Volume 32, number 12
December 2018
PNKF DATEBOOK
December 2018
- 12/15: PNKF Juniors practice, Sat, 5-8pm, cost $5, Seattle Buddhist
Temple, 1427 S Main Street Seattle 98144.
January 2019
- 1/12: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S. King Street, Seattle.
- 1/26-1/27: FIK Shinpan Seminar, Sat/Sun, Dallas, TX.
February 2019
- 2/2: PNKF Kata Seminar, Sat, CANCELLED.
- 2/9-10: Boise State University 5th Annual Iaido Seminar, with Iaido
Kyoshi 8th Dan Kazuhiza Kaneda, from Tokyo, Japan. BSU Kinesiology
Gym, 1404 Bronco Lane, Boise, Idaho 83706.Schedule: Saturday, Feb 9; 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, Feb 10; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - 2/16: PNKF Kendo Shinsa, Sat, 12noon-5pm, including godo keiko at the end of the Shinsa, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- 2/23: Steveston Taikai, Sat, 9am, Hugh McRoberts Secondary School, 8980 Williams Road, Richmond BC. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE
March 2019
- 3/3: UW Kendo Prom, Sun, 6:30-9:30pm, UW Waterfront Activities Center Great Room, 3710 Montlake Blvd, Seattle, Washington 98195. Prom Tickets will be $20 per person and $35 per couple. For students (high school or college) tickets will be $10 per person and $15 per couple. They will also be having a raffle ticket drawing with AMAZING prizes! PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE
- 3/9: PNKF Jodan Seminar, Sat, 12noon-5pm, featuring Kendo Renshi 6th Dan Harry Samkange, Broadview Elementary School (small gym), Sno-King Kendo Club, 13040 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle, WA 98133.
- 3/16: Highline Taikai, Sat, doors open 8:30am, opening ceremonies 9:30am, White Center Community Center,
1321 SW 102nd Street, Seattle.. - 3/23: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S.
King Street, Seattle. - 3/30: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, Sat, TBD.
April 2019
- 4/6: AUSKF Junior Open National Championships, Sat, South Forsyth High School, 585 Peachtree Parkway,
Cumming, Georgia 30041 http://auskf-jrnationals.com/. - 4/6: UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, Intramural Activities Building (IMA), UW campus, Montlake Boulevard NE.
- 4/13: PNKF Iaido Seminar and Shinsa, Sat, 9am-4pm, St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church Gym (Seattle Kendo Kai), 1610 S. King Street, Seattle. - 4/13-14: AUSKF Board meeting, Sat-Sun. Hotel is Radisson, 18118 International Blvd, Seatac, WA 98188. Gym
for Saturday evening Godo Keiko 5-7pm, is Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, located
right off I-5 at S. 188th Street - 4/14: AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa, Sun, 11am-5pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, located
right off I-5 at S. 188th Street. - 4/21: Cherry Blossom demo, Sun, TBD, Seattle Center.
- 4/??: Vancouver Taikai, Sat, TBD.
May 2019
- 5/4: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S.
King Street, Seattle. - 5/18: Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, Highland Park Community Center.
June 2019
- 6/14-6/15-6/16: 12th Annual US Nito Kendo Summer Camp, Fri/Sat/Sun, College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho.
We are pleased to have the following sensei attend this year’s camp:
Ryoichi FUJII, Kyoshi 8 dan, Yamaguchi Japan
Yoshihiro UGAJIN,Kyoshi 7 dan, Tokyo Japan
Futoshi SATO, Kyoshi 7 dan, Chiba Japan
Mitsuyoshi WADA, Renshi 7 dan, Tokyo Japan
Hisashi NAGASAKI, Renshi 7 dan, Oita Japan
Ako FUJII, Renshi 7 dan, Yamaguchi Japan - 6/22: Rose City Taikai, Sat, location TBD, Portland.
- 6/27-7/1: AUSKF Iaido Seminar, Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon.
July 2019
- 7/6-7/13: North American Women’s Kendo Tournament and Seminar, led by Kendo Renshi 7th Dan Chinatsu Maruyama, five time All Japan Champion, Seminar 7/6-7/11 Sat-Thu, Championship 7/13 Sat. https://womenskendo.com/
- 7/20: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S.
King Street, Seattle.
August 2019
- 8/10: PNKF Kendo Shinsa, Sat, TBD.
September 2019
- 9/14: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S.
King Street, Seattle. - 9/27-9/29: PNKF Iaido Seminar, Tournament, and Shinsa.
