Volume 29, number 9/10/11
September/October/November 2015
PNKF DATEBOOK
December 2015
- 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.
January 2016
- 1/9: PNKF Kata Seminar, Sat, 12noon-5pm with godo keiko for the last 45 minutes, Chinook Middle School,
18650 42nd Ave S, SeaTac WA 98188.
- 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.
- 1/16-17: AUSKF Adult/Mudansha Seminar, Sat/Sun, Las Vegas.
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
- 3/19: Highline Taikai, Sat, TBD, White Center Community Center, 1321 SW 102nd St
Seattle, WA.
- 3/26: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
April 2016
- 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.
- 4/16: UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, Intramural Activities Building (IMA), UW campus, Montlake Boulevard N.E.
- 4/22,23,24: Cherry Blossom probable dates.
May 2016
- 5/7: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
- 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.
July 2016
- 7/9-15: North American Women’s Seminar, Sat thru Fri,
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, 3-5pm, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
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.
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, Kent Commons Recreation Center, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th & James St.), Kent.
- 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.
PNKF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015/2016
At their November 21, 2015 meeting, the PNKF Board elected officers. President – David Yotsuuye; Vice President – Doug
Imanishi; Secretary of Internal Affairs – Brian Blomquist; Recording Secretary – Thomas Bolling; Treasurer – Mary DeJong.
The Directors are: Jonathan Bannister (AiShinKai), Brian Blomquist (Everett), Connor Blomquist (UW), Thomas Bolling
(Bellevue), Jaered Croes (Portland), Mark Frederick (Northwest), An Giang (Northwest), Noelle Grimes (Sno-King), Nathan Holtorf
(Obukan), Doug Imanishi (Seattle), Addison Knappett (OSU), Michael Mabale (Seattle), Curtis Marsten (Kent), Vicki Marsten
(Kent), Edward Olson (Tonbo), Robert Stroud (Idaho), Val Vulfson (Northwest), Aaron Yen (Seattle), and David Yotsuuye
(Bellevue). Jeff Marsten (Bellevue/Highline/Sno-King) continues as Advisor. CJ Chaney (Sno-King) was elected UW Advisor.
Shinichi Koike and Jeff Marsten are members of the AUSKF Board of Directors.
9th ANNUAL PNKF IAIDO TAIKAI – September 27, 2015, Rain City Fencing Center, Bellevue, Washington
Mudansha Yudansha 1-2 Dan
1st place - T. Mittelstaedt, AiShinKai 1st place - C. Goeke, Renma
2nd place - V. Whitman, Seattle 2nd place - C. Parkins, Renma
3rd place - R. DeAnda, Everett 3rd Place - N. Bagdasarian, Pasadena
3rd place - I. Otto, Seattle 3rd Place - L. Sukiassyan, San Fernando Valley
Yudansha 3-4 Dan (Noguchi Cup) Teams (Murosako Cup)
1st place - H. Fukumoto, Seattle 1st place - Musokai (G. Goerlitz, L. Miyauchi, I. Otto)
2nd place - S. Kozawa, Seattle 2nd place - Everett (B. Blomquist, L. Sukiassyan, R. DeAnda)
3rd place - G. Goerlitz, Musokai
3rd place - M. Ando, Alaska
9th ALL CHINA KENDO TOURNAMENT – October 17/18, 2015, Shenzhen, China
Women Individual Men Individual
1st place - Zhenzhen Qin, Chengdu Wuxianliu 1st place - Zhonglin Zhang, Beijing Wushu
2nd place - Huifang Yang, Guangzhou Wude 2nd place - Peng Ha, Shenzhen Mo Jian
3rd place - Mengyu Wang, Beijing Ren Shin Kan 3rd place - Liang Ma, Beijing Ren Shin Kan
3rd place - Elizabeth Bergen-Bartel, Chengdu Wuxianliu 3rd place - Xuan Chen, Ningbo Kendo Ai Hao Hui
Women Team Men Team
1st place - Shanghai United 1st place - Shenzhen Mo Jian
2nd place - Chengdu 2nd place - Beijing Ren Shin Kan
3rd place - Guangzhou Dao Guan A 3rd place - Wuhan Lian Dao A
3rd place - Chengdu-Chongqing United 3rd place - Beijing
16th INVITATIONAL TACOMA KENDO TAIKAI – October 24, 2015, Curtis High School, University Place
9 and Under 10-12 Kyu
1st place - Kai Kubal-Komoto, Federal Way 1st place - Keiji Underhill, Northwest
2nd place - Devan Chung, Cascade 2nd place - Danny Chung, Cascade
3rd place - Dan Terao, Cascade 3rd place - Josh Kim, Federal Way
13-15 Kyu 16-18 Kyu
1st place - Kengo Underhill, Northwest 1st place - Jun-Wing Chen, Bellevue
2nd place - Allison Kojima, Bellevue 2nd place - Noah Larson, Federal Way
3rd place - Betty Park, Bellevue 3rd place - David Yip, Cascade
Adult 0-2 Kyu Adult 1 Kyu-1 Dan
1st place - Joshua Wigant, Portland 1st place - Terry McManus, Kent
2nd place - Su-Hwan Kim, Northwest 2nd place - Alick Law, Sno-King
3rd place - Long Le, UW 3rd place - Nicholas Cook, Portland
Youth Dan Adult 2-3 Dan
1st place - Tiarnan Marsten, Kent 1st place - Aaron Yen, Seattle
2nd place - Keeley McManus, Kent 2nd place - Stephen Day, Kent
3rd place - Jennifer DeJong, Highline 3rd place - Bernice Lin, Bellevue
Junior Team
1st place - Bellevue Red (B. Park, M. Blechschmidt, A. Kojima)
2nd place - Bellevue White (L. Ohata, L. Shibata, M. Ohata)
Senior Team
1st place - Kent B (K. McManus, E. Ishii, T. Marsten)
2nd place - Kent A (T. McManus, N. Larson, S. Day)
National Anthem Singer - Alisa Yoshikawa
Sportsmanship Pledge - Mia Kao
Award Presentation - Alisa Yoshikawa
Shinpan Cho - David S. Yotsuuye
41st ANNUAL PNKF KENDO TOURNAMENT – November 7, 2015, Kent
10 Years and Under 11-12 Years
1st place - C. Robillard, Steveston 1st place - B. Miki, Steveston
2nd place - H. Homma, Renbu 2nd place - L. Ohata, Bellevue
3rd place - K. Squance, Renbu 3rd place - K. Underhill, Northwest
3rd place - R. Nakano, Steveston 3rd place - H. Asaoka, Youshinkan
13-15 Years High School Girls
1st place - E. Lee, Renbu 1st place - B. Park, Bellevue
2nd place - M. Iwai, Steveston 2nd place - J. DeJong, Highline
3rd place - K. Muramatsu, Steveston 3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue
3rd place - H. Kim, Bellevue 3rd place - M. Blechschmidt, Bellevue
High School Boys Women Kyu
1st place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji 1st place - S. Tyree, UW
