Volume 30, number 4/5/6

April/May/June 2016

PNKF DATEBOOK

July 2016

• 7/9-15: North American Women’s Seminar, Sat thru Fri, Broadview-Thompson Elementary School
  East Gym/Bitter Lake Community Center Annex, 13052 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle.

• 7/16: 6th PNKF North American Women’s Kendo Taikai, Sat, 9am, Renton Community Center,
  1715 SE Maple Valley Highway, Renton.

• 7/22-29: AJKF Foreign Leaders’ Seminar, Fri/Fri, Kitamoto, Japan.
• 7/23: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Seattle location, 4001 Aurora Avenue N., Seattle 98103.

August 2016

• 8/13: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525
  4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.

• 8/13-14: AJKF/CKF Jodo Seminar and Shinsa, Sat/Sun, time and location TBD, Vancouver BC.
• 8/19-21: 2016 AUSKF Summer Camp, Fri-Sun, special guests and location TBD, Northern
  California.

September 2016

• 9/17: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of
  4th & James St.) Kent.

• CANCELED 9/23-25: PNKF Iaido Seminar, Fri/Sat/Sun.CANCELED
  • CANCELEDRain 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. CANCELED

October 2016

• 10/1: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, CANCELED.
• 10/15-16: AUSKF Shinpan Seminar, Sat/Sun, Odyssey at Tyee Educational Complex
  4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, Washington.

• 10/22: Tacoma Taikai
  • 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street
    West, University Place, WA 98466.

November 2016

• 11/5: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner
  of 4th & James St.) Kent.

• 11/12: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner
  of 4th & James St.) Kent.

• 11/12-13: AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.
• 11/19: Tonbo ZenKenIai Seminar Sat, 9am-5pm, followed by Sayonara Dinner. Teachers: Iaido Renshi 7th Dan Pam Parker, Iaido 6th Dan Susan Sekreta, and Iaido 5th Dan Jason Hankins. Location: Sheridan Community Center, 680 Lebo Blvd., Bremerton, WA, 98310. Transport from the ferry terminal to the venue will be available for free. Price and details TBD.

December 2016

• 12/10: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center,
  525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.) Kent.

January 2017

• 1/7-8: Boise State University Iaido Seminar & Shinsa “Kokusai Budo Daigakku, Kazuhisa Kaneda Iaido Seminar”, Sat/Sun, KANEDA Kazuhisa sensei, Iaido Kyoshi 8 Dan, Instructor at International Budo University in Katsuura Japan, 8 time All Japan Iaido National Champion, Author of “Iai no Kihon” (Iai Basics) Book and DVD set I II & III, Boise State University, Rec Center Main Gym, 1515 University Drive, Boise Idaho 83725.
  • 1/7: 10am-5pm.
  • 1/8: 10am-3pm
  • 1/8: Iaido Shinsa testing up through 3rd Dan, Sun, 9-10am, open to PNKF members, AUSKF members, and FIK affiliates.

June 2017

• 6/21-25: 2017 AUSKF National Championships Preliminary Information, Wed-Sun, Independence High School, San Jose, California.
  • 6/21 Manager/Referee Meetings, Wed.
  • 6/22 Junior Open National Championships, Thu.
  • 6/23-25 AUSKF National Championships, Fri-Sun.

September 2018

• 9/14-16: 17WKC, Fri/Sat/Sun, Seoul, Korea.

PASSAGE

In the morning of June 20, 2016, one of the key contributors to the resurgence of post-War American Kendo, Kendo
and Iaido Kyoshi 7th Dan Pat Yoshitsugu Murosako, passed away at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Washington, not far
from Serene Garden, the care center where he had been living. Born January 2, 1921 to Kisayo Kanemitsu and Kaichi Murosako
in Fresno, California, he began training in Kendo with his father, and with Nakamura Tokichi Sensei, and was granted
Shodan in 1938. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, all West Coast Kendo teachers, including his father, were immediately
rounded up and sent to Federal prison, since they were obvious community leaders, and suspected of being Japanese agents
or spies. Murosako Sensei headed east to get out of the Pacific military zone. At Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he was inducted
into Army intelligence, and served in MIS, specializing in topography. As the War ended, he served in the occupation
forces in Japan, and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. At the June 2012 AUSKF Iaido Seminar, Mark Uchida
Sensei delivered Murosako Sensei’s Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that can be bestowed by the United
States. The medal had been presented to the Nisei vets in a November 2, 2011 White House ceremony presided over by House
Speaker John Boehner. On June 29, 1952 Murosako Sensei married Susie Shizue Omura, who recently passed away February 6,
2007 from a disastrous fall on the icy front step of their beautiful woodland home. They are survived by one son, James
Kazuo Murosako, born June 11, 1956. With the end of the War, Murosako Sensei had turned to the field of art, which he
studied formally, then becoming an art director with a prominent Los Angeles ad agency. He became an active participant in
the formation of the Kendo Federation of the USA, and the Southern California Kendo Federation. He was intimately involved
with the profound argument between high-rankers which led to the split in American Kendo, followed by the birth of the
All-US Kendo Federation. Many of his intricate and beautiful Federation artwork designs for logos, tenugui, trophies, and
posters are still popular, as are his fabulous styrofoam sculptures. A trueborn artist in multiple media, Murosako Sensei
had a beautiful tenor singing voice, and could sit down at the grand piano in his livingroom and accompany himself with
great elan. Over his career he founded several Dojo, including Pasadena Buddhist Temple Kendo Club, Meadowbrook, and
Musokai. He was tough and uncompromising, almost harsh, in his approach to teaching both Kendo and Iaido, yet
compassionate and sentimental, almost tender, to a fault, and always very, very affectionate. “Did D. injure your leg?”
“Yes. I did ashi-barai on him, and it worked! But unfortunately he fell down on top of me… heh,heh,heh!” He overcame
many serious health afflictions, including Parkinson’s and cancer, and almost died June 12, 2007 from a massive dissecting
descending aortic aneurism. “They were weak… wimpy! I was showing them how to put power into each cut… then I felt
like somebody kicked me in the back!” Given only hours to live, he was rescued by a courageous young surgeon who tried a
long-shot surgical approach with about a 90% chance the patient would not survive. Sensei calmly said “Thank you very
much, yes please,” and once again came back from near death. The PNKF, the AUSKF, and the FIK have lost one of the
authentic tough-guy kenshi of legend. We who have known him may feel incredibly privileged, and eager to see him again,
Over There.

40th ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 16, 2016

Women's                                0-4 Kyu
1st place - J. DeJong, HLN             1st place - M. Eum, UW
2nd place - B. Lin, UW                 2nd place - A. Yorita, UW
3rd place - M. Suzuki, Sno-King        3rd place - N. Macias, UW
3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue          3rd place - T. Okamura, Bellevue

3-1 Kyu                                1-2 Dan
1st place - C. Capoeman, Tacoma        1st place - B. Liao, Bellevue
2nd place - T. Yamashita, Seattle      2nd place - J. Yamauchi, Cascade
3rd place - V. DeBellis, Obukan        3rd place - J. Ohara, UBC
3rd place - B. Valdez-Cruz, Northwest  3rd place - A. Sinclair, Spokane

3 Dan                                  4 Dan and Above
1st place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji         1st place - T. Hamanaka, Tozenji
2nd place - E. DeJong, UW              2nd place - S. Asaoka, Youshinkan
3rd place - E. Christianson, Edmonds   3rd place - N. Nakano, Steveston
3rd place - J. Okada, Cascade          3rd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle

