Volume 31, number 4/5/6
April/May/June 2017
PNKF DATEBOOK
July 2017
- 7/6-9: 10th US Nito Seminar and Shinsa, Thu-Mon, Boise State University,
Rec Center Main Gym, 1515 University Drive, Boise, Idaho. - 7/22: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
August 2017
- 8/12: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm,
525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
September 2017
- 9/11-9/16: Renbu 40th Anniversary week-long series of practices and seminars, Mon-Sat,
featuring Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Takamitsu Iwamoto, Head Sensei, Beppu University,
Meiho High School, and Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Arimitsu Kawakami, Assistant Head Sensei,
Kokushikan University, and other guest sensei, various venues TBD in and around Vancouver, BC,
all ages and levels invited, costs TBD. - 9/16: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 9/22-9/24: PNKF Iaido Seminar, Fri/Sat/Sun.
- Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue. Teachers: Iaido Kyoshi 8th Dan Hideo Noguchi;
and Iaido Kyoshi 7th Dan Shigehiro Aoki and Kaoru Suzuki. - Schedule: Fri, 7-9pm Jodo/Iaido; Sat, 9am-5pm Iaido; Sun 9am-12noon Iaido Tournament; 1-5pm Iaido.
- Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue. Teachers: Iaido Kyoshi 8th Dan Hideo Noguchi;
October 2017
- 10/7: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 11:30am-5pm, open keiko 4-5pm, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 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, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
December 2017
- 12/9: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, 525 4th Avenue N.
(corner of 4th and James St.) Kent. - 12/10: PNKF Jodo Shinsa, Sat, 11:30am, 1st Kyu only, Mitchell Activity Center, Seattle Central College, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122.
September 2018
- 9/14-16: 17WKC, Fri/Sat/Sun, Incheon, Korea.
41st ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 22, 2017
Women's 0-4 Kyu 1st place - W. Robillard, Steveston 1st place - B. Pae, Northwest 2nd place - E. DeJong, UW 2nd place - L. Gao, UW 3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - M. Eum, UW 3rd place - B. Lin, UW 3rd place - A. Rossi, Spokane 3-1 Kyu 1-2 Dan 1st place - K. Toyokawa, Tacoma 1st place - S. O'Sullivan, Steveston 2nd place - H. Jang, Cascade 2nd place - K. McManus, Kent 3rd place - K. Fukuda, Cascade 3rd place - P. Lin, Bellevue 3rd place - T. Fukuda, Cascade 3rd place - K. Muramatsu, Renfrew 3 Dan 4 Dan and Above 1st place - R. Kuki, UBC 1st place - N. Nakano, Steveston 2nd place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji 2nd place - M. Rose, Renfrew 3rd place - C. Ruiz, Spokane 3rd place - V. Vulfson, Northwest 3rd place - S. DeNardi, Spokane 3rd place - B. Imanishi, Cascade Teams 1st place - PNKF Men (J. Yamauchi, R. Lei, N. Tanimura, C. Ruiz, B. Imanishi) 2nd place - Bellevue (R. Takaishi, P. Lin, L. Tsybert, J. Jeon, S. Blechschmidt) Taikai Chair - Sue Vanasouk Head Shinpan - David Yotsuuye Sportsmanship Pledge - Minari Omura UW Most Improved - Jason Nguyen Kazuo and Tomo Shoji Inspirational Award - Sue Vanasouk
16th NABESHIMA CUP TAIKAI and 10th TEXAS OPEN TAIKAI – April 22, 2017, Greenhill School Phillips Gymnasium, Addison
Women's Division Mudansha Division
1st place - Yebin Chae, Houston 1st place - Massim Shah, DFWKIK
2nd place - Alexandra Darrah, Houston 2nd place - Marc Hakim, Tuscon