2nd place - L. Oka, Tozenji 2nd place - H. Nguyen, Edmonds
3rd place - T. Marsten, Kent 3rd place - S. Rotenberg, Steveston
3rd place - B. Liao, Bellevue 3rd place - A. Tesar, Vancouver
0-4 Kyu 3-1 Kyu
1st place - Y. Cheng, UBC 1st place - K. Toyokawa, Tacoma
2nd place - E. Cheng, UBC 2nd place - G. Vielhaber, Portland
3rd place - O. Young, Renbu 3rd place - L. Le, UW
3rd place - C. Pak, Portland 3rd place - A. Knappett, OSU
Women Dan 1-2 Dan
1st place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu 1st place - T. Saito, Vancouver
2nd place - C. Takeuchi, Youshinkan 2nd place - D. Yao, Steveston
3rd place - M. Suzuki, Sno-King 3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu
3rd place - K. Takeuchi, Youshinkan 3rd place - V. Ruiz, Mexico
3 Dan 4 Dan and Above
1st place - Y. Yoshikawa, Northwest 1st place - B. Imanishi, Cascade
2nd place - E. Porras, Mexico 2nd place - N. Tanimura, Seattle
3rd place - J. Okada, Cascade 3rd place - A. Giang, Northwest
3rd place - K. Takeuchi, Youshinkan 3rd place - M. Mabale, Seattle
Junior Team
1st place - Bellevue A (B. Park, H. Kim, A. Kojima, M. Blechschmidt, B. Liao)
2nd place - Renbu (H. Chun, R. Kim, E. Lee, K. Squance, I. Kim)
3rd place - Tozenji (N. Horikawa, A. Shimizu, M. Watanabe, K. Kono, J. An)
3rd place - Cascade A (H. Jang, JY Lee, K. Fukuda, JW Lee, D. Chung)
Senior Team
1st place - Vancouver (T. Saito, T. Yamada, H. Yamada, Hi. Yamada, J. Schmidt)
2nd place - Steveston (S. O Sullivan, I. Miki, N. Nakano, K. Iwai, I. Takagaki)
3rd place - Mexico (V. Ruiz, C. Rogairo, CJ Chaney, E. Porras, P. Garcia)
3rd place - Youshinkan (Ke. Takeuchi, J. Chien, Ka. Takeuchi, A. Xie, K. Kobayashi)
Sportsmanship Pledge - Tiarnan Marsten Shinpan Cho - Shinichi Koike
Shoji Trophy - Andrew Nagasawa, Bellevue
SHINKYU SHINSA
NCKF KENDO SHINSA, November 1, 2015, Stanford University
3RD DAN: Erica Tam (San Jose).
AUSKF KODANSHA SHINSA, November 15, 2015, Novi, Michigan
5TH DAN: Ryan Atagi (Idaho).
AJKF KODANSHA SHINSA, November 15, 2015, Aichi, Nagoya
6TH DAN: David Yeo (Singapore).
AJKF KODANSHA SHINSA, November 24, 2015, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
6TH DAN: Daisaku David Taguchi (Chinook).
7TH DAN: Mark Uchida (Bunshinkan).
THE LAST WORD
I remember my send-off. There was a big party with good food. It was a party of enough importance that my mother offered
beer she made and stored under the house for several of the older men, including Miura Sensei. My father never drank, not even
for this party which was as much congratulatory for him as for me. All our neighbors and classmates attended. Everyone in the
Japanese community was proud and my success would also be their success. I was embarrassed that my trip to Japan was not as
wonderful to me as it was to them. But I showed humble enthusiasm for my good fortune and truly great appreciation to my father
and Miura Sensei for making this possible.
Miura Sensei gave me one of his own books in Japanese as a going away gift. My father had purchased my ticket and would
provide the money for my expenses at Busen. It was more than any of the other neighbors in our poor community could have
provided. I thanked everyone, especially Miura Sensei, even though I was not much of a reader.
Miura Sensei helped me pack. He was pleased with the condition of my shinais and my hakama, and made sure I didn’t forget
the book he had given me: “Kendo” by Takano Sasaburo Sensei, which I still have and reread today. He told me I could read it
during my twenty-day journey. “The book will provide a review,” he explained, “of the Kendo principles we’ve spoken of and help
you practice Japanese. Now you can read the words of Miyamoto Musashi. You will arrive well prepared. And on deck, don’t forget
suburi. Remember, you can do suburi anywhere. You can do it sitting down if there is no room to stand or too much rolling on
the ship to gain good footing.” I promised him I would study and practice.
I was somewhat interested in “The Book of Five Rings” which was contained in Sasaburo Sensei’s book. Miyamoto Musashi, the
author of “The Book of Five Rings”, had become a hero to me. Musashi, born in 1584, is the greatest swordsman in Japanese
history. I thought I would probably enjoy his accounts of battles, especially since he slew a man in a one-on-one battle when
he was just thirteen. Besides, this was a short section within the larger book of “Kendo”, and I thought I could read it
quickly. I felt I was fluent in Japanese, so did not intend to study too diligently; suburi was more attractive to me. I would
keep in shape and be ready for my first practice at Busen, rather than any philosophical discussions. Practice was the
practical course of action.
I started to read the book Miura Sensei gave me while I was waiting to steam out of the harbor. I was surprised to find
how difficult it was to translate and understand the book. But I rationalized that this was old-style Japanese so I should be
fine with modern Japanese. I assumed Old Japanese was of little relevance to my education.
I was mistaken about everything concerning the trip to Busen. I manage to read the introduction and first chapter, “Chi No
Maki” or the “Ground Book” of the “Book of Five Rings.” It was about twelve pages long but described no action filled battles.
But I never read another page after the ship steamed from the harbor, and I never did a minute of suburi. What do I remember of
the twenty-day voyage? Nothing! Well, not exactly nothing. I remember the head, the ship’s toilet in the hall by my room. My
head in the head! I decided I should have learned surfing instead of kendo for this trip because I was seasick the entire time.
There isn’t anything more miserable. I stood on deck and tried to gulp cool air; I tried to walk; I tried to meditate; I tried
to hold my breath, to keep my eyes closed, to keep my eyes focused on one object. I tried eating, and not eating. Nothing
helped. Lying on my bunk with no movement and no food in my stomach was the best I could do. No reading, no suburi – nothing.