Teams
1st place - Steveston (S.O'Sullivan, D.Yao, I.Takagaki, N.Nakano, E.Hung)
2nd place - Kent (T.Marsten, I.Morgan, C.Marsten, J.Frazier-Day, S.Day)

Taikai Chair - Erica DeJong
Head Shinpan - Jeffrey Marsten
Sportsmanship Pledge - Corey Chan
UW Most Improved - Spencer Kua
Kazuo and Tomo Shoji Inspirational Award - Corey Chan

ITO TSUTOMU CUP – April 30, 2016, Standley Lake High School, Westminster, Colorado

Women's Division  
1st place - Houston Kendo Kyokai A (Lucy Tan, Alexandra Darrah, Makiko Adachi)
2nd place - Kent (Keeley McManus, Janell Frazier-Day, Vicki Marsten)
3rd place - Bellevue-Highline-Sno-King (Bernice Lin, Erica DeJong, Andrea Kayser)
3rd place - Dallas A (Jennyrayne Colangan, Denise Verastigue, Noemi Arnal)

5-Person Teams Division
1st place - Kent (Ian Morgan, Tiarnan Marsten, Janell Frazier-Day, Terry McManus, Conor Marsten)
2nd place - Arkansas (Amer Mujakic, Jonah Wu, Michiaki Imamura, An Giang, Michio Kajitani)
3rd place - Houston Kendo Kyokai  (Makiko Adachi, Alexandra Darrah, Rocky Hui, Lucy Tan, Prudence Sheng-Yi)
3rd place - Dallas A (Zachary Gonzales, Noemi Arnal, Reggie Solitano, Adria Navarro Martin, Masayuki Mizuuchi)

Ito Cup team = Sean DeBlieck, CJ Chaney, Noelle Grimes, Bernice Lin, Erica DeJong

26th ANNUAL BELLEVUE JUNIOR TAIKAI – May 21, 2016, Bellevue

10 Years and Under                 11 to 12 Years                       13 to 14 Years
1st place - H. Koob, Bellevue      1st place - B. Underhill, Northwest  1st place - B. Park, Bellevue
2nd place - A. Mabale, Seattle     2nd place - J. Kim, Federal Way      2nd place - E. Underhill, Northwest
3rd place - N. Chu, Bellevue       3rd place - M. Tawara, Bellevue      3rd place - T. Koob, Bellevue
3rd place - T. Yuen, Seattle       3th place - L. Ohata, Bellevue       3rd place - M. Ohata, Bellevue

High School Girls                     High School Boys
1st place - J. DeJong, Highline       1st place - T. Marsten, Kent
2nd place - J. Higa, Bellevue         2nd place - B. Liao, Bellevue
3rd place - K. McManus, Kent          3rd place - A. Yuen, Seattle
3rd place - M. Blechschmidt, Bellevue 3rd place - A. Nagasawa, Bellevue

Junior Teams
1st place - Cascade White (H.Honda, D.Chung, H.Jang, K.Fukuda, S.Terao)
2nd place - Obukan (L.Jesequel, M.Gyldersleve, W.Langford, T.Langford, S.Wetlesen)

High School Teams
1st place - Bellevue White (A.Nagasawa, A.Kojima, B.Liao)
2nd place - Kent (K.McManus, T.Marsten)

Head Shinpan - Harry Samkange; Taikai Co-Chairs - Allison Kojima, Betty Park, and Jane Higa; National 
Anthem - Maya Blechschmidt; Competitors' Pledge - Allison Kojima; Master of Ceremonies - CJ Chaney; 
Awesome Spirit Award - Andrew Nagasawa, Bellevue;  Centurion Bellevue Highline Sno-King Youth Leadership 
Award - Jennifer DeJong, Highline.

51st ANNUAL VANCOUVER KENDO TOURNAMENT – May 28, 2016, Byrne Creek Secondary School

9 Years and Under                  10 to 12 Years                       13 to 15 Years
1st place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu    1st place - L. Shiomi, SFU           1st place - K. Muramatsu, Renfrew
2nd place - D. Gardner, UVic       2nd place - B. Miki, Steveston       2nd place - R. Kim, Renbu
3rd place - D. Buckham, UVic       3rd place - A. Ito, Steveston        3rd place - E. Lee, Renbu
3rd place - E. Majewski, UVic      3rd place - C. Robillard, Steveston  3rd place - E. Chui, Steveston

16 to 20 Years                     21 to 30 Years                       31 to 40 Years
1st place - A. Lee, Vancouver      1st place - T. Hamanaka, Tozenji     1st place  T. Yamada, Vancouver
2nd place - M. Sawaoka, SFU        2nd place - T. Kabata, Renbu         2nd place  D. Yao, Steveston
3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu         3rd place - R. Asato, Vancouver      3rd place  K. Kobayashi, Youshinkan
3rd place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji     3rd place - K. Takeuch, Youshinkan   3rd place  M. Rose, Renfrew

41 Years and Over                    Women
1st place - S. Asaoka, Youshinkan    1st place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu
2nd place - I. Miki, Steveston       2nd place - Ha Yamada, Vancouver
3rd place - Hi Yamada, Vancouver     3rd place - N. Fukushima, Vancouver
3rd place - J. Schmidt, Vancouver    3rd place - K. Keung, UBC

Junior Team                          Senior Team
1st place - Renbu A                  1st place - Vancouver
2nd place - Tozenji                  2nd place - Steveston

Fighting Spirit Awards - K. Squance, Renbu and D. Chiu, SFU

2016 ROSE CITY TAIKAI June 11, 2016, Portland Community College Cascade Campus

Women                                  Juniors 12 and Below
1st place - N. Grimes, Sno-King        1st place - J. Shim, Obukan
2nd place - T. Imanishi, Cascade       2nd place - B. Underhill, Northwest
3rd place - R. Wakasaki, Obukan        3rd place - J. Lee, Cascade
3rd place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent       3rd place - D. Han, Kogakukan

Juniors 13-15                          3 Kyu and Below
1st place - A. Yuen, Seattle           1st place - C. Pak, Portland
2nd place - E. Underhill, Northwest    2nd place - S. Wetlesen, Obukan
3rd place - K. Fukuda, Cascade         3rd place - G. Wroblewski, Bellevue
3rd place - T. Miyamoto, Northwest     3rd place - B. Sprenger, Obukan

2 Kyu and 1 Kyu                        1 Dan and 2 Dan
1st place - M. Blechschmidt, Bellevue  1st place - J. Lee, Portland
2nd place - O. Jeong, Kogakukan        2nd place - J. Croes, Portland
3rd place - A. Kojima, Bellevue        3rd place - H. Park, OSU
3rd place - S. Ting, Northwest         3rd place - N. Cook, Portland

3 Dan and Above                        Senior Dan
1st place - B. Imanishi, Cascade       1st place - R. Elliott, Highline
2nd place - N. Grimes, Sno-King        2nd place - M. Nakamura, Obukan
3rd place - A. Yen, Seattle            3rd place - H. Iba, Bellevue
3rd place - L. Tsybert, Bellevue       3rd place - H. Fukumoto, Seattle

Junior Team
1st place - Seattle (Y.Wakasaki, Alec Yuen, An Yuen)
2nd place - Obukan A (J.Shim, T.Langford, S.Wetlesen)
3rd place - Northwest A (B.Underhill, N.Underhill, E.Underhill)
3rd place - Cascade A (H.Jang, JY Lee, K.Fukuda)