3rd place - Ma Denise Verastigue, DFWKIK 3rd place - Israel Martinez, Nuevo Laredo
3rd place - Minjeong Park, Houston 3rd place - Nguyen Ly, DFWKIK
Kantosho - Sol (Joanne) Hong, DFWKIK Kantosho - Hogan Choi, DFWKIK
Elizabeth Pesek, Salinas Vivian Bentley, ZenBuKan
Yudansha Division Texas Open
1st place - Andrew Takahashi, New Orleans 1st place - Koki Masuo, Austin
2nd place - Allan Azurin, Houston 2nd place - Takuro Yamaoka, Omaha
3rd place - Nathan Williams, DFWKIK 3rd place - Makiko Adachi,
3rd place - Jonah Wu, Arkansas 3rd place - Katsuhei Yoshioka, Houston
Kantosho - Mike Sentany, Arkansas Kantosho - Carlos Guerra, Houston
Jake Dupre, New Orleans
51st ANNUAL VANCOUVER KENDO TOURNAMENT – May 13, 2017, Byrne Creek Secondary School, Burnaby
9 Years and Under 10 to 12 Years 13 to 15 Years 1st place - N. Son, Renbu 1st place - C. Robillard, Steveston 1st place - KG Underhill, PNKF 2nd place - D. Buckham, UVic 2nd place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu 2nd place - KJ Underhill, PNKF 3rd place - T. Okurano, Youshinkan 3rd place - R. Cho, Renbu 3rd place - A. Son, Renbu 3rd place - F. Benson, Youshinkan 3rd place - H. Homma, Renbu 3rd place - B. Miki, Steveston 16 to 20 Years 21 to 30 Years 31 to 40 Years 1st place - T. Marsten, PNKF 1st place - E. Kita, Renbu 1st place - M. Rose, Renfrew 2nd place - A. Lee, Vancouver 2nd place - T. Hamanaka, Tozenji 2nd place - R. Atagi, PNKF 3rd place - E. Lee, Renbu 3rd place - Y. Chen, UBC 3rd place - C. Ruiz, PNKF 3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu 3rd place - E. Chang, UBC 3rd place - W. Blades, Renfrew 41 Years and Over Women 1st place - I. Miki, Steveston 1st place - M. Ara, Renbu 2nd place - S. Day, Kent 2nd place - H. Yamada, Vancouver 3rd place - W. Wong, Steveston 3rd place - N. Fukushima, Vancouver 3rd place - K. Iwai, Steveston 3rd place - F. Ho, JCCC Junior Team Senior Team 1st place - PNKF 1st place - Renbu 2nd place - Renbu B 2nd place - Vancouver Fighting Spirit Awards L. Murao, Steveston K. McManus, PNKF
27th ANNUAL BELLEVUE JUNIOR TAIKAI – May 20, 2017, Bellevue
10 Years and Under 11 to 12 Years 13 to 14 Years 1st place - K. Maxfield-Matsumoto, Highline 1st place - A. Mabale, Seattle 1st place - J. Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - N. Chu, Bellevue 2nd place - J. Koob, Bellevue 2nd place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - Sean Kim, Seattle 3rd place - J. Paik, Tacoma 3rd place - K. Honda, Cascade 3rd place - J. Yu, Northwest 3th place - E. Kim, Seattle 3rd place - K. Takamatsu, Bellevue High School Girls High School Boys 1st place - J. DeJong, Highline 1st place - T. Marsten, Kent 2nd place - B. Park, Bellevue 2nd place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - A. Kojima, Bellevue 3rd place - M. Ohata, Bellevue 3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue 3rd place - K. Fukuda, Cascade Junior Teams 1st place - Northwest (J. Yu, K. Underhill, T. Ting, D. Terao, K. Honda) 2nd place - Bellevue Red (L. Ohata, H. Koob, K. Takamatsu, M. Tawara, T. Dage) High School Teams 1st place - Bellevue (B. Park, J. Higa, J. DeJong) 2nd place - Kent (K. McManus, K. Acoba, T. Marsten) Head Shinpan - D. Yotsuuye; Taikai Co-Chairs - Allison Kojima and Betty Park; National Anthem - Leo Ohata; Competitors' Pledge - Jane Higa; Master of Ceremonies - CJ Chaney; Awesome Spirit Award - Kenji Maxfield-Matsumoto, Highline.