This was not Samurai spirit. Twenty days seemed an eternity. I wanted to set my foot on solid ground!
–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 21-22. 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 8
August 2015
PNKF DATEBOOK
September
- 9/11: Daito Ryu Seminar, Fri, 6-8pm, Yoshinkai, Burnaby, BC.
- 9/12: Jodo Seminar, Sat, 7:30am-12noon, Justice Institute of BC, New Westminster, BC.
- 9/12-13: 2015 UVic Ted Davis Memorial Seminar, Sat/Sun
- Led by Kendo Kyoshi 8th Dan Hiroshi Ozawa, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC.
- 9/13: Jodo Seminar, Sun, 8-12noon, Rain City Fencing Center, Bellevue, WA.
- 9/19: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- 9/25-27: PNKF Iaido Seminar
- 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
- 10/3: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- 10/24: Tacoma Taikai
- 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street West, University Place, WA 98466.
November
- 11/7: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- 11/7-8: Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Seminar, Sat/Sun,
- Led by Iaido Kyoshi 7th Dan Goyo Ohmi, Iaido Renshi 7th Dan Kim Taylor, and Iaido Renshi 6th Dan Carole Galligan, Kenshokan Iaido group, 780 Argyle Street,
Petersborough, Ontario, Canada. https://www.facebook.com/events/1454734658189785/
- 11/14-15, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.
- 11/21: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- 11/21-22: SCKF Iaido Seminar and Shinsa, Sat/Sun.
- Led by Kendo Kyoshi 8th Dan and Iaido Kyoshi 7th Dan Shozo Kato. Seminar open to all AUSKF members and Shinsa open to those eligible for any Kyu rank or 1st Dan. Location in Los Angeles/Orange County area TBD. Registration packet coming by early October.
December
- 12/12: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
June
- 6/17-19/2016: 9th US Nito Kendo Camp, Boise State University Campus, Boise, Idaho.
5th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – August 1, 2015, Huntington Beach, California
9 and Under Boys 10-11 Boys
1st place - Taiyo Ariga, SCKO 1st place - Akira Fujiwara, SCKO
2nd place - Ryosuke Yamamoto, SCKO 2nd place - Josh Kim, PNKF
3rd place - Peter Yu, SCKF 3rd place - Eugene Kae, WKF
3rd place - Kaisei Shinozaki, SCKO 3rd place - Haru Sakamoto, SCKO
12-13 Boys 13 and Under Girls
1st place - Toshiki Nakashimo, SCKF 1st place - Kotone Ariga, SCKO
2nd place - Riki Orii, SCKO 2nd place - Betty Park, PNKF
3rd place - Yuto Takeo, GNEUSKF 3rd place - Rinka Ogata, SCKO
3rd place - Tomohide Katayama, ECUSKF 3rd place - Haruka Taniguchi, SCKO
14-18 Girls 14-15 Boys
1st place - Courtney Yoon, SCKF 1st place - Brandon Wang, WKF
2nd place - Hanako Kiuchi, SCKO 2nd place - Ian Kotake, SCKO
3rd place - Kasey Tada, SCKF 3rd place - John Yoon, SCKF
3rd place - Hana Yamamoto, SCKO 3rd place - Sean Small, GNEUSKF
16-18 Boys
1st place - Brian Wi, WKF
2nd place - Daniel Lee, WKF
3rd place - Kenichiro Mizobe, SCKF
3rd place - Tatsuya Horii, SCKF
Team
Senior Boys Junior Boys Girls
1st place - WKF A 1st place - SCKO 1st place - SCKF B
2nd place - SCKF A 2nd place - WKF B 2nd place - SCKO A
3rd place - SCKO A 3rd place - SCKF A 3rd place - SCKO B
3rd place - SCKF B 3rd place - SCKO A 3rd place - NCKF A
1st ALL VIETNAM KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS, August 29-30, 2015, Da Nang, Vietnam
Men's Individuals Woman's Individuals
1st place - Tran Tuan, Kenyukai 1st place - Nguyen Thuy Linh, Hanoi
2nd place - Nguyen Xuan Vinh, Hanoi 2nd place - Nguyen Quynh Trang, Hanoi
3rd place - Nguyen Manh Hung, Thang Long 3rd place - Hoang Thu Trang, Hanoi
3rd place - Nguyen Manh Ha, Hanoi 3rd place - Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Kenyukai
Men's Teams
1st place - Hanoi A (Vu Van Minh, Pham Duc Ngoc, Nguyen Manh Ha, Khuong Ngoc Thong, Nguyen Xuan Vinh)
2nd place - Kenyukai A (Tran Tuan, Tran Huy, Tran Trung Hieu, Du Hai Kien, Le Hoang Son)
3rd place - Sai Gon A (Tran Hui Hoang, Le Thanh Son, Dao Tuan Anh, Ngo Tan Dat, Nguyen Khanh Toan)
3rd place - Thang Long A (Nguyen Manh Hung, Kieu Quang Hong, Ha Hai Long, Nguyen Anh Van, Nguyen Quoc Hiep)
Women's Team
1st place - Hanoi A (Nguyen Thuy Linh, Hoang Thu Trang, Nguyen Quynh Trang)
2nd place - Kenyukai A (Do Thi Lan Anh, Tran Phuong Ha, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao)
3rd place - Hanoi B (Tran Thi Van, Phan Thi Hanh, Trieu Hong Ngoc)
3rd place - Kenyukai B (Vu Do Uyen Vy, Dinh Nhu Thien Nu, Pham Yen Linh)
SHINKYU SHINSA
AUSKF KODANSHA SHINSA, July 26, 2015, Richardson, Texas
5TH DAN: Makiko Adachi (SWKIF), David Cooper (SWKIF), SungHo Han (AEUSKF), Mitsuishi Hayato (SCKO), Daisei Konno
(AEUSKF), Shinya Nishi (MWKF), Huy Nguyen (SWKIF).
6TH DAN: Sung Kim (MWKF), Dongsu Lee (WKF), Sei Wakuta (GNEUSKF), Yasuhiro Yoshida (GNEUSKF), Munik Zo
(WKF).
7TH DAN: Hajime Sugawara (MWKF).
PNKF IAIDO SHINSA, August 8, 2015, Kent
3RD KYU: Adam Clark (AiShinKai).
2ND KYU: Callie Anderson (Everett), Thane Mittelstaedt (AiShinKai).
1ST KYU: Aleasha Jay (AiShinKai), Richard Milde (Tonbo), Robert Neff (Tonbo).
1ST DAN: Alden Vanderspek (AiShinKai), Kathleen Shipley (Tonbo), Lynda Shipley (Tonbo).