Adult Team
1st place - Portland A (J.Lee, J.Croes, G.Nakayama, A.Nakayama, S.Choi)
2nd place - Kent (I.Morgan, V.Marsten, J.Frazier-Day, T.Marsten, S.Day)
3rd place - Obukan A (V.Le, K.Gordon, R.Wakasaki, N.Holtorf, M.Nakamura)
3rd place - Sno-King (S.DeBlieck, A.Zee, N.Grimes, R.Elliott, N.Tang)

5th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – June 25, 2016, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti

9 and Under Boys                       10-11 Boys
1st place - Taiyo Ariga, SCKO          1st place - Akira Fujiwara, SCKO
2nd place - Takahide Katayama, ECUSKF  2nd place - McCartney Hong, NCKF
3rd place - Jacob Huh, SCKF            3rd place - Allen Sluss, ECUSKF
3rd place - So Imura, SCKO             3rd place - Jonathan Huang, NCKF
 Kantosho - Keith Adams, ECUSKF         Kantosho - Shingo Horiuchi, MWKF
 Kantosho - Misaki Matsunaga, ECUSKF    Kantosho - Collin Shinohara, MWKF
 Kantosho - Junnosuke Nagamatsu, SCKF   Kantosho - Peter Yu, SCKF
 Kantosho - Kenki Ogata, SCKO           Kantosho - Aidan Kwon, SCKO

12-13 Boys                             13 and Under Girls
1st place - Tomohide Katayama, ECUSKF  1st place - Aika Onitsuka, NCKF
2nd place - Tylor Wang, WKF            2nd place - Kysa Hayashi, SCKF
3rd place - Paul Ikeda, NCKF           3rd place - Kotone Ariga, SCKO
3rd place - Bryan Yoo, WKF             3rd place - Kokoro Sudo, AEUSKF
 Kantosho - Josh Kim, PNKF              Kantosho - Hana Koob, PNKF
 Kantosho - Taiki Miyamoto, PNKF        Kantosho - Chika Hotta, ECUSKF
 Kantosho - Daichi Sakuma, MWKF         Kantosho - Mahana Koike, ECUSKF
 Kantosho - Evan Chen, NCKF             Kantosho - Summer Kwon, SCKO

14-18 Girls                            14-15 Boys
1st place - Taery Kim, SCKF            1st place - Rinnosuke Nagamatsu, SCKF
2nd place - Jaime Tada, SCKF           2nd place - Noah Suzuki, SCKF
3rd place - Maya Blechschmidt, PNKF    3rd place - Kenta Tamura, ECUSKF
3rd place - Sae-Young Hyun, SEUSKF     3rd place - Noah Nakayama, SCKF
 Kantosho - Jennifer DeJong, PNKF       Kantosho - Brian Liao, PNKF
 Kantosho - Kasey Tada, SCKF            Kantosho - Tyler Barrone, MWKF
 Kantosho - Hanako Kiuchi, SCKO         Kantosho - Arata Ogikubo, SCKO
 Kantosho - Anne Morita, SCKO           Kantosho - Steven Yoo, WKF

16-18 Boys
1st place - Ian Kotake, SCKO
2nd place - Michael Farmer, SEUSKF
3rd place - Colin Sherrod, MWKF
3rd place - Gen Takahashi, SCKO
 Kantosho - Thomas Koizumi, ECUSKF
 Kantosho - Daniel Choi, SEUSKF
 Kantosho - Daniel Lee, WKF
 Kantosho - Branden Wang, WKF

Team
Youth                  Boys                 Girls
1st place - SCKO B     1st place - ECUSKF   1st place - PNKF A (B.Park, J.Higa, J.DeJong)
2nd place - SCKF B     2nd place - SCKO A   2nd place - PNKF B (Keeley McManus,Allison Kojima, Maya Blechschmidt)
3rd place - ECUSKF A   3rd place - SCKF A   3rd place - SCKF B
3rd place - NCKF       3rd place - SCKO B   3rd place - SCKO A

AUSKF 2016 IAIDO CHAMPIONSHIP – June 25, 2016, Dallas

0-2 Kyu Mudansha                         Murakami Cup 1 Kyu and 1 Dan
1st place - Denise Verastigue, SWKIF     1st place - Jennifer Mayo, RMKIF
2nd place - Nathan Williams, SWKIF       2nd place - Kelly Maier, MWKF
3rd place - Rory Casey, SWKIF            3rd place - Aleasha Jay, RMKIF
3rd place - Gina Konstantopoulos, AEUSKF 3rd place - Celeste Rosell, RMKIF
 Kantosho - Keita Tanabe, NCKF            Kantosho - Thane Mittelstaedt, PNKF

Murosako Cup 2 Dan and 3 Dan             Yamaguchi Cup 4 Dan and Above
1st place - Yoshimasa Watanabe, NCKF     1st place - Debi Farmer, GNEUSKF
2nd place - Kevin Thibedeau, AEUSKF      2nd place - Joe Sheldon, SUSKIF
3rd place - Richard Davis, RMKIF         3rd place - Jonathan Bannister, PNKF
3rd place - Keiko Miyamori, AEUSKF       3rd place - David Bressler, AEUSKF
 Kantosho - Rob Tranchin, SWKIF           Kantosho - Tsuyoshi George Nishiura, NCKF

LEEWARD OAHU KENDO TOURNAMENT – June 26, 2016, Mililani District Park Gym

Yonenbu 11 Years and Under             Seinenbu Open
1st place - Brandyn Matsumoto          1st place - Eric Young
2nd place - Jacob Amano                2nd place - Lotus De Asis
3rd place - Abigail Mejia              3rd place - Zen White
3rd place - Zachary Yamamoto           3rd place - Joshua Amano

Shonenbu 12-14 Years                   Yudansha 1-2 Dan
1st place - Go Hayakawa                1st place - Chase Takenaka
2nd place - Yukinari Ito               2nd place - Kenton Chun

Women's Yudansha                       Yudansha 3-4 Dan
1st place - Gina Kishimoto             1st place - Chris Gooding
2nd place - Gale Mejia                 2nd place - Yusuke Masumo
                                       3rd place - Kevin Chun
                                       3rd place - Jordan Miller

Yudansha 5 Dan and Above               Yudansha Masters 3 Dan and Above Over 40 Years of Age
1st place - Garrett Matsumoto          1st place - Keith Hui
2nd place - Mark Miyamoto              2nd place - Ron Miller
3rd place - Andy Fujimoto              3rd place - Jon Shishido
3rd place - Wesley Fujimoto            3rd place - Jay Suemori

Team                                           Parents/Kids Team
1st place - Mililani                           Kids - 7
2nd place - Kenshikan                          Parents - 1

James Oka Kantosho Fighting Spirit Award - Ron Miller

SHINKYU SHINSA

RENSHI: Tomoko Suzuki (Youshinkan).