October 2019
- 10/5: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, Sat, 12noon-5pm, Kent Commons Recreational Center, 525 4th Avenue N., Kent.
- 10/19: Tacoma Taikai.
November 2019
- 11/2: PNKF Taikai, Kent Commons Recreational Center, 525 4th Avenue N., Kent.
- 11/9-10: AUSKF Board meeting.
- 11/10: AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa.
- 11/16: PNKF Board meeting, 9-11am, Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S.
King Street, Seattle.
December 2019
- 12/7: Kent Taikai, Sat, TBD, Kent Commons Recreational Center, 525 4th Avenue N., Kent.
PNKF BOARD NEWS
At their November 17, 2018 meeting, the 2018/2019 Board was seated, and Officers were elected.
President – CJ Chaney (SnoKing), Vice President – Doug Imanishi (Seattle), Treasurer – Mary DeJong (Highline), Secretary – Tom Bolling (Bellevue), UW Advisor – CJ Chaney.
Other Board members are: Masa Ando (Alaska), Jonathan Bannister (AiShinKai), Sean Blechschmidt (Bellevue), Steve Choi (Portland), Sean DeBlieck (SnoKing), Mary DeJong (Highline), Rory Elliott (Everett), Karin Fedderson (Tacoma), Mark Frederick (Northwest), Jane Higa (UW), Michael Mabale (Seattle), Curtis Marsten (Kent), Tiarnan Marsten (Kent), Vicki Marsten (Federal Way), George Nakayama (Portland), Ed Olson (Tonbo), Chris Ruiz (Spokane), Russ Sinclair (Spokane), Blake Sprenger (Portland), Stephen Ting (Northwest), Frank Wessbecher (Highline).
2018 NORTH AMERICAN IAIDO PARTNERSHIP EVENT – December 2, 2018, Canadian Kendo Federation, Etobicoke, Toronto
Pan-American Iaido - National Team Taikai
1st place - USA
Senpo - Thane Mittelstaedt (AiShinKai Fudo Myoo-Ji Dojo)
Chuken - John Mullin (Ken Zen Institute)
Taisho - Paul Shin (Shidogakuin)
2nd place - Canada
Senpo - Greg Fenton (Mu Mon Kai)
Chuken - Warren Wagler (Kenshokan)
Taisho - Juan Vasquez (Shidokan)
3rd place - Chile
Senpo - Cristian Zumelzu (Asociacion Metropolitana de Kendo)
Chuken - N/A
Taisho - Julio Villareol (Asociacion Metropolitana de Kendo)
3rd place - Mexico
Senpo - Ireneo Rodriguez (Asociacion de Kendo de Nuevo León)
Chuken - Saul Rocha (Asociacion de Kendo de Nuevo León)
Taisho - Oscar Mendez (Asociacion de Iaido y Kendo del Instituto Politecnico Nacional)
Pan-American Iaido – Goodwill Taikai
1st place - Atsuki’s Fantasico
Senpo - Oscar Mendez (Mexico)
Chuken - Flavia Silva (Chile)
Taisho - Hanna Ikeda-Suen (Canada)
2nd place - Senshin
Senpo - Jennifer Mayo (USA)
Chuken - Ignacio Lorca (Chile)
Taisho - David Cheng (Canada)
3rd place - Olivia’s Fantasico
Senpo - Saul Rocha (Mexico)
Chuken - Sandy Lee-Gonye (Canada)
Taisho - Gordon Hall (USA)
3rd place - Espados Hermanos
Senpo - Ireneo Rodriguez (Mexico)
Chuken - Edward Vierk (USA)
Taisho - Guillermo Vargas (Chile)
Pan-American Iaido – Embu Taikai
3rd Dan - Darwin Chan (Mu Mon Kai, Canada) 4th Dan - Tak Furuta (Ittokai, USA) 5th Dan - Patrick Suen (Mu Mon Kai, Canada) 6th Dan - Carole Galligan (Mu Mon Kai, Canada)
KENT TAIKAI – December 8, 2018, Kent Commons Recreational Center, 525 4th Avenue N., Kent