2ND DAN: Garrit Pillie (AiShinKai), Christopher Parkins (RenMa). 3RD DAN: Victor Kwok (NCKF).
PNKF KENDO SHINSA, August 8, 2015, Kent
6TH KYU: Alec Yuen (Seattle), Hana Koob (Bellevue), Michinari Tawara (Bellevue).
5TH KYU: Kira Campbell (Sno-King), Lucien Jesequel (Obukan), William Wellborn (Highline).
4TH KYU: Noah Larson (Federal Way), Grant Suyama (Cascade), Brayan Valdez-Cruz (Northwest), Yun-Ming (Jasmine) Shih
(Northwest), Hyunjun Jang (Cascade).
3RD KYU: Yura Campbell (Sno-King), Evan Kriechbaum (Portland), Natalie Imanishi (Cascade), Amanda Lockwood (UW), Eric
Soo (Obukan), Joshua Zheng (OSU), Long Le (UW), Adrienne Wilburn (Portland), Chris Vitale (OSU), Greg Veilhaber
(Portland), Timothy Jaybush (Bellevue), Joshua Wigant (Portland).
2ND KYU: Jihan Kim (OSU), Tyler Yamashita (Seattle), Dan McLean (Portland), Vincent DeBellis (Portland), David Nash
(Edmonds), Eric Bortz (Alaska), Rick Goral (Northwest), Clyde Bailey (Portland), Stephen Ting (Northwest).
1ST KYU: Betty Park (Bellevue), Hannah Kim (Bellevue), Drake Imanishi (Seattle), Jun-Wing Chen (Bellevue),
Addison Knappett (OSU), Howard Hwa (Bellevue), Andrew Miller (Portland), Fritz Borchardt (Edmonds), Mikiyo Ohashi
(Edmonds), Vincente Matsunaga (Edmonds).
1ST DAN: Lowell Kim (UW), Caleb Ogier (UW), Corey Chan (UW), Jake Colter (Cascade), Trinh Ho (Northwest), Nicholas
Cook (Portland), Brandon Sweezea (Northwest), Teo Morca (Northwest), Ronen Totonchi (Everett), Jason Yu (Northwest).
2ND DAN: Ken Tawara (Idaho), Jongwon Lee (Portland), Andrea Kayser (Pocatello).
3RD DAN: Bernice Lin (UW), Taryn Imanishi (Cascade), Hwan Choi (UW), Jose Cabrera (NCKF).
4TH DAN: Ian Morgan (Kent), Ron Risher (Northwest).
CKR 2015 WESTERN CANADA JODO SHINSA, August 15, 2015, Vancouver, BC
1ST KYU: Narbeh Bagdasarian
(Pasadena), Garrett Evans (Hoshu), Terry Fukui (Ken Zen), Kathleen Jorgensen (Tonbo), James Maestas (Yamakage), Mineko
Matreyek (Hoshu), Gary Moulder (Palo Alto), Norman Otani (Fresno), Levon Sukiasyan (San Fernando Valley), Naoki Tamesue
(Yamakage), Bruce Vail (Hoshu).
1ST DAN: Patrick Allard (Hoshu CKF), Lance Lloyd (Hoshu), Arthur Wolak (Hoshu CKF).
2ND DAN: Brian Blomquist (Everett), Hiroaki Fukumoto (Seattle), Gao Gai Tian (Hoshu CKF), Jeffrey Kamo (Hoshu CKF),
Kathleen Newcomer (Tonbo), Michael Park (Hoshu).
3RD DAN: Ivan Andrews (Hoshu CKF), Tim Archer (Hoshu CKF), Ben Lew (Hoshu CKF), Edward Olson (Tonbo).
AJKF KODANSHA SHINSA, August 22, 2015, Sendai City, Miyagi
7TH DAN: Takao Mizuno (Kanagawa).
THE LAST WORD
I was ashamed, however, when I was with Miura Sensei, to realize that I was interested in my own welfare and having
fun, unlike the Samurai warrior. In fact, I questioned whether I truly had the right desire and drive to learn Kendo
beyond my current skill. I was satisfied with where I was, second in rank to Miura Sensei, and swinging a sword to “create
my life” seemed crazy since I was quite satisfied with my life. Except, I had never been to dances with girls in high
school. “Holding a lady is not good,” my father said. “Do kendo.” And that is what I did.
I had had no girlfriend, no social life, and no parties but I enjoyed what is probably a typical teenager’s life in
Hawai’i. I pole vaulted beside the garage, and my best friend Walter and I made fishing poles to catch catfish and bass
while wandering along the banks of the Wahiawa River. Travel to Ka’ena Point, the desolate northern tip of Oahu that still
has only a rough, dirt road was a special treat. I, together with several other men and my brother, would set camp in the
rock caves, build a fire, and fish all night for ulua. Ulua were fierce fighters and landing one was the like winning a
battle, though with no threat of death to the fisherman. My world was small but I was happy. I had friends and was
satisfied by my travels to what seemed the huge city of Honolulu, and my journey to Hilo was further than most of my
friends in Wahiawa had gone.
But my father and Miura Sensei had once again decided my fate. I was told to go to Japan, learn more Kendo, become a
professional Kendoist, return to Hawaii and teach. “Study well the true Kendo from the world’s top Sensei.” Miura Sensei
told me. “Know it in your hara. Chew, digest, absorb it well from Ogawa Sensei, and when you return, adapt it to the
Hawaiian way. Develop it as Yankee Samurai Spirit! You cannot directly import Japanese Kendo to Hawaii, but you must never
compromise the spirit of Kendo.” There was no discussion, just as there had been no discussion when they decided that
football was pau for me. This was the “way” of the Japanese father. It was just that simple. I would leave, September,
l938 just after my twentieth birthday. Well, whatever would happen, I would return in two years. I could endure almost
anything for such a short time, I thought. Moreover, I was sure I wouldn’t be lost because I learned Japanese from my
mother and the Japanese language school at the Hongwanji Buddhist temple. And Miura Sensei implied I would have no
trouble: “Play dumb and learn everything, good or bad.” I was already a 2nd Dan kendoist and everyone expected that I
would quickly rise in rank in Japan to return as a young sensei. Moreover, teaching would provide me with a livelihood to
support a family with significantly less effort than being a blacksmith or a laborer in the pineapple fields. That was the
plan. It would bring honor to my family, especially my father. Kendo has been synonymous with the samurai class and
nobility since the eighth century. If peasant boys played at stick-fighting, as I had played chambara, they did not become
professional kendoists. My father’s move to Hawaii stirred a bigger aspiration. In a new country very different from the
class conscious Japan, he could nurture hopes of becoming more than a peasant and bring honor and respect to his family
name. He always identified with Japan, and his yamato-damashi (Japanese spirit) grew in this distant land. A man who
constantly worked for his family, his reward would be my success in becoming a Japanese trained professional Kendo
Sensei.