AUSKF IAIDO SHINSA, June 26, 2016, Dallas

3RD KYU: Jared Bowler (Zen Bu Kan RMKIF), Shamina Chang (Chiba Hokushin Itto Ryu SUSKIF), Hiroyuki Maeda (Idaho PNKF),
Huong Tran (Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF). 2ND KYU: Rory Casey Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF), Colin Haney (Dallas-Fort Worth
SWKIF), Gina Konstantopoulos (Ken-Zen AEUSKF), Apinya Premprajaks (Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF), Nathan Williams (Dallas-Fort
Worth (SWKIF). 1ST KYU: Lora Berger (Castle Rock RMKIF), David Carroll (River City SUSKIF), Shiro Kondo (Ken-Zen
AEUSKF) Sangki Lee (Dallas Fort-Worth SWKIF), Ashley Moore (Dallas Fort-Worth SWKIF), Harry Mott (Venice SCKF), Michael
Schuldt (Musoshindenryu Agassiz MWKF) Denise Verastigue (Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF), Joshua Yang (Princeton EUSKF), Sean Zhu
(Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF). 1ST DAN: John Baker (Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF), Jordy Davis (Zen Bu Kan RMKIF), Jennifer
Mayo (Castle Rock RMKIF), Celeste Rosell (Zen Bu Kan RMKIF), Jay Salazar (River City SUSKIF). 2ND DAN:
AhmedGaballa El Sayed (Shidogakuin Miami GNEUSKF), Ben Kiang (Houston SUSKIF), Kelly Maier (Musoshindenryu Agassiz MWKF),
Allen Smith (Mushinkan SWKIF). 3RD DAN: Richard Flinn (Musoshindenryu Agassiz MWKF), Sean Henderson (Rocky
Mountain RMKIF), Serena Tang (Nichibukan JSS EUSKF). 4TH DAN: Ji You Ni (Nichibukan JSS EUSKF), James Smith
(AiShinKai Fudo Myoo-Ji PNKF), Rob Tranchin (Dallas-Fort Worth SWKIF), David Yang (Princeton EUSKF). 5TH DAN:
Masayasu Ando (Alaska PNKF), Edward Olson (Tonbo PNKF), Steve Sasaki (Salt Lake SWKIF), Joe Sheldon (River City SUSKIF).
6TH DAN: Tomoko Amgwerd-Suzuki (Youshinkan BCKF).

THE LAST WORD

After evening practice, as before, I fixed dogu and made shinai, took care of the dog and scrubbed Ogawa Sensei’s or Waka
sensei’s (Ogawa’s son-in-law) baths, walked the dog and closed the gates. Exhausting, grueling, yes, but it all became
habit, “no big deal.” I was not conscious of how I was absorbing all these activities, known not in my mind but in my
body, heart and spirit, transforming me into a Kendoist. I simply recalled what was said to me by Wada Kyoichiro, my
sempai: “Everything you do, Nobuto, is Kendo practice. It is your responsibility to observe and learn. Practice, practice,
practice!” I was not explicitly forced to do anything, and complimented so rarely that I can recall no direct
encouragement. But my spirit was on fire. I felt no pain and practiced and practiced and practiced.

–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 24. 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

Tom Bolling’s home page

Volume 30, number 1/2/3

January/February/March 2016

PNKF DATEBOOK

April 2016

• 4/1-3: 28th Cleveland Kendo Tournament / GNEUSKF Championships, Fri-Sun, weekend-long
  exciting and instructive activities featuring Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan Mitsuru Hamasaki, former chief instructor of Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Case Western Reserve University.

• 4/2: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center,
  525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.) Kent.

• 4/9-10: AUSKF Board meeting, Radisson Hotel, 18118 International Blvd; and Kodansha Shinsa, Odyssey at Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac. Shinsa schedule: April 9, Sat, building doors open at 4pm, gym available until 6:30pm. AUSKF Godo Keiko 5-6pm, must vacate building by 7pm. April 10, Sun, building doors open at 10:30am, gym available for warmup. Shinsa registration 12:30pm, Shinsa test begins at 1pm. Must clear building by 5:30pm.
• 4/16: UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, Intramural Activities Building (IMA), UW campus, Montlake
  Boulevard NE.

• 4/24: Cherry Blossom, Sun, 2:30-3pm, Seattle Center Armory (former name Center House),
  main stage.

• 4/29-30: SWKIF Kendo Seminar, Fri, 6:30-8pm; Tsutomu Ito Women’s Team Taikai and Ito Cup
  Team
  Taikai, Sat, 8:30am-5pm, Standley Lake High School, 9300 W. 104th Ave, Westminster, Colorado.

• 4/30: 5th Garden State Kendo Tournament, Sat, 8:30am-6pm, City Sports Complex, 62 Route 4
  East, Englewood, NJ.

May 2016

• 5/1: SWKIF Kendo Shinsa, up through 4th Dan, Sun, 8am-12noon, Standley Lake High School,
  9300 W. 104th Ave, Westminster, Colorado.

• 5/7: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Seattle location, 4001 Aurorah Avenue N., Seattle 98103.
• 5/21: Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm, Highland Park Community Center, 14224
  Bel-Red Road, Bellevue.

• 5/28: 51st Annual Vancouver Kendo Tournament, Sat, 10am-6pm, gym open at 9am, Byrne Creek
  Secondary School, 7777 18th Street, Burnaby, BC.

• 5/29: AEUSKF Kendo Tournament, Sun, John Jay College Gym, 10th Avenue and 58th Street, New
  York City.

June 2016

• 6/11: Rose City Taikai, Sat, time and location TBD, Portland.
• 6/17-19/2016: 9th US Nito Kendo Camp, Boise State University Campus, Boise, Idaho. Guest
  instructors: Tadao TODA, Tokyo, Hanshi 8 dan; Yoshihiro UGAJIN, Tokyo, Kyoshi 7 dan; Hirotsugu SASAKI, Miyagi, Kyoshi 7 dan; Ryoichi FUJII, Yamaguchi, Kyoshi 7 dan; Futoshi SATO, Chiba, Renshi 7 dan; Ako FUJII, Yamaguchi, 6 dan.

• 6/23-27: AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp, Thu thru Mon, Dallas Sportsplex, 5702 Alpha Road,
  Dallas, TX.
  • Thursday and Friday, June 23/24: Iaido seminar led by guest sensei from Japan to be
    announced

  • Saturday, June 25: 2016 AUSKF Iaido Championships
  • Sunday, June 26: Iaido Shinsa, followed by afternoon Jodo workshop
  • Monday morning, June 27: Jodo workshop ending at 12 noon
• 6/26: Leeward Oahu Kendo Tournament, Sun, 8:30am, Mililani District Park Gym, 94-1150 Lanikuhana Avenue, Mililani.

July 2016

• 7/9-15: North American Women’s Seminar, Sat thru Fri, Broadview-Thompson Elementary School
  East Gym/Bitter Lake Community Center Annex, 13052 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle.

• 7/16: 6th PNKF North American Women’s Kendo Taikai, Sat, 9am, Renton Community Center,
  1715 SE Maple Valley Highway, Renton.

• 7/22-29: AJKF Foreign Leaders’ Seminar, Fri/Fri, Kitamoto, Japan.
• 7/23: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Seattle location, 4001 Aurora Avenue N., Seattle 98103.

August 2016

• 8/13: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
• 8/13-14: AJKF/CKF Jodo Seminar and Shinsa, Sat/Sun, time and location TBD, Vancouver BC.
• 8/19-21: 2016 AUSKF Summer Camp, Fri-Sun, special guests and location TBD, Northern
  California.

September 2016

• 9/17: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of
  4th & James St.) Kent.

• 9/23-25: 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.

October 2016

• 10/8: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, location TBD.
• 10/22: Tacoma Taikai
  • 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street
    West, University Place, WA 98466 (tentative).

November 2016

• 11/5: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner
  of 4th & James St.) Kent.

• 11/12: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner
  of 4th & James St.) Kent.

• 11/12-13, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.

December 2016

• 12/12: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center,
  525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.) Kent.

September 2018

• 9/14-16: 17WKC, Fri/Sat/Sun, Seoul, Korea.

MUSOKAI NEW LOCATION AND PRACTICE TIME

Starting April 6, Musokai training will move to the North Court of Rain City Fencing Center
(RCFC), 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue, and will be on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9pm.