2017 ROSE CITY TAIKAI – June 10, 2017, Portland Community College Cascade Campus
Women Juniors 9 and Under 1st place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent 1st place - J. Chang, Kogakukan 2nd place - V. Le, Obukan 2nd place - K. Maxfield-Matsumoto, Highline 3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - L. Chen, Oakland 3rd place - K. McManus, Kent 3rd place - C. Chai, Kogakukan Juniors 10-12 Juniors 13-15 1st place - A. Yuen, Seattle 1st place - J. Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - T. Choi, Kogakukan 2nd place - T. Miyamoto, Northwest 3rd place - D. Chung, Cascade 3rd place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - J. Choi, Kogakukan 3rd place - S. Wetlesen, Obukan Juniors 16-18 0-4 Kyu 1st place - B. Park, Bellevue 1st place - K. McIntosh, Federal Way 2nd place - J. DeJong, Highline 2nd place - A. Rossi, Spokane 3rd place - S. Wetlesen, Obukan 3rd place - G. Montoya, Spokane 3rd place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - E. Peralta, Obukan 3-1 Kyu 1-2 Dan 1st place - V. Blancarte, Sno-King 1st place - T. McManus, Kent 2nd place - T. Fukuda, Cascade 2nd place - K. McManus, Kent 3rd place - T. Peterson, Idaho 3rd place - V. Le, Obukan 3rd place - C. Pak, Portland 3rd place - J. Yamauchi, Cascade 3 Dan 4 Dan and Above 1st place - R. Takaishi, Bellevue 1st place - B. Imanishi, Cascade 2nd place - C. Ruiz, Spokane 2nd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle 3rd place - T. Marsten, Kent 3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - J. Lamb, Spokane 3rd place - B. Atagi, Idaho Junior Teams 1st place - Northwest (T. Miyamoto, K. Underhill, T. Ting) 2nd place - Federal Way (S. Lee, A. Yuan, J. Kim) 3rd place - Oakland (M. Day, V. Chen, L. Chen) 3rd place - Bellevue (I. DeBlieck, A. Nagai, L. Ohata) Senior Teams 1st place - Kent (I. Morgan, K. McManus, S. Day, T. McManus, T. Marsten) 2nd place - Portland A (A. Jantrania, C. Tilt, G. Nakayama, N. Cook, E. Woln) 3rd place - PNKF Women A (T. Imanishi, J. Chen, M. DeJong, E. Marsten, J. Frazier-Day) 3rd place - Seattle (D. Imanishi, A. Yuen, G. Suzaka, V. Whittman, A. Yen) Head Shinpan - Doug Imanishi; Competitors' Pledge - Blake Sprenger; Master of Ceremonies - Van Le
AUSKF 2017 IAIDO CHAMPIONSHIP – June 11, 2017, Bryn Mawr
0-2 Kyu Mudansha Murakami Cup 1 Kyu and 1 Dan 1st place - Feng Wang, Mushinkan SWUSKIF 1st place - Helene Cousin, Sei Zan Kan AEUSKF 2nd place - Phil Sevin, ZenBuKan RMKIF 2nd place - Michael Schuldt, Agassiz MWKF 3rd place - Joseph Costa, Ittokai AEUSKF 3rd place - Thane Mittelstaedt, AiShinKai PNKF 3rd place - Adam Sandor, Agassiz MWKF 3rd place - Nathan Williams, DFWKIK SWUSKIF Kantosho - Ritchard Higham, Ken-Zen AEUSKF Kantosho - Kevin Huang, Shidogakui Rutgers GNEUSKF Murosako Cup 2 Dan and 3 Dan Yamaguchi Cup 4 Dan and Above 1st place - John Mullin, Ken-Zen AEUSKF 1st place - Debi Farmer, Shidogakuin NY GNEUSKF 2nd place - Kevin Thibedeau, Ken-Zen AEUSKF2nd place - Jonathan Corum, Nichibukan EUSKF 3rd place - Callie Goeke, Ren Ma PNKF 3rd place - Aram Kailian Shicogakuin NY GNEUSKF 3rd place - David Dudek, Ken-Zen AEUSKF 3rd place - Jason Hankins, ZenBuKan RMKIF Kantosho - Orsolya Kiss, Cleveland GNEUSKF Kantosho - Joe Sheldon, River City SUSKIF