That summer I continued working in my father’s shop and practicing Kendo. I almost envied my brother Tomio who had
developed his interest in electronics after quitting kendo. He patiently gathered parts, studied late at night, and made
his own ham radio. I, too, was fascinated by radios, and when Tomio joined the ham radio club and began communicating with
people around the world, I wished I could do that, too. Talking around the world, trips to Honolulu and the other islands,
were all the international relationships I really thought were exciting. Perhaps, because I was more active and
mischievous as a boy than my quieter brother, the path my father and Miura sensei chose was better suited to me. Perhaps
the martial arts suited me more, with my temper and stubbornness, traits much less apparent in my gentler, more
contemplative brother. I would train relentlessly, more than any other student, if necessary, to overcome any shortcomings
in either my technique or my nature. To disappoint my father was unthinkable.
No one discussed what I might face when I went Japanese who had learned the Japanese language. I think my only
preparation was to consult a map of Japan to determine the location of Kyoto. All I knew was that I would take a steamship
to Yokohama and then a train to Kyoto to the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Budo Senmon Gak’ko. Commonly called Busen, it was a
professional martial arts academy with four departments: kendo, judo, naginata, and kyudo . The history of Busen was
written by kendoists, and indeed, kendo seemed favored in the school; the first head of Busen was a Naito Takaharu Sensei,
a kendoist.
Busen’s history began with a concise telegram to Naito Takaharu Sensei, “Michi no tame ni kitare!” or “Come for the
sake of the Way.” Leaving his very successful business and dojo in Tokyo, he answered the call. On October 1, l905 Bujutsu
Kyoin Yoseijo, the first name for Busen, was started with Naito Sensei as the head master. On July 1912, the name was
changed to Budo Senmon Gak’ko and on March, l914, the first class of eight students graduated. The 35th and last class
graduated 15 students in January, 1948. During its 42 year history, students from the most northern most island of
Hokkaido to Kyushu, the most southern, usually the best kendoists from high schools, and often from wealthy families,
attended Busen. It was well regarded and perhaps comparable in Japan to West Point and Annapolis in the United States,
though it was not a governmental institution nor nearly as large.
I don’t know what my father and Miura Sensei did to gain my acceptance by Ogawa Sensei. I was one of two who entered
Busen from a foreign country in the whole history of Busen. Odate Isao, the second student from Hawaii, studied judo and
graduated in the 27th class in March of 1941. And only two from Busen later became permanent residents of the US, myself
and Mikio Hattanda of Santa Barbara, California. I would have graduated in the 31st class in l944, but by then, the
Japanese had been defeated in World War II, and Busen was closed by the Allies. But that is another story.
My major preparations were to put my three shinais into perfect condition and pack them. I also checked my kendo bogu
very carefully and even ironed my hakama for the very first time. My bogu and keikogi still was one of my major concerns.
I had mixed feelings about learn more kendo, and I was quite sure there would be no ice cream in Japan. Moments of
philosophy and stories with Miura Sensei, which seemed so serious and inspiring and fascinated me at the time, without
full comprehension, were forgotten. I was still a happy-go-lucky Hawaiian kid. But I would go; there was no choice. And I
would bring honor to my family, and especially Miura Sensei, by succeeding.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 18-21. Available as free download at lulu.com.
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Kenyu Online
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
Volume 29, number 6/7
June/July 2015
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Jul 18, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 8, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 19, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 26/27, PNKF Iaido Seminar, Sat/Sun, Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue.
- Oct 3, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 17, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, TBA.
- Nov 7, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 21, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Dec 12, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- Jul 18, Colorado Jodo Seminar, led by James Maestas, Naoki Tamesue, and Tom Groendal, on ZNKR Seitei Jodo
up to Ikkyu level, Boulder, Colorado.
- Jul 24/25/25, AUSKF Kendo Summer Camp and Kodansha Shinsa, Fri/Sat/Sun, featuring Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan Shigeki Yamanaka, and Kendo Kyoshi 8th Dan Hiroshi Ozawa, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Camp fee $70, Sat/Sun breakfast and lunch $8.5o per meal, dinner available Fri/Sat $8.50 per meal, Saturday Banquet $35 at Fox and Hound Bar and Grill.
- Aug 1/2, 5th AUSKF Junior Open National Championships and Youth Seminar, Sat/Sun, with surprise special
guest. Sat, Aug 1: Championships; Sun, Aug 2: Junior Kendo Camp; Huntington Beach, California.
- Aug 18, CKF Western Jodo Shinsa, Royal Oak Community Church, Burnaby, BC.
- Nov 14/15, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.
PASSAGE
Akinobu (Aki) Yotsuuye.
On June 19, 2015, the PNKF lost its great friend and photographic chronicler when Akinobu Yotsuuye passed away from complications
following a fall. Born December 25, 1923 in Ehime-ken Japan, Mr. Yotsuuye had come to Washington as an infant with his parents.
Their farm near Fife and Wapato Creek was known as Brookville Gardens, and this is where he grew up and worked almost all his life.
During World War II the family was interned at Minidoka, where they also worked hard in farming, famously saving the harvest of the
sugar beet crop. Thanks to a kindly neighbor, they did not lose the farm, and were able to return when the war ended. In 1955 Aki
married Chizuko Yasuda, and they had four children, David (wife Kathy), Gene (wife Nancy Martella), Vicki (husband Curtis Marsten), and
Wayne (wife Dawn). In 1967 Boy Scout Troop 115 at Tacoma Buddhist Temple began a project of studying the basics of Kendo, emphasizing
the spiritual aspect, to demonstrate at Scout-O-Rama, under the direction of Rod Nobuto Omoto, who had received his training at Budo
Semmon Gakko. He was assisted by Mas Tanabe and Yosh Tanabe, and this project was documented photographically by Mr. Yotsuuye. It
also evolved into the current Tacoma Kendo and Iaido Club (since October 1987 no longer sponsored by the Temple), including their first
tournament in 1970. Meanwhile, Kendo was proliferating generally, and Mr. Yotsuuye committed himself to thoroughly and meticulously
recording all the developments with his cameras, the early tournaments, the emergence of the Kendo Club at UW in 1972, the formation of
the WSKF (now PNKF) in 1975, and so on down to the present. He leaves us an immense pictorial legacy of our region’s post-war Kendo
history. Two of his children, David and Vicki, have become major pillars of PNKF Kendo, and all four of his grandchildren, Ashley
(husband Alec Boehmer) and Brandon Yotsuuye, and Conor and Tiarnan Marsten, have studied Kendo, with Conor and Tiarnan continuing
currently as prominent champion kenshi. Services were June 28 at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple. Our deepest condolences to his wife
Chizuko and his brother Tada (wife Yoshie), all the family, and numerous friends.