11th ANNUAL PACIFIC INTERCOLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT – January 16, 2016, UBC, University Hill Secondary School

Non-Bogu                         Women 1 Kyu and Under
1st place - Po Chen, SFU         1st place - Jasmine Chao, Langara
2nd place - John Wragg, UBC      2nd place - Klaudine Go, UBC
3rd place - Colton Johnson, UBC  3rd place - Anna Ngo, UBC
3rd place - Erin Boe, Langara    3rd place - Aya Hioki, UBC

Women 1 Dan and Above            Men No Rank
1st place - Erica DeJong, UW     1st place - Matthew Chu, UBC
2nd place - Bernice Lin, UW      2nd place - Kevin Chiang, UBC
3rd place - Becca Hsu, SFU       3rd place - Johnson Nguyen, UBC
3rd place - Nikki Asano, SFU     3rd place - Jason Tang, Langara

Men 1 Kyu and 1 Dan              Men 2 Dan and Above
1st place - John Magaling, SFU   1st place - Tsuyoshi Hamanaka, UBC
2nd place - Spencer Myrtle, SFU  2nd place - Ryota Kuki, UBC
3rd place - Andrew Chen, UBC     3rd place - Masamitsu Sawaoka, SFU
3rd place - Long Le, UW          3rd place - Matthew Pomeroy, UVic

Teams
1st place - UBC (T.Hamanaka,R.Kuki,K.Leung,J.Ohara,J.Li,A.Chen,R.Jacinto,E.Cheng,M.Chu)
2nd place - SFU (J.Magaling,K.Lee,C.Cheng,S.Ikoma,M.Morgan,B.Hsu,M.Sawaoka)
3rd place - UVic (T.Koyano,MattPomeroy,S.Nichols,K.Mercer,MarkPomeroy,S.Shan,M.Tahara)
3rd place - UW (B.Lin,L.Le,E.DeJong,C.Chan,M.Eum,A.Ngo,C.Blomquist)

Fighting Spirit Award - Andrew Chen, UBC

54th ANNUAL STEVESTON KENDO TOURNAMENT – February 20, 2016, McMath High School

10 Years and Under                  11 to 13 Years                       14 to 15 Years
1st place - T. Ariga, Butokuden     1st place - M. Fukuoka, Tozenji      1st place - E. Lee, Renbu
2nd place - Y. Lee, Renbu           2nd place - K. Squance, Renbu        2nd place - S. Nichols, UVic
3rd place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu     3rd place - M. Iwai, Steveston       3rd place - K. Fukuda, Cascade
3rd place - I. Fujita, Renbu        3rd place - C. Robillard, Steveston  3rd place - K. Muramatsu, Steveston

0-4 Kyu                             1-3 Kyu                              Ladies 1 Dan and Under
1st place - M. Park, Central        1st place - J. Magaling, SFU         1st place - K. McManus, Kent
2nd place - M. Chu, UBC             2nd place - D. Imanishi, Seattle     2nd place - J. Chao, Steveston
3rd place - N. Gardiner, Langara    3rd place - C. Capoeman, Tacoma      3rd place - S. Maekawa, SCKF
3rd place - F. Yoshimura, Renbu     3rd place - T. Shiomi, SFM           3rd place - A. Hioki, UBC

Ladies 2 Dan and Over               1-2 Dan                              3 Dan
1st place - C. Takeuchi, Youshinkan 1st place - H. Nagano, UVic          1st place - R. Asato, Vancouver
2nd place - S. Suzuki, Tozenji      2nd place - S. Kim, Renbu            2nd place - S. Masamitsu, SFU
2nd place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu     3rd place - T. Koyano, UVic          3rd place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji
3rd place - L. Murao, Steveston     3rd place - S. O'Sullivan, Steveston 3rd place - I. Takagaki, Steveston

4 Dan and Above
1st place - T. Nozawa, Tozenji
2nd place - S. Kamata, Etobicoke
3rd place - T. Ariga, Butokuden
3rd place - D. Ara, Renbu

Junior Team                                    Senior Team
1st place - Renbu A (K.Itagaki,R.Kim,          1st place - Ontario (E.Jeong,I.Lin
             H.Chun,I.Kim,E.Lee)                            M.Otabe,E.Hung,S.Kamata)
2nd place - Steveston A (E.Chui,K.Muramatsu,   2nd place - Renbu (H.Shim,T.Kabata,
             M.Iwai,A.Iwai,S.Ito)                            O.Young,E.Kita,J.Kurahashi)
3rd place - Bellevue (L.Ohata,B.Park,          3rd place - Youshinkan (J.Chien,Ke.Takeuchi,
             M.Ohata,M.Blechschmidt,A.Kojima)               Ka.Takeuchi,K.Kobayashi,C.Takeuchi)
3rd place - Steveston B (D.Chui,C.Robillard,   3rd place - Bellevue (D.Yu,F.Wessbecher,
             A.Ito,A.Chang,R.Nakano)                        L.Tsybert,S.Blechschmidt,D.Park)

Sportsmanship Pledge - Jeremy Chiang  Consul General of Japan S. Okada Trophy - C. Takeuchi, Youshinkan

2016 EAST COAST IAIDO SEMINAR TAIKAI – March 13, 2016, Holy Ghost Prep. School, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Mudansha C                                  Mudansha B
1st place - Albert Valentin III (IttoKai)   1st place - Minsoo Seon (Princeton)
2nd place - Shiro Kondo (KenZen)            2nd place - Kevin Huang (Shidogakuin)
3rd place - Benjamin Wingate (IttoKai)      3rd place - Michael Temple (Doshikai)
3rd place - Terry Lewis (Norwalk)           3rd place - Jeremie Clark (Doshikai)

Mudansha A                                  1st Dan
1st place - David Dudek (KenZen)            1st place - Mitko Botev (Doshikai)
2rd place - Maryann Amici (KenZen)          2nd place - Jeffrey Heinze Fry (SeiZanKai)
3rd place - Abel Erives (Doshikai)          3rd place - Alec Milton (KenZen)
3rd place - Noriko Ambe (KenZen)            3rd place - James Cody Kroll (IttoKai)

2nd Dan                                     3rd Dan
1st place - Stephen Tomshaw (Shidogakuin)   1st place - Kevin Thibedeau (Ken Zen)
2nd place - John Mullin (KenZen),           2nd place - Narbeh Bagdasarian (PCIKendo)
3rd place - Leslie Williams (KenZen)        3rd place - Ji Ni (Nichibukan)
3rd place - Justin Lee (MuMonKai)           3rd place - Phillip VanDenBerghe (BaltimoreAnnapolis)

4th Dan                                     5th Dan
1st place - Patrick Suen (MuMonKai)         1st place - Paul Shin (Shidogakuin)
2nd place - Takanori Furuta (IttoKai)       2nd place - Terry Fukui (KenZen)
3rd place - Aram Kailian (Shidogakuin)      3nd place - Barry Poitras (Doshikai)
3rd place - Hanna Ikeda-Suen (MuMonKai)     3rd place - Isabella Church (Shidogakuin)

TATER TAIKAI – March 13, 2016, Boise State University

Kachinuki - Tie for first, Logan Lewis (Ore-Ida), Ken Tawara (BSU)
Kojin sen, Individual - Ken Tawara (BSU), Matt Miller (Idaho)
Dantai Sen, Red vs White Team Match - White Team

39th ANNIVERSARY HIGHLINE MUDANSHA CHALLENGE CUP – March 19, 2016, White Center

Yudansha                          Mudansha
1st place - T. Marsten, Kent      1st place - C. Capoeman, Tacoma
2nd place - K. McManus, Kent      2nd place - G. Wroblewski, Bellevue
3rd place - A. Law, Sno-King      3rd place - A. Yorita, UW
3rd place - J. DeJong, Highline   3rd place - S. Kua, UW

Teams
1st place - Bellevue, 34 points   2nd place - UW, 31 points

Sportsmanship Pledge - D. Sasaki, Highline

PASSAGE

Koji (Frank) Fukawa

On December 21, 2015, a major Southern California presence left us when Kendo Renshi 6th
Dan Koji (Frank) Fukawa passed away. Born November 16, 1926 in Lompoc, he lived there until
1942 when he and his family were interned at Poston, where they stayed until 1945, when they
moved to Ontario, Oregon. Enlisting in the Army, he served as an intelligence analyst during
the Allied occupation of Japan, 1946-1949, reaching the rank of sergeant. He then received an
AA degree from LA City College, and in 1955 married Kazumi Uwate, moving to La Marada in 1964.
An industrial chemist, Fukawa Sensei was an instructor at Norwalk Kendo Club, President, Vice
President, and Secretary of the SCKF, and a member of the Orange County Buddhist Temple.