7th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – June 22, 2017, Independence High School, San Jose, California
9 Years and Under 10-11 Years 1st place - Akimasa Hotta, ECUSKF 1st place - Taiyo Ariga, SCKO 2nd place - Joshua Koines, SCKO 2nd place - McCartney Hong, NCKF 3rd place - Joshua Hong, AEUSKF 3rd place - Takahide Katayama, ECUSKF 3rd place - Euvene Kae, WKF 3rd place - Peter Yu, SCKF Kantosho - Ren Fujimoto, MWKF Kantosho - Kyle Sakai, SCKO Kantosho - Mai Sakamoto, SCKO Kantosho - Ryosuke Yamamoto, SCKO Kantosho - So Imura, SCKO Kantosho - Taisho Shiono, SCKF Kantosho - Yuta Onitsuka, NCKF Kantosho - Misaki Matsunaga, ECUSKF 12-13 Years 14-15 Years 1st place - Tomohide Katayama, ECUSKF 1st place - Paul Ikeda, NCKF 2nd place - Dave Nam, SCKF 2nd place - Koji Ishimori, SEUSKF 3rd place - Haru Sakamoto, SCKO 3rd place - Riki Okawa, SCKO 3rd place - Eugene Kae, WKF 3rd place - Sean Hsu, SCKO Kantosho - Andrew Kang, SCKF Kantosho - Tylor Wang, WKF Kantosho - Daniel Jung, SEUSKF Kantosho - Bryan Yoo, WKF Kantosho - Yosuke Takubo, SCKF Kantosho - Benjamin Hur, SCKF Kantosho - Akira Fujiwara, SCKO Kantosho - Ethan Chen, NCKF 16-18 Years 13 Years and Under Girls 1st place - Gen Takahashi, SCKO 1st place - Daphne Chen, SCKF 2nd place - Masahiro Muramatsu, EUSKF 2nd place - Grace Huh, SCKF 3rd place - Tyler Barrone, MWKF 3rd place - Sarah Kang, SEUSKF 3rd place - Hiroshi Kiuchi, SCKO 3rd place - Yewon Chae, SEUSKF Kantosho - Teruya Mochizuki, ECUSFK Kantosho - Naomi Yu, SCKF Kantosho - Ian Kotake, SCKO Kantosho - Minami Matsunaga, ECUSKF Kantosho - Koji Tohmon, NCKF Kantosho - Yui Koyama, AEUSKF Kantosho - Brenden Wang, WKF Kantosho - Catherine Ikeda, NCKF 14-18 Years Girls 1st place - Takino Morishima, SEUSKF 2nd place - Seyeon Park, NCKF 3rd place - Emi Ichimura, NCKF 3rd place - Colleen Fan, NCKF Kantosho - Taery Kim, SCKF Kantosho - Ririka Satoh, SCKF Kantosho - Keeley McManus, PNKF Kantosho - Manami Matsunaga, ECUSKF Youth Team Girls Team Boys Team 1st place - SCKO A 1st place - NCKF A 1st place - WKF B 2nd place - ECUSKF A 2nd place - SCKF A 2nd place - ECUSKF A 3rd place - AEUSKF A 3rd place - SCKF B 3rd place - NCKF A 3rd place - SCKF A 3rd place - NCKF B 3rd place - SCKO B
14th ALL UNITED STATES KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS – June 23/24/25, 2017, Independence High School, San Jose, California
Junior Youth Boys Junior Youth Girls 1st place - Riki Okawa, SCKO 1st place - Seyeon Park, NCKF 2nd place - Leon Stewart, SEUSKF 2nd place - Aika Onitsuka, NCKF 3rd place - Tylor Wang, WKF 3rd place - Betty Park, PNKF 3rd place - Ethan Chen, NCKF 3rd place - Naomi Yu, SCKF Kantosho - Benjamin Ahn, WKF Kantosho - Sarah Kang, SEUSKF Kantosho - Kengo Underhill, PNKF Kantosho - Mika Nikaido, SCKF Kantosho - Aidan Jokela, MWKF Kantosho - Aibrean Langan, EUSKF Kantosho - Joe Shimada, GNEUSKF Kantosho - Daphne