5th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND YOUTH SEMINAR – August 1/2, 2015, Huntington Beach, California.
The PNKF will support any member kenshi age 18 and younger to attend this event, and will cover registration fees, lunches, plus
$250.00 each toward travel and lodging. Dates: August 1st (tournament) and 2nd (seminar). Individual Divisions: 9 and younger, 10-11,
12-13, 14-15, 16-18, 13-under girls, 14-18 girls. Team Divisions, Two Teams per Federation per division: 5-person Boys Mixed-age Team,
3-person Girls Team, 3-person Youth Team.
16th WORLD KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS – May 29,30,31 2015, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan.
Men Individuals
1st place - Tadakatsu Amishiro, Japan
2nd place - Yuya Takenouchi, Japan
3rd place - Man Uk Jang, Korea
3rd place - Hidehisa Nishimura, Japan
Fighting Spirit
Jonathan Bertout, France Krzysztof Bosak, Poland
Fabrizio Mandia, Italy Christopher Yang, USA
Giuseppe Gianetto, Italy Jin Yong Jo, Korea
Ryo Murase, Japan Sandor Dubi, Hungary
Women Individuals
1st place - Mizuki Matsumoto, Japan
2nd place - Yun Yung Hu, Korea
3rd place - Bo Kyung Won, Korea
3rd place - Yukiko Takami, Japan
Fighting Spirit
Roxine Kubo-Nakamoto, Hawaii Akie Tayama, Japan
Hwa Yeong, Korea Fleur Smout, Netherlands
Sayo Vanderwoude, Netherlands Hanaca Yamada, Canada
Mana Kawagoe, Japan Nishiki Sano, USA
Women Teams
1st place - Japan (Yoko Sakuma, Moeko Takahashi, Tai Watanabe, Mariko Yamamoto, Mizuki Matsumoto)
2nd place - Korea (Sun A Jung, Yun Yung Hu, Min Ji Cha, Bo Kyung Won, Seung Hee Kim)
3rd place - USA (Esther Kim, Yuri Kil, Nishiki Sano, Sumi Domen, Kaori Kikunaga)
3rd place - Brazil (Aline Lie Kimura, Cristiane Lie Toide, Marcia Miyuki Hayashi, Eliete Harumi Y. Takashina,
Elzami Miwa Onaka)
Fighting Spirit
Mizuki Matsumoto, Japan Elzami Miwa Onaka, Brazil
Stella Wong, Singapore Serena Ricciuti, Italy
Bree Yang, Canada Safiyah Fadai, Germany
Nishiki Sano, USA Yun Yung Hu, Korea
Men Teams
1st place - Japan (Yuya Takenouchi, Yosuke Katsumi, Masahiro Shodai, Sho Ando, Ryoichi Uchimura)
2nd place - Korea (Man Uk Jang, Jin Yong Jo, Byung Hoon Park, Je Min Yu, Kang Ho Lee)
3rd place - USA (Sandip Ghodgaonkar, Daniel Yang, Simon Yoo, Brandon Harada, Christopher Yang)
3rd place - Hungary (Akos Szegofi, Attila Dubi, Gabor Babos, Balazs Toth, Sandor Dubi)
Fighting Spirit
Sho Ando, Japan Christopher Yang, USA
Alberto Masumi Takayama, Brazil Chung-Yang Chang, Chinese Taipei
Xuan Chen, China Guillermo Flores, Mexico
Akos Szegofi, Hungary Kang Ho Lee, Korea
2015 ROSE CITY TAIKAI – June 13, 2015, Portland Community College Cascade Campus
Women Juniors 12 and Below
1st place - A. Nakayama, Obukan 1st place - J. Shim, Obukan
2nd place - E. DeJong, UW 2nd place - K. Underhill, Northwest
3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - J. Kim, Federal Way
3rd place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent 3rd place - B. Choi, Kogakukan
Senior Dan Juniors 13-15
1st place - C. Marsten, Kent 1st place - K. McManus, Kent
2nd place - D. Yotsuuye, Bellevue 2nd place - O. Jeong, Kogakukan
3rd place - H. Iba, Bellevue 3rd place - E. Choi, Kogakukan
3rd place - T. McManus, Kent 3rd place - K. Underhill, Northwest
3 Kyu and Below 2 Kyu and 1 Kyu
1st place - T. Yamashita, Seattle 1st place - J. Yamauchi, Cascade
2nd place - J. Wigant, Portland 2nd place - C. Chan, UW
3rd place - L. Le, UW 3rd place - A. Miller, Portland
3rd place - C. Bailey, Portland 3rd place - A. Kanemasu, Kent
1 Dan and 2 Dan 3 Dan and Above
1st place - J. DeJong, Highline 1st place - S. Choi, Portland
2nd place - T. Imanishi, Cascade 2nd place - A. Yen, Seattle
3rd place - E. Hashimoto, Northwest 3rd place - A. Melton, Spokane
3rd place - B. Lin, UW 3rd place - C. Ruiz, Spokane
Junior Team
1st place - Federal Way (J. Kim, D. Lee, K. McManus)
2nd place - Northwest (B. Underhill, T. Miyamoto, E. Underhill)
3rd place - Cascade A (H. Jang, K. Fukuda, JY Lee)
3rd place - Obukan A (J. Shim, Shota Wetlesen, Shun Wetlesen)
Adult Team
1st place - Highline (J. DeJong, S. Smith, F. Wessbecher, E. Marsten, C. Chaney)
2nd place - Obukan A (G. Nakayama, J. Chen, N. Holtorf, J. Mapp, A. Nakayama)
3rd place - Spokane A (C. Ruiz, W. Kuster, M. Wolf, W. Sinclair, A. Melton)
3rd place - Portland A (J. Croes, N. Cook, A. Miller, C. Bailey, S. Choi)
AUSKF 2015 IAIDO CHAMPIONSHIP – June 20, 2015, San Jose City College
0-2 Kyu Murakami Cup 1 Kyu and 1 Dan
1st place - Zachary Park, KenBuKan 1st place - Allen Smith, Mushinkan