Henry Shigeru Asai

A great friend and encouragement to many in the PNKF, Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan and Iaido 4th
Dan Henry Shigeru Asai passed away December 24, 2015. Born in Walnut Grove January 1, 1920
where the family farmed, he later moved with them to Nagoya, but as war loomed in the late
1930s Henry was sent back to the US, and graduating from LA Polytechnic High School, he
enlisted in the Army. He was offered battlefield interpreting in MIS, but preferred to
complete cooking and baking school, serving in England, France, Italy, and Germany, followed by
a 40+ year career with Vons Markets. He began Kendo at age 50 at West LA, and went on to
contribute greatly to the formation of Venice Dojo and its programs. Traveling extensively to
participate vigorously in seminars, tournaments, and shinsa, with his life wisdom and unfailing
good humor, Asai Sensei was hugely kind and inspirational to many, especially those who may
have started Kendo later in life.

Our deepest condolences to the families and many friends of Fukawa Sensei and Asai
Sensei.

SHINKYU SHINSA

KYOSHI: Iwao Sato (Wahiawa).

AJNF GODAN SHINSA, January 24, 2016, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo

5TH DAN: Karen Yesowich Schmucker, (PNNF), Kei Tsukamaki (PNNF).

PNKF IAIDO SHINSA, February 27, 2016, Tyee Educational Complex, SeaTac

3RD KYU: Ball (Tonbo), Khoi Duong (Kent), Ian Otto (Seattle), Donald Wentworth (Tonbo).
2ND KYU: Mikako Barlow (AiShinKai), Adam Clark (AiShinKai), Victor Whitman (Seattle).
1ST KYU: Thane Mittelstaedt (AiShinKai), Ken Tawara (Idaho). 1ST DAN: Ryan Atagi
(Idaho), Mart Hughes (Obukan), Francis Maier (Everett), Richard Milde (Tonbo). 2ND DAN:
Sam Wilkins (Everett). 3RD DAN: Narbeh Bagdasarian (SCKF), Frederick Fourie
(AiShinKai), Callie Goeke (RenMa), Lynn Miyauchi (Musokai).

6TH KYU: Sean Kim (Seattle), Kai Kubal-Komoto (Federal Way), Aneurin Mabale (Seattle),
Taiki Miyamoto (Northwest), Uno Tate (Alaska), Kassidy Ting (Northwest), Timaeus Ting
(Northwest). 5TH KYU: Kyle Hale (Seattle), Daniel Kao (Tacoma), Hana Koob (Bellevue),
Drew Migita (Seattle). 4TH KYU: Kira Campbell (Sno-King), Emily Cho (Cascade), Helen
Fukuda (Cascade), Kiana Fukuda (Cascade), Kyle Fukuda (Cascade), Tom Fukuda (Cascade), Eugene
Kim (Seattle), Whitney Langford (Obukan), Ffion Mabale (Seattle), Francis Maier (Everett),
Darren Migita (Seattle), Sandra Mizuno (Seattle), Aska Mooko (Bellevue), Leonardo Ohata
(Bellevue), Michizane Ohata (Bellevue), Nagato Orita (Seattle), Joshua Paik (Tacoma), Keiji
Underhill (Northwest), Victor Whitman (Seattle), Donna Wilson (Seattle), Binah Yeung (Seattle).
3RD KYU: Benet Garcia (Bellevue), Hyunjun Jang (Cascade), Jinho Jeon (Bellevue), Mia Kao
(Tacoma), Raymond Kao (Tacoma), Josh Kim (Federal Way), Kasey Kitchel (Sno-King), Terry
Langford (Obukan), Elysia Midorikawa (Bellevue), Young-ki Paik (Tacoma), Catherine Park
(Bellevue), Tyler Peterson (Idaho), Ann Rubin (Tacoma), Sarah Tyree (UW), Kengo Underhill
(Northwest), Brayan Valdez-Cruz (Northwest). 2ND KYU: Cougar Capoeman (Tacoma), Timothy
Jaybush (Bellevue), Sunghi Kim (Northwest), Allison Kojima (Bellevue), Rachel Koo (Bellevue),
Evan Kriechbaum (Portland), Spencer Kua (UW), Elijah Lam (Everett), Long Le (UW), Brian LeSmith
(Edmonds), Carlos Matutes (Idaho), Gregory Vielhaber (Portland), Chris Vitale (OSU), Adrienne
Wilburn (Portland), Joshua Zheng (OSU). 1ST KYU: Clyde Bailey (Portland), Maya
Blechschmidt (Bellevue), Vincent DeBellis (Portland), Jihan Kim (OSU), Soo-Hyung Kim (Seattle),
Dan McLean (Portland), Peter Palmer (Northwest), Stephen Ting (Northwest), Adesanjo Wolfe
(Alaska), Tyler Yamashita (Seattle). 1ST DAN: Fritz Borchardt (Edmonds), Murray
Bratland (Bellevue), Addison Knappett (OSU), Alick Law (Sno-King), Soohmin Lee (Bellevue),
Brian Liao (Bellevue), Andrew Miller (Portland), Mikiyo Ohashi (Edmonds), Leo Shibata
(Bellevue), Andrew Yuen (Seattle). 2ND DAN: Fang-Ying Chu (Sno-King), Jane Higa
(Bellevue), Terry McManus (Kent), Andrew Nagasawa (Bellevue). 3RD DAN: Erik
Christianson (Edmonds), Mark Frederick (Northwest), Brandon Goh (Seattle), Apurva Jantrania
(Obukan), Su Hwan Kim (Northwest), Richard Lei (Seattle), Tero Patana (Sno-King). 4TH
DAN: CJ Chaney (Sno-King), Stephen Day (Kent), Masami Suzuki (Sno-King), Alfred Tan
(Northwest), Valera Vulfson (Northwest).