Chen, SCKF Senior Youth Boys Senior Youth Girls 1st place - Mashu Sugiyama, SCKF 1st place - Takino Morishima, SEUSKF 2nd place - Mario Tanabe, NCKF 2nd place - Jamie Tada, SCKF 3rd place - Kai Shimada, GNEUSKF 3rd place - Ririka Satoh, SCKF 3rd place - Tiarnan Marsten, PNKF 3rd place - Taery Kim, SCKF Kantosho - Hayden Gingrich, EUSKF Kantosho - Carolyne Ikeda, NCKF Kantosho - Arata Ogikubo, SCKO Kantosho - Jennifer DeJong, PNKF Kantosho - Hiroshi Kiuchi, SCKO Kantosho - Allison Kojima, PNKF Kantosho - James Ro, SEUSKF Kantosho - Emi Ichimura, NCKF Mudansha Seniors 1st place - Akira Minamitani, SCKF 1st place - Hiroshi Ichimura, NCKF 2nd place - Christina Lin, SCKF 2nd place - Atsushi Kajioka, SCKO 3rd place - Gregory Lewis, SEUSKF 3rd place - Behzad Hadizadeh, AEUSKF 3rd place - David Pantoja, NCKF 3rd place - Eiichiro Nakano, SCKO Kantosho - Kai-Lin Jang, SCKF Kantosho - Hoon Chang, AEUSKF Kantosho - Kiutran Phan, SCKO Kantosho - Takaaki Sato, MWKF Kantosho - Jonathan Han, WKF Kantosho - Nozumu Ishimori, SEUSKF Kantosho - Sungjin Kim Kantosho - Shuji Matsushita, AEUSKF+ Women's Men's 1st place - Esther Kim, SCKF 1st place - D.J. Huh, SCKF 2nd place - Shiori Chimielewski, MWKF 2nd place - Arashi Steele, MWKF 3rd place - Makiko Adachi, SWUSKIF 3rd place - Kenneth Song, WKF 3rd place - Yuri Kil, SCKF 3rd place - Ken Mizobe, SCKF Kantosho - Elizabeth Marsten, PNKF Kantosho - Taro Ariga, SCKO Kantosho - Minako Harigai, SCKO Kantosho - Takuro Yamaoka, SWUSKIF Kantosho - Yuko Saito, SCKO Kantosho - Ryoma Tominaga, GNEUSKF Kantosho - Grace An, NCKF Kantosho - Julian Williams, SCKF Junior Youth Boys Team Junior-Senior Youth Girls Team Senior Youth Boys Team 1st place - WKF 1st place - SEUSKF (T. Morishima, Y. Chae, G. Castro, S. Kang) 1st place - SCKO 2nd place - SCKF 2nd place - NCKF 2nd place - SEUSKF 3rd place - NCKF 3rd place - SCKO 3rd place - NCKF 3rd place - SCKO 3rd place - SCKF (S. Maekawa, T. Kim, R. Satoh, J. Tada) 3rd place - SCKF Mudansha Team Seniors Team Men's Team 1st place - NCKF 1st place - NCKF (J. Eitoku, H. Ishimura, C. Park, A. Mizunoue) 1st place - SCKF 2nd place - SCKF 2nd place - SCKO 2nd place - GNEUSKF 3rd place - SEUSKF 3rd place - SCKF 3rd place - MWKF 3rd place - SCKO 3rd place - EUSKF 3rd place - SWUSKIF Women's Team 1st place - SCKF (L. Fu, K. Tada, E. Kim, A. Dong, Y. Kil, K. Liu, Y. Arima) 2nd place - PNKF (J. Frazier-Day, N. Grimes, M. DeJong, T. Imanishi, B. Lin, J. Chen, E. Marsten) 3rd place - MWKF (S. Masuko, S. Chmielewski, R. McCarty, M. Ahn, M. Fujimoto, Y. Suzuki Saathoff) 3rd place - SCKO (H. Nohara Hsueh, M. Harigai, Y. Saito, Y. Miura, S. Segawa, V.Kuo)
LEEWARD OAHU KENDO TOURNAMENT – June 25, 2017, Mililani District Park Gym
Yonenbu 8-10 Years Shonenbu 12-14 Years
1st place - Jacob Amano 1st place - Brandyn Matsumoto
2nd place - Maiki Uda 2nd place - Caden Matsumoto
3rd place - Trinity Kishimoto 3rd place - Zachary Yamamoto
3rd place - Ethan Amano
Seinenbu 14-16 Years Seinenbu 17 Years and Older
1st place - Go Hayakawa 1st place - Yunsang Park
2nd place - Landon Wong 2nd place - Brent Suyama