2nd place - Ben Sardinas, South Florida 2nd place - Rodney Castillo, South Florida
3rd place - SangKi Lee, DFWKIK 3rd place - Steven Touchi, Rancho Cordova
3rd place - Sean Zhu, DFWKIK 3rd place - Korhan Tekkin, Norwalk
Kantosho - Keita Tanabe, Salinas Kantosho - Pedro Sors, South Florida
Murosako Cup 2 Dan and 3 Dan Yamaguchi Cup 4 Dan and Above
1st place - Takanori Furuta, Itto Kai 1st place - Paul Shin, Shidogakuin
2nd place - Tomoyuki Hirasawa, DFWKIK 2nd place - Susan Sekreta, Ken Zen
3rd place - Yuko Nishida, Shidogakuin 3rd place - Jason Hankins, ZenBuKan
3rd place - Sergey Zalubovsky, Mountain View 3rd place - Terry Fukui, Ken Zen
Kantosho - Ahn Trieu, AiShinKai Kantosho - Monica Iwakabe, Rocky Mountain
6th US NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIP – June 20, 2015, McGill University, Montreal
Engi
1st place - Ai Ajiki and Misaki Nukii, Japan
2nd place - Miyo Inoue and Seishi Sakai, Japan
3rd place - Axel Noorman and Faye Noorman, Netherlands
Individual Women Individual Men
1st place - Hasumi Hayashida, Japan 1st place - Kosuke Tanaka, Japan
2nd place - Ai Ajiki, Japan 2nd place - Francois Dermine, Belgium
3rd place - Misaki Nukii, Japan 3rd place - Hirotaka Kato, Japan
Team Women
1st place - Japan (Misaki Nukuu, Miyo Inouye, Hasumi Hayashida)
2nd place - USA (Kei Tsukamaki, Shannon Lew, Kelsey Shamrell-Harrington)
3rd place - France (Amadine Babule, Sophie Schmitz, Chloe Bellec)
Team Men
1st place - Japan (Kosuke Tanaka, Seishi Sakaki, Satsuki Sahashi)
2nd place - Belgium (David D'hose, Tyl Dermine, Francois Dermine)
3rd place - Canada (Antoine Fromentin, Daniel Bouchard, Tomas Almonte)
LEEWARD OAHU KENDO TOURNAMENT – June 28, 2015, Mililani District Park Gym
Yonenbu 11 Years and Under Shonenbu 12-14 Years
1st place - Brandon Matsumoto, Kenshikan 1st place - Go Hayakawa, Aiea Taiheiji
2nd place - Zachary Yamamoto, Waipahu Seibukan 2nd place - Shoshi Hashimoto, Wahiawa
3rd place - Trinity Kishimoto, Mililani 3rd place - Orion Kishimoto, Mililani
3rd place - Caden Matsumoto, Kenshikan 3rd place - Kano Hashimoto, Wahiawa
Seinenbu Yudansha 1-2 Dan
1st place - Matthew Takemoto, Hawaii Daijingu 1st place - Kevin Chun, Kenshikan
2nd place - Gavin Mata, Hilo Hongwanji 2nd place - Kenton Chun, Mililani
3rd place - John Pitts, Ainakoa Shiseikan 3rd place - Grant Oliver, Kenshikan
3rd place - Skye Nakayama, Kenshikan 3rd place - Gary Komenaka, Ainakoa Shiseikan
Women's Mudansha Women's Yudansha
1st place - Katsumi Takemoto, Hawaii Daijingu 1st place - Rina Ono Brown, Mililani
2nd place - Megan Watanabe, Waipahu Seibukan
Yudansha 3-4 Dan Yudansha Masters 3 Dan and Above Over 45 Years of Age
1st place - Chris Goodin, Aiea Taiheiji 1st place - Garrett Matsumoto, Kenshikan
2nd place - Braxton Fukutomi, Aiea Taiheiji 2nd place - Tusha Buntin, Wahiawa
3rd place - Yusuke Masumo, Mililani 3rd place - Kojun Hashimoto, Wahiawa
3rd place - Gregory Gates, Aiea Taiheiji 3rd place - Marvin Acklin, Wahiawa
Yudansha 5 Dan and Above
1st place - Hyun Kim, Kenshikan
2nd place - Andy Fujimoto, Mililani
Team Parents/Kids Team
1st place - Mililani Parents - 2
2nd place - Kenshikan Kids - 4
James Oka Kantosho Fighting Spirit Award - Nicklas Matsumoto, Kenshikan
SHINKYU SHINSA
AJKF KENDO SHINSA, May 17, 2015, Biwajima Sport Center, Nagoya
6TH DAN: Tomoko Suzuki (Youshinkan).
IKF KENDO SHINSA, June 1, 2015, Olympic Youth Centre, Tokyo
5TH DAN: Lunwei Zhang (China). 6TH DAN:
Blake Bennett (New Zealand), Seth Harris (Hawaii), Sue Lytollis (New Zealand), Grant Matsubayashi (Hawaii), Christopher Wong
{Malaysia). 7TH DAN: Graham Sayer (New Zealand), Buster Sefor (South Africa).
AUSKF IAIDO SHINSA, June 21, 2915, San Jose, California
4TH KYU: Keita Tanabe. 3RD KYU: Angela Gibson, Gina Konstantopoulos. 2ND KYU: Noriko Ambe, Jim
Chandler (ZenBuKan), Jordy Davis (ZenBuKan), Sangki Lee (DFWKIK), Ashley Moore (DFWKIK), Celeste Rosell (ZenBuKan), Denise Verastigue
(DFWKIK), Sean Zhu (DFWKIK). 1ST KYU: Derek Kordash, Zachary Park (ZenBuKan), Benjamin Sardinas (SFKC). 1ST
DAN: Frank Campione, Ahmed Gaballa ElSayed, Alec Milton, Allen Smith, Korhan Tekin. 2ND DAN: Pedro Batista, Frank
Burke, Pamela Carlson (DFWKIK), Rodney Castillo (SFKC), Michael Sareyani, Pedro Sors (SFKC), Steven Touchi (NCKF), Jeremy
Wong. 3RD DAN: Terry Sewell (DFWKIK), Kimiye Touchi (NCKF), Edward Vierk, Yoshimasa Watanabe. 4TH DAN:
Brian Beckford, David Chiu (Simon Frazer U), Hiroaki Fukumoto (PNKF), Takanori Furuta, Tomoyuki Hirasawa (DFWKIK). 5TH
DAN: David Cooper (DFWKIK), Monica Iwakabe (Rocky Mountain).