4TH KYU: Davin Hattaway (Princeton), Chris Kim (Princeton), Andrew Park (Princeton).
3RD KYU: Dylan Abrams (Princeton), Dominique Alfandari (SeiZanKai), Enver Bajraktarevic
(KenZen), Soochul Bang (Shidogakuin), Helene Cousin (SeiZanKai), Kevin Ding (Princeton), James
Dover (Princeton), Ritchard Higham (KenZen), Peter Kim (Doshikai), Terry Lewis (Norwalk), Ina
Park (Princeton), Yoojin Seon (Princeton), Albert Valentin III (Itto Kai), Jonathan Velazco
(Princeton), Kathleen Villemaire (Doshikai), Di Wang (Shidogakuin), Benjamin Wingate (Itto
Kai), Jing Ye (Nichibukan). 2ND KYU: Axel Anderson (Doshikai), Jason Carl (Princeton),
Jerry Chen (Nichibukan), Jeremie Clark (Doshikai), Garry Dodd (Princeton), Kevin Huang
(Shidogakuin), Shiro Kondo (KenZen), Minsoo Seon (Princeton), Louis Thauvin (KenZen), Joshua
Yang (Princeton). 1ST KYU: Noriko Ambe (Ken Zen), Maryann Amici (Ken Zen), Mark
Gottlieb (Shidogakuin), Charles Johnson (Baltimore-Annapolis), Dmitry Murashchik
(Balt-Annapolis), Michael Temple (Doshikai), Akihiko Watanabe (Shidogakuin), Joseph Wong
(Shidogakuin. 1ST DAN: Victor Betts (Doshikai), Gary Cotton (Doshikai), David Dudek
(KenZen), Abel Erives (Doshikai). 2ND DAN: Mitko Botev (Doshikai), Jeffrey Heinze Fry
(SeiZanKai), Michael Kamish (Itto Kai), Szilvia Kovari-Krecsmary (Shidogakuin), James Cody
Kroll (Itto Kai), Yoonhee Macke (Shidogakuin). 3RD DAN: John Mullin (Ken Zen), Stephen
Tomshaw (Shidogakin).

THE LAST WORD

Ogawa Sensei taught me the traditional Japanese culture of Kyoto and how to endure and adapt to
cold and suffering, to gain confidence and become a Nihon Kendoist. Once in Kyoto, I had no
time to analyze, to be nervous. I did what others told me and thereby adjusted to the
circumstances (“Rin Ki Oh Hen”) of my new life. I say, no “Big Deal!” Day in and day out all I
did was:

   sleep, then get up;
   eat, then move;
   sleep again, then get up again:
   Ne Te Oki Te;
   Tabe Te Ugoi Te
   Ne Te Oki Te.

The noodle shop gave me the only time – practically no time – for thinking, because my body
just got on with the job of eating by itself. “Move” meant chores, which continued because I
remained in my room at Kodo Kan, never living with my fellow students even after I finally
passed the entrance exam for Busen after graduating from Japanese high school and studying in
night school and was accepted as a formal student at Busen. Of course, “move” mostly meant
kendo practice.

Every morning from 6 AM to 7 AM I would do kangeiko, morning practice, at Busen. For the first
year, we only trained kirikaeshi the basic exercise of repeating side head cuts. That was for
the whole year! This is a very basic cut, and other students who had been tops in their high
schools were bored and would complain that they had already trained kote and other cuts
considered more advanced. “All you do is kirikaeshi; if you don?t like it, go home!” the
sempais would answer. These were the instructions of Ogawa Sensei and were not to be
contradicted. After the morning practice, from 7 AM to 8 AM, we ate breakfast.

Once I was officially accepted into Busen, I attended lectures from 8 AM to noon consisting of
more Japanese language, both modern and classic, and Japanese calligraphy. Calligraphy has long
been associated with the Samurai. In the first page of the Ground Book Miyamoto Musashi noted
that the “warrior’s is the two-fold Way of brush and sword, and he should have a taste for both
Ways.” Young men of the Japanese nobility of the Tokugawa period were educated solely in the
Chinese classics and exercising in word techniques. Brush and sword were to be in accord “bunbu
Itchi.”

Lunch was from noon to 1 PM. And then more keiko from 1 PM to 3 PM. Then from 3 PM to 4 PM was
afternoon practice, Koshuka (short training after regular training). This was the “voluntary
practice” which I had already learned was not really voluntary. If you didn’t attend, unless
you were a senior with other commitments to assist in keiko somewhere else, you didn’t belong
in Busen. After 4 PM I would go home to study. But I continued to clean the dojo and do all of
the chores I had done since arriving.

Finally it was time for evening practice at Kodo Kan when I would practice with Ogawa Sensei.
Kendo practice was a minimum of about six hours per day, but still less than the keiko of
Miyamoto Musashi! You could never practice too much.

–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 23-24. 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

Volume 29, number 12

December 2015

PNKF DATEBOOK

January 2016

• 1/9: PNKF Kata Seminar, Sat, 12noon-5pm with godo keiko for the last 45 minutes, Chinook Middle School,
  18650 42nd Avenue S., SeaTac.

• 1/9-10: “Kokusai Budo Daigakku, Kazuhiza Kaneda Iaido Seminar” Sat/Sun, Boise State University, Boise Idaho.
  • featuring Iaido Kyoshi 8th Dan Kaneda Kazuhisa Sensei, instructor at International Budo University, Katsuura Japan, 8 time
    All Japan Iaido National Champion, author of “Iai no Kihon” (Iai Basics) Book and DVD set I & II,
    Info: http://www.idaho-kendo.com/iaido/iaido-seminar/
• 1/16: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
• 1/16: 11th Annual Pacific Intercollegiate Taikai, Sat, doors open 9:30am, opening ceremony 10am, hosted by UBC Kendo Club. Location: University Hill Secondary School, 3228 Ross Drive, Vancouver, BC (near UBC Vancouver campus).
• 1/16-17: AUSKF Adult/Mudansha Seminar, Sat/Sun, Las Vegas.
• 1/30-31: America Zone Kendo Referee Seminar, Sat/Sun, Japanese Canadian Cultural Center, 6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

February 2016

• 2/13/14: 18th Detroit Taikai, Seminar, and Shinsa Sat/Sun, Novi, Michigan.
  • Distinuished guests, the Eiga brothers, Kendo Kyoshi 8th Dan Eiga
    Hideyuki and Eiga Naoki, from Hokkaido.
• 2/20: Steveston Taikai, Sat, 9am, McMath High School, 4251 Garry Street, Richmond BC.
• 2/27: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th
  Street, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.

March 2016

• 3/5-6: AUSKF Women’s Kendo Seminar, Sat/Sun, with WKC Team Japan members Kendo 5th Dan Yoko Sakuma and Yukiko Takami, Marina High School, 15871 Springdale Street, Huntington Beach, California.
• 3/19: Highline Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, White Center Community Center, 1321 SW 102nd St
  Seattle, WA.

• 3/19-20: 20th Annual Harvard-Radcliffe Invitational Shoryuhai Intercollegiate Kendo Tournament, Sat/Sun, Harvard University Malkin Athletic Center.
• 3/26: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.

April 2016

• 4/1-3: 28th Cleveland Kendo Tournament / GNEUSKF Championships, Fri-Sun, weekend-long exciting and instructive activities featuring Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan Mitsuru Hamasaki, former chief instructor of Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Case Western Reserve University.
• 4/2: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th
  & James St.), Kent.

• 4/9-10: AUSKF Board meeting and Kodansha Shinsa, Sat/Sun, Seattle.
• 4/16: UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, Intramural Activities Building (IMA), UW campus, Montlake Boulevard N.E.
• 4/24: Cherry Blossom, Sun, 2:30-3pm, Armory (Center House), main stage.
• 4/29-30: SWKIF Kendo Seminar, Fri, 6:30-8pm; Tsutomo Ito Women’s Team Taikai and Ito Cup Team Taikai, Sat, 8:30am-5pm, Standley Lake High School, 9300 W. 104th Ave, Westminster, Colorado.
• 4/30: 5th Garden State Kendo Tournament, Sat, 8:30am-6pm, City Sports Complex, 62 Route 4 East, Englewood, NJ.