3rd place - Kai Kishishita 3rd place - Brian Howell
Women's Yudansha Yudansha 1-2 Dan
1st place - Nicole Chun 1st place - Shoshi Hashimoto
2nd place - Gina Kishimoto 2nd place - Yoshinori Imagawa
3rd place - Kano Hashimoto 3rd place - Eric Young
3rd place - Jessica Sneed 3rd place - Eric Tomishima
Yudansha 3-4 Dan Yudansha 5-6 Dan
1st place - Kevin Chun 1st place - Grant Matsubayashi
2nd place - Nicklaus Matsumoto 2nd place - Chris Goodin
3rd place - Daiki Miura 3rd place - Katsushi Chinen
3rd place - Jack Yamada
Yudansha Masters 45 Years and Over
1st place - Elton Ushio
2nd place - Ron Miller
3rd place - Elbert Yoshida
3rd place - Marvin Acklin
Team Match Parents/Kids Team Match
1st place - Kenshikan Parents - 4
2nd place - Waipahu Seibukan Kids - 1
James Oka "Kantosho" Fighting Spirit Award - Maiki Uda
SHINKYU SHINSA
AUSKF KODANSHA SHINSA, April 9, 2017, San Jose, California
5TH DAN: Scott Chang (SCKF), Jeff Cheng-yu Chen (NCKF), Dale Hatakeyama (NCKF), Hidenori Kongo
(SCKF), Hidenori Kongo (NCKF), Jeffrey Marsten (PNKF), Hitoshi Tanabe (NCKF), Linda Tanaka (NCKF),
Hiroaki Yano (SCKO), Suzan Zau (SCKF). 6TH DAN: Jason Brown (SCKF), Dong Jin Huh (SCKF), Sunmi
Lim (WKF), Taisuke Mori (MWKF), Shinji Onitsuka (NCKF), Kijae Song (WKF), Teruo Tamano (SCKO). 7TH
DAN: Kevin Abe (SCKF), Masataka Sakaue (SCKF). Renshi: Jimmy Eitoku (NCKF).
Kyoshi: Masayasu Ando (PNKF), Tetsuo Komizu (SWKIF).
ZNKR KENDO SHINSA, June 4, 2017, Shizuoka, Japan
5TH DAN: Samantha Du, Shanghai.
AUSKF IAIDO SHINSA, June 11, 2017 Bryn Mawr
3RD KYU: Jayson Gesulga (Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF, Igor Motov (Doshikai AEUSKF), Gilberto
Perez (Toku Bu Kan SEUSKF), Ben Senderling (Omaha SWUSKIF), Joshua Stadtlander-Miller (Ken-Zen
AEUSKF), Nathanial Thomason Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF), Darryl Woods (Mushinkan SWUSKIF).
2ND KYU: Soo Chul Bang (Shidogakuin NY GNEUSKF), Joseph Costa (Itto Kai AUSKF), Michael
Jacobson (Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF), Phil Sevin (Zen Bu Kan RMKIF), Feng (Blade) Wang
(Mushinkan SWUSKIF). 1ST KYU: Dylan Abrams (Cherry Hill EUSKF), Jeremie Clark (Doshikai
AEUSKF), Ritchard Higham (Ken-Zen AEUSKF), Peter Kim (Doshikai AEUSKF), Hiroyuki Maeda (Idaho PNKF).
1ST DAN: Dominique Alfandari (Sei Zan AEUSKF), Cheyenne Baker (Dallas-Fort Worth SWUSKIF),
David Carroll (River City SUSKIF), Helene Cousin (Sei Zan AEUSKF), Michael Schuldt (Musoshindenryu
Iaido-Agassiz MWKF), Scott Watson (Michigan Koryu MWKF), Nathan Williams Dallas-Fort Worth SWUSKIF).
2ND DAN: John Baker (Dallas-Fort Worth SWUSKIF), Jordy Davis (Zen Bu Kan RMKIF), Celeste Rosell
(Zen Bu Kan RMKIF). 3RD DAN: Jose Arenas Gomez (Aizen BRAZIL), Michael Sareyani (Ken-Zen
AEUSKF). 4TH DAN: Sasha Corchado (JSS EUSKF), Orsolya Kiss (Cleveland Touyuukai GNEUSKF),
Michael Pattarozzi (Rocky Mountain RMKIF), Kevin Thibedeau (Ken-Zen AEUSKF). 5TH DAN: Gordon
Hall (Ken-Zen AEUSKF). 6TH DAN: David Bressler (Ken-Zen AEUSKF), Jason Hankins (Zen Bu Kan
RMKIF), Nancy James (Sei Zan AEUSKF), Samuel Okuno (Norwalk SCKF).
