soldier. But it is not just a fighting spirit. It is part of the
great soul of the people, tied to the very origins of the Japanese. When I was at Busen, Yamato
Damashi spirit was very much alive. The Emperor was the spiritual head of Japan. Japanese believed
the Emperor was descended from the gods through unbroken line of descent and many could cite the
whole lineage. No one questioned any sacrifice required by the gods or the Emperor. Like a father,
the people were “his people” and his love for his people and theirs for him was sacred. As a Japanese
son would not disobey his father, so the Japanese people would not disobey their Emperor. But the
Yamato Damashi is hard to define. Thus, if I am pushed for a definition, my response would be a
comparison to the cherry blossom. It blooms abundantly for a brief moment, and then flutters down
with no regret. That is how the brave Japanese should be:
Shikishima no
Yamato gokoro wo hito towaba
Asahi ni niou
Yama zakura kana
Asked what a Japanese heart is,
just say it is like the fragrance in the morning sun
of the mountain cherry blossom Long after the War, in 1998, I received a letter from Tomano
Kenzan (Keitaro), a famous artist in Osaka, who recalled the story of an Australian Navy General. The
General gave a memorial service, from a podium draped with an Australian flag, for a brave Japanese
soldier who had tried to bomb an Australian warship from a suicide submarine. The General spoke with
the mother of the soldier, and was moved by the bravery of the young man, even though he was the
enemy, and even more by the bravery of his mother who assumed her son would die. He learned a lesson,
he said, from the enemy and began to understand much of the Japanese spirit from Mother Matsue’s
bittersweet waka, a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable poem:
Kimi ga tame
Shine to sodateshi
Hana naredo
Arashi no ato no
Niwa sabishi kere
For the Emperor,
raised you to die
like a cherry blossom
yet after the storm
how lonesome my yard
–Rod Nobuto Omoto, Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 29-30.
Available as free download at lulu.com.
PLEASE NOTE – THIS KENYU ONLINE IS THE EDITION OF RECORD
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115