May 2016

• 5/1: SWKIF Kendo Shinsa, up through 4th Dan, Sun, 8am-12noon, Standley Lake High School, 9300 W. 104th Ave, Westminster, Colorado.
• 5/7: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Seattle location, 4001 Aurora Avenue N., Seattle 98103.
• 5/21: Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm, Highland Park Community Center
  14224 Bel-Red Rd, Bellevue.

June 2016

• 6/11: Rose City Taikai, Sat, 10am, Portland.
• 6/17-19/2016: 9th US Nito Kendo Camp, Boise State University Campus, Boise, Idaho.
• 6/23-27: AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp, Thu thru Mon, Dallas.
• 6/25-26: Junior Open Championships, Sat/Sun, Eastern Michigan University, Detroit.

July 2016

• 7/9-15: North American Women’s Seminar, Sat thru Fri, with Kendo Renshi 7th Dan Chinatsu Maruyama, Broadview-Thompson Elementary School East Gym/Bitterlake Community Center Annex,
  13052 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle.

• 7/16: 6th PNKF North American Women’s Kendo Taikai, Sat, 9am, Renton Community Center, 1715 SE Maple
  Valley Highway, Renton.

• 7/23: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Seattle location, 4001 Aurora Avenue N., Seattle 98103.

August 2016

• 8/13: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th
  Street, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.

• 8/13-14: AJKF/CKF Jodo Seminar and Shinsa, Sat/Sun, time and location TBD, Vancouver BC.

September2016

• 9/17: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
• 9/23-25: 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.

October 2016

• 10/8: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, location TBD.
• 10/22: Tacoma Taikai
  • 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street West, University Place, WA
    98466 (tentative)

November 2016

* 11/5: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
* 11/12: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
* 11/12-13, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.

December 2016

• 12/12: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th
  & James St.), Kent.

19th ANNUAL KENT KENDO CLUB INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT – December 12, 2015, Kent Commons

10 Years and Under (Jr A)            3-1 Kyu
1st place - H. Koob, Bellevue        1st place - K. Toyokawa, Tacoma
2nd place - A. Yuen, Seattle         2nd place - A. Law, Sno-King
3rd place - K. Kubal-Komoto, Fed Way 3rd place - L. Le, UW
3rd place - DV Chung, Cascade        3rd place - D. Imanishi, Seattle

11-12 Years (Jr B)                   1-3 Dan
1st place - L. Ohata, Bellevue       1st place - T. Marsten, Kent
2nd place - K. Underhill, Northwest  2nd place - C. Ruiz, Spokane
3rd place - J. Shim, Obukan          3rd place - T. Koshiyama, Spokane
3rd place - T. Koob, Bellevue        3rd place - S. Day, Kent
                                     4th place - E. DeJong, UW
13 to 15 Years (Jr C)                4th place - Y. Sandberg, Spokane
1st place - K. McManus, Kent         4th place - C. Marsten, Kent
2nd place - H. Jang, Cascade         4th place - J. DeJong, Highline
3rd place - M. Blechschmidt, Bellevue
3rd place - K. Underhill, Northwest

Women                                1-3 Dan Seniors
1st place - M. Suzuki, Sno-King      1st place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent
2nd place - E. DeJong, UW            2nd place - V. Vulfson, Northwest
3rd place - R. Wakasaki, Obukan      3rd place - W. Sinclair, Spokane
3rd place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent     3rd place - H. Iba, Bellevue

4 Kyu and Under                      Junior Spirit of the Day
1st place - S. Kim, Northwest        Rachel Koo, Bellevue
2nd place - T. Fukuda, Cascade
3rd place - V. Blancarte, Sno-King   Senior Spirit of the Day
3rd place - B. Garcia, Bellevue      Val Vulfson, Northwest

Junior Team
1st place - Bellevue (L. Ohata, R. Koo, M. Blechschmidt, M. Ohata, B. Liao)
2nd place - Federal Way (K. Kubal-Komoto, J. Kim, S. Lee, I. Lee, K. McManus)
3rd place - Obukan (Y. Wakasaki, M. Gyldersleve, S. Wetzlen, T. Koob, J. Shim)
3rd place - Northwest (Taiki Miyamoto, Kenji Underhill, Kassidy Ting, Kengo Underhill, Timeaus Ting)

Senior Team
1st place - Spokane A (C. Ruiz, Y. Sandberg, T. Koshiyama, A. Melton, J. Lamb)
2nd place - Kent (J. Frazier-Day, C. Marsten, T. Marsten, E. Ishii, S. Day)
3rd place - Sno-King (M. Suzuki, S. DeBlieck, C. Chaney, T. Patana, A. Law)
3rd place - UW (B. Lin, L. Le, E. DeJong, M. Omura, A. Yorita)

Sportsmanship Pledge - Tiarnan Marsten
Head Shinpan - David S. Yotsuuye

SHINKYU SHINSA

CKF WESTERN KENDO SHINSA, December 5, 2015, Steveston

6TH DAN: Harry Samkange (Bellevue).

THE LAST WORD

Once I arrived in Kyoto, my poor preparation in Japanese proved to be a major hindrance in attending
Busen. Thus Ogawa Sensei arranged for me to attend a Seiho Chugakko (high school) for 2 years. Upon graduation
from Japanese high school, I took the entrance exam for Busen and promptly flunked despite my 2 year immersion
in a Japanese school system. Then Ogawa Sensei arranged for me to attend classes in Classic Japanese and
Chinese language in the evenings in Ritsumeikan Daigaku (college) to help me to pass the entrance exam for
Busen. “Jishin” is Japanese for “earthquake”. Another Japanese term with the same pronunciation can means
confidence. “Ji” is “self” and “shin” trust, so perhaps it is that when one trusts oneself, it produces
confidence that can be as profound as an earthquake. I had learned the basics of Kendo, the “Ground” in Hawaii,
but the ground shook and I had to adapt at Busen in Kyoto. I don’t know what kind of arrangements were made by
Miura Sensei or my father, but I stayed in the dressing room of Kodo kan adjacent to the home of Ogawa Sensei,
the head of the kendo department at Busen. I had various jobs around Busen and Ogawa Sensei’s household; fix
the kendo gear for the young students, take Sensei’s dog, Jiro, for “walks” on my bicycle, and help clean Kodo
kan and sensei’s house.

–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 21-22. Available as free download at
lulu.com.

Manipulate the shinai using your shoulders, and pay attention to the course of the kensen tip.
Be aware of your upper and lower body after you have prepared your posture to fully strike your opponent,
you should be conscious of your shinai movement. Suburi is especially important in this regard.
An overwhelming hit, as mentioned above, can only result as the shinai swings down from above. However,
currently the “sashi men” technique appears to strike in a way that is similar to scooping from down to up. I
think one of the reasons that it has become this way is because that is how suburi is being practiced.
When I was young, the kensen was normally swung all the way to your back during suburi. Through this type
of practice, I learned how to use my shoulders, and developed large (full rotation) kendo. Recently, however
you can often see suburi done, without using the shoulders, by raising the tip of the shinai from the elbows.
This type of scooping upward swing probably cannot be avoided. In any case, strive to trace a large arc with
the kensen tip during suburi. By doing it that way, your skills for shinai handling will permeate into your
body naturally.
Regarding the course of the kensen, direct it to aite’s center. Be conscious of where you have your kensen
when watching the opponent’s movement, then aite’s openings and your opportunities will become visible.

–Saburo Iwatate, Kendo Hanshi 8 Dan, Chiba Kendo Renmei, <b<"Kendo wa, Notte Katsu", pg. 15-16 (as
Translated by Robert Stroud, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan, Idaho Kendo Club)

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

Tom Bolling’s home page