AUSKF JODO SHINSA, June 11, 2017 Bryn Mawr
1ST KYU: Bradley Anderson (Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF), David Bressler (Ken-Zen AEUSKF),
Nikiforos Fokas (US Kobujodokai AUSKF), Bob Fushimi (Yamakage SWUSKIF), Jayson Gesulga (Musoshindenryu
Iaido Agassiz MWKF) Michael Jacobson (Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF), Kazuhiro Kawashima
(Shidogakuin NY GNEUSKF), An Nguyen (Butokuden SCKO), Jaden Olah (Yamakage SWUSKIF), Raab Rashi
(Seitokan EUSKF), Adam Sandor (Musoshindenryu Iaido Agassiz MWKF), Michael Schuldt (Musoshindenryu
Iaido Agassiz MWKF), Kevin Thibedeau (Ken-Zen AEUSKF), Richard -Todosichuk (Doshikai AEUSKF), Phillip
VanDenBerghe (Baltimore-Annapolis SEUSKF), Scott Watson (Michigan Koryu MWKF). 1ST DAN: Peter
Kim (Doshikai AEUSKF), Gina Konstantopoulos (Ken-Zen AEUSKF), Alec Milton (Ken-Zen AEUSKF).
THE LAST WORD
To renew, when we are deadlocked with the enemy, means that without changing our circumstances we
change our spirit and win through a different technique. (Musashi) The true Way of the strategy is the
craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this. If you attain and adhere to the
wisdom of my strategy, you need never doubt that you will win. (Musashi) I did not graduate from
Busen. I would have been the 31st class to graduate from Busen in 1944, but I was drafted into the
Japanese military in 1942. There were two entering classes after mine, and then Busen closed forever.
Japan was at war, and many of the Sensei’s and students had been called to serve in the Japanese
military before I received my draft notice during my second year of classes. Actually attending Seiho
Middle School for Japanese (Kokugo) and then Ritsumeikan University for Chinese classical writing
(Kanbun), allowed me to remain out of service for longer than many of the students. Each year Ogawa
Sensei submitted an exemption form for me, but my exemption finally expired. Because most of the
senseis had already been drafted, there was certainly no excuse for not serving. Once notified,
military service was mandatory. And I served from October 1942 to September 12, 1945, the end of World
War II. I recall the Nisei song composed by one of the Japanese language teachers at the Wahiawa
Hongwanji Buddhist temple. He composed it from an old Japanese school song and adapted the words to
our life in Hawaii. We all knew the song and sang it almost as what would be called a pep rally song
today. I recently recorded it to send to Kyoto for the Busen anniversary, together with the Busen
school song.
Rekishi Wa Nagashi Sanzen Nen Koto Kagayaku Hinomoto No Fubo No Chi Ukeshi Warera Nari Seigi Wo Motte Kuni Wo tate Sekai Ni Kan taru Tomi Wo Motsu Amerika Shimin No Warera Nari Long 3,000 year history, of the shining unbroken Japanese Imperial line. We, the heirs of this 3,000 year lineage, With justice we build this country A nation unsurpassed in the world as ours American citizens we became.
I don’t know what my father’s view of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was, but in 1941, he sent my
brother Tomio (Brian) to Japan, knowing that he would be drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army. I
saw him for one day; the next he answered the draft. Brian fought in the Japan-China War, which began
in 1931 with the invasion of Manchuria. His was a more gentle nature than mine when we were kids in
Wahiawa, so I doubt that Brian was eager to be a soldier. But he had no choice but to obey my father.
He spoke of his war experience rarely, but his time in service was not easy. He was pure Japanese, but
having been raised in Hawaii, his language skills were more lacking than mine when I arrived at Kyoto.
A worthy Japanese does not speak pidgen. His fellow soldiers not only rejected him but beat him
frequently. The Japanese invasion of China brought hell, and the Japanese army brought Brian nothing
but a constant, tortuous hell.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto, Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 28-29.
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Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
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