10 Years and Under 11-12 Years 1st place – K. Maxfield-Matsumoto, Highline 1st place – A. Mabale, Seattle 2nd place – Y. Ryu, Cascade 2nd place – J. Yu, Northwest 3rd place – K. Ayers, SnoKing 3rd place – J. Paik, Tacoma 3rd place – O. Kaufman, Portland 3rd place – S. Kim, Seattle 13-15 Years 0-4 Kyu 1st place – J. Kim, Federal Way 1st place – A. Kim, Bellevue 2nd place – K. Underhill, Northwest 2nd place – YI Sun, Bellevue 3rd place – D. Chung, Cascade 3rd place – J. Lee, UW 3rd place – L. Ohata, Bellevue 3rd place – A. Lam, Bellevue 3-1 Kyu 1-2 Dan 1st place – T. Miyamoto, Northwest 1st place – KE Underhill, Northwest 2nd place – N. Smith, Bellevue 2nd place – D. Imanishi, Seattle 3rd place – E. Midorikawa, UW 3rd place – K. Fukuda, Cascade 3rd place – H. Su, Bellevue 3rd place – A. Yuen, Seattle 3-4 Dan Women’s 1st place – I. Morgan, Kent 1st place – T. Imanishi, Cascade 2nd place – Y. Shim, Highline 2nd place – B. Park, Bellevue 3rd place – R. Ono, Cascade 3rd place – R. Ono, Cascade 3rd place – M. Yoneda, Kent 3rd place – M. Blechschmidt, Bellevue 4th place – T. Marsten, Kent 4th place – T. Patana, SnoKing 4th place – F. Wessbecher, Highline 4th place – B. Shieh, Cascade Junior Teams 1st place – Bellevue (H. Koob, K. Takamatsu, L. Ohata, J. Chu, C. Park) 2nd place – Northwest (Ju. Paik, N. Underhill, J. Yu, Jo. Paik, K. Underhill) 3rd place – Seattle (A. Yuen, E. Kim, A. Mabale, S. Kim, K. Hale) 3rd place – Mixed (S. Johnson, M. Day, O. Kaufman, L. Jesequel, F. Mabale) Senior Teams 1st place – Northwest (K. Underhill, T. Miyamoto, B. Pae, X. Wang, V. Vulfson) 2nd place – Bellevue (B. Park, M. Blechschmidt, L. Tsybert, M. Ohata, H. Su) 3rd place – SnoKing (D. Lew, M. Suzuki, A. Zee, T. Patana, N. Grimes) 3rd place – Kent (S. Day, J. Orwig, M. Yoneda, I. Morgan, T. Marsten) Shinpan Sho – Curtis Marsten Sportsmanship Pledge – Terry McManus
SHINKYU SHINSA
AUSKF KODANSHA SHINSA, November 11, 2018, Dallas, Texas 5TH DAN: Satoko Boettcher (ECUSKF), Hiroki Fukui (ECUSKF), Eui Rae Ro (SEUSKF), Mark Masakuni Sasaki (MWKF), Mitsukuni Yoshida (MWKF). 6TH DAN: Masanao Fukuno (SCKO), Pau H. Shin (GNEUSKF). 7TH DAN: Yutaro Matsuura (MWKF). RENSHI: Russell M. Ichimura (SWKIF), Nathan Makino (SCKO), Song Yi Yang (SCKF). KYOSHI: Brandon Harada (SCKF). MWKF FALL SHINSA, October 21, 2018, Oveland Park, Kansas 2ND KYU: Nick Karstens (Moline). 1ST DAN: Kate Classy Duffus (Moline). 4TH DAN: Seong Kim (Moline). 2018 NORTH AMERICAN IAIDO PARTNERSHIP SHINSA, December 2, 2018, Canadian Kendo Federation, Etobicoke, Toronto 6TH DAN: Jonathan Bannister (PNKF). CKF WEST SHINSA, December 8, 2018, Steveston 5TH DAN: Jakob Schmidt (Vancouver).
THE LAST WORD
When I returned, I trained more new recruits. But this time, they were old, feeble men, often disabled and sick. All the men, college students and young men had already been drafted, leaving only the “Han” squad, these sad old men. The Japanese army was obviously in poor condition, and it was becoming apparent that Japan was losing the war. These old soldiers were throwaway men.
I thought that training these old people to fight, some of whom actually belonged in a nursing home, was absurd, a waste of energy, and cruel. So I gave them time to rest and recuperate. I would lead them out of the barracks with great gusto for training, but as we approached the training field, we just lay down and rested. If I had been caught doing this, I would have been court-martialed. But I guess the happy-go-lucky Hawaiian boy had emerged, and I thought, “What the heck! These old people can’t fight. They need rest more than anything else to merely survive.”
I felt very sorry for the old soldiers. Once an intake sergeant came to me with a picture of a lady. He said one of the old soldiers who had just been inducted a couple of days before had the photograph in his wallet. It was typical that the old soldiers were harassed for trivial things. To try to “shape them up,” they were given a “Binta,” a hard whack on both sides of the face. But taking the picture was psychological cruelty. I called for the old man and asked him to identify the lady. “My wife,” he answered softly, shaking because he thought I would give him another Binta. “Okay.” I said. “Put this back in your wallet and go back to your bunk.” Then I called the soldier who had taken the picture from the old man. I reprimanded him, and came close to calling him a bully. “Don’t do that to the soldiers. They have the right to carry their wives’ pictures in their wallets,” I barked. “And before you give Binta to any of them, see me first. I want to know why, and it better be a good reason!” Long after the War when I was living in Matsue, this nameless old soldier found me and came to thank me.
Early spring, 1945, I had full responsibility for the welfare of my troops; all were novices, the very young and the elderly. My troop consisted of four six-cylinder Toyota trucks, and four squads, a total of eighteen soldiers including two sergeants, a driver, an assistant, and two flaggers. We were assigned to serve in Kochi City in Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. We rarely stayed in the city, however, and usually camped in scattered places on the hillside surrounding the city.
Our mission was tough, beginning before dawn and ending late at night; some days we worked around the clock. Our rations were minimal, and we were always hungry, but we kept on moving and rested only when we were completely exhausted. We cut and loaded logs from the mountains with no towing tools of any kind, and then hauled them to the Kochi shoreline to furnish barricade materials for the infantry soldiers protecting the Japanese Mainland from invasion. The Allies were at our borders. On the return trip, we hauled food and supplies from the Kochi warehouse for redistribution to the farmers’ warehouses located throughout the hills. Food was critical and in this way we tried to avoid losing all our supplies to bombs and create more access points.
We kept moving through the dark one night, long after we all wanted and severely needed to rest. One of the sergeants asked me to allow the soldiers to sleep in the shoreline warehouse, where we had stopped for a few minutes after loading for the return trip. The warehouse was now half empty and seemed luxurious compared to our usual sleeping conditions. I rejected the request and after a rest of only a few minutes, started up the hill with very unhappy soldiers. About midway, we heard B-52 bombers flying over very high, but they didn’t drop any bombs. “Turn off the lights,” I ordered, “and sleep right where you are!” Shortly thereafter, from way out in the Pacific, a swarm of P-151’s sprayed some kind of liquid flame accelerant on the Kochi warehouse. Then the second line dropped flare bombs. In seconds the entire warehouse exploded, lighting the shoreline of Kochi. They ignored our little convoy, or perhaps never spotted us. No one complained about lack of sleep that night! Once again, luck was with us.
My final order was to return to Kochi to gather the supplies we had saved by scattering them in the hills in farmers’ warehouses. The roads were narrow, the drivers inexperienced and the trucks easily slid into the rice paddies. We had no towing tools so when a truck was stuck, everyone would work together to heave the truck upright and attempt to get it back on the road. But that was easy compared to rescuing our own men who would often become trapped inside the truck when it rolled. One time a truck rolled over and pinned a soldier. Gasoline spilled from the truck and covered his body. We finally rolled the truck off him, but he was in no shape to continue his duties. Due to the gasoline burns, his skin was peeling from his entire body. He suffered horribly, especially when he moved. I sent him back to Hiroshima. Then came the Atomic Bomb that released his pain completely!
How perfunctory and cold my attitude now seems – he burned then died. No description of his unrelenting screams of agony, the calls to his mother, the terror in his eyes. But that is what happens in war. Too much suffering and death can drive a man insane unless the senses of pity and horror are numbed. Anger is acceptable. Soldiers are taught not to look in the eyes of an enemy if killing in close combat. Looking into the eyes creates a relationship. We are taught about relationship in Kendo. But there is no time in boot camp to learn how to create a life as well as take a life. In modern warfare, killing is, when possible, more distant. That is probably good for the mental health of soldiers, even though it avoids confronting the reality of death on a bloody battlefield.
Hiroshima, 1945
We were so isolated in Kochi that we had lost communications with our base in Hiroshima. We didn’t know about the Bomb or the end of the War until few weeks after Japan surrendered. But we weren’t surprised. The old soldiers were tired and already felt defeated, and most of us had known for some months that the war was lost. We just didn’t know the form that loss would take.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto, Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 36-37. Available as free download at lulu.com.
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation PLEASE NOTE: Kenyu Online IS THE EDITION OF RECORD FOR THIS NEWSLETTER – https://www.pnkf.org/ Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115