THE LAST WORD
I graduated from Leilehua High School in l938. I had achieved the rank of 2nd Dan, which was a considerable achievement for my
age, but by then I knew there was so much more to learn. The discipline of Kendo had the physically demanding practice sessions, but I
had finally realized, as Miura Sensei had told me from the beginning, that the real discipline was of myself, to temper and refine my
spirit. Although I had won tournaments in Oahu and had once, in 1934, traveled to Hilo on the Big Island with Miura Sensei to
participate in a tournament, I felt that my skills were strong, but my character was far from the ideal of the Bushi, the feudal
samurai warrior of Japan. Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, stresses kindness and benevolence as well as courage. I trained hard yet
reflected on my progress. Was I benevolent or courageous? I didn’t think so. My mind was definitely not quiet, and my pride and ego,
punctured any thoughts of humility. I certainly never considered death as a serious threat, and the concept of Bushido as “the resolute
acceptance of death” was a recitation for my head but not something I could relate to. No one wants to die, and when Miura Sensei told
me that the Way of the Warrior is death, it seemed an arcane thought relevant to feudal Japan but of little consequence in the fragrant
Hawaiian countryside alive with the aloha spirit of hospitality and sharing. But I had not discussed or questioned these statements. I
accepted on the authority of Miura Sensei that if I applied myself, someday I, too, would understand. Mostly, however, I was a
happy-go-lucky Hawaiian teenager and thought I knew everything I needed. To understand the Way of the Warrior and concepts of Bushido
was not my primary goal.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 18. Available as free download at lulu.com.
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Kenyu Online
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
Volume 29, number 4/5
April/May 2015
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Jun 13, Rose City Taikai, Sat, doors open 9am, check-in closes 10am, opening ceremonies 10:15am, PCC Cascade Campus, 705 N.
Killingsworth, Portland.
- Jun 26/27/28, 8th US Nito Kendo Seminar, Fri/Sat/Sun TVCC Ontario, Oregon.
- Jul 18, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 8, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 19, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 26/27, PNKF Iaido Seminar, Sat/Sun, Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue.
- Oct 3, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 17, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, TBA.
- Nov 7, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 21, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Dec 12, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- May 27/28/29/30/Jun 1, 16WKC, Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan.
- Jun 18/19/20/21/22, AUSKF Iaido and Jodo Seminar, Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, San Jose City College.
- Jun 28, Leeward Oahu Kendo Tournament, Sun, Mililani.
- Jul 11, Kendo Skill Seminar, NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSED AS OF JULY 5 – NO FURTHER PARTICIPANTS ACCEPTED. Sat, 9am-3pm, open to 3-5 Dan participants, with focus on performing skills needed for higher Dan Kendo in preparation for testing, taught by Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Robert Stroud, Tatsuhiko Konno, and Jeff Marsten.
- Aug 1/2, 5th AUSKF Junior Open National Championships and Youth Seminar, Sat/Sun, with surprise special
guest. Sat, Aug 1: Championships; Sun, Aug 2: Junior Kendo Camp; Huntington Beach, California.
- Nov 14/15, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.
5th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND YOUTH SEMINAR – August 1 and 2, 2015, Huntington Beach, California
The PNKF will support any member kenshi age 18 and younger to attend this event, and will cover registration fees, lunches, plus $250.00
each toward travel and lodging. Dates: August 1st (tournament) and 2nd (seminar). Individual Divisions: 9 and younger, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15,
16-18, 13-under girls, 14-18 girls. Team Divisions, Two Teams per Federation per division: 5-person Boys Mixed-age Team, 3-person Girls Team,
3-person Youth Team.
39th ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 11, 2015
Women's Open 3 Dan
1st place - W. Robillard, Steveston 1st place - R. Asato, Vancouver
2nd place - H. Yamada, Vancouver 2nd place - A. Lee, Vancouver
3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - S. Day, Kent
3rd place - M. Oya, Northwest 3rd place - E. DeJong, UW
0-4 Kyu 1-3 Kyu
1st place - B. Valdez-Cruz, Northwest 1st place - JW Chen, Bellevue
2nd place - G. Vielhaber, Portland 2nd place - J. Borchers, UW
3rd place - J. Kim, OSU 3rd place - J. Sipko, Bellevue
3rd place - E. Lee, Obukan 3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu
1-2 Dan 4 Dan
1st place - L. Oka, Tozenji 1st place - N. Nakano, Steveston
2nd place - S. O'Sullivan, Steveston 2nd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle
3rd place - M. Oya, Northwest 3rd place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu
3rd place - G. Mizutani, Renbu 3rd place - T. Yamada, Vancouver
Teams
1st place - Vancouver (A.Lee, T.Yamada, R.Asato, H.Yamada, A.Fukushima)
2nd place - Portland (J.Croes, A.Miller, J.Lee, S.Choi, N.Cook)
Taikai Chair - Erica DeJong
Head Shinpan - Jeffrey Marsten
Sportsmanship Pledge - Ted Tagami
UW Most Improved - Ted Tagami
Kazuo and Tomo Shoji Inspirational Award - Van Le and Ted Tagami
15th NABESHIMA CUP TAIKAI and 9th TEXAS OPEN TAIKAI – April 18, 2015, Episcopal School, Dallas
Youth Division (10-16) Mudansha Division (1 Kyu and below)
1st place - Aiden Norris, Omaha 1st place - Sangki Lee, DFWKIK
2nd place - Roman Spanke, Omaha 2nd place - Izogbu Wells, Houston Budokan
3rd place - Matthew Tesch, Bushinkan 3rd place - Toan Nguyen, HKK
3rd place - Sol Joanne Hong, DFWKIK 3rd place - Peter Shih, DFWKIK
Kantosho - Elaine Fu, Cougar Kantosho - David Choe, HKK
Margaruite Nixon, Cougar
Women's Division (3 Dan and below) Yudansha Division (3 Dan and below)
1st place - Noelle Grimes, Sno-King 1st place - Victor Koh, Atlanta
2nd place - Alexandra Darrah, HKK 2nd place - Takuro Yamaoka, Bushinkan
3rd place - Keeley McManus, Kent 3rd place - Masumi Koyama, Cougar
3rd place - Mi Ryang Moon, Omaha 3rd place - Thor Metzinger, Ito
Kantosho - Jennyrayne Colangan, DFWKIK Kantosho - David Yao, Steveston
Shamina Kerstein, Cougar Allan Azurin, Cougar
9th Texas Open (4 Dan and above)
1st place - Kenichi Hatakeyama, Baylor
2nd place - Michio Kajitani, Arkansas
3rd place - Makiko Adachi, HKK
3rd place - Hiro Kimura, HKK
Kantosho - Makiko Adachi, HKK
50th ANNUAL VANCOUVER KENDO TOURNAMENT – May 2, 2015, Byrne Creek Secondary School
9 Years and Under 10 to 12 Years 13 to 15 Years
1st place - H. Homma, Renbu 1st place - A. Shimizu, Tozenji 1st place - K. Muramatsu, Steveston
2nd place - Y. Lee, Renbu 2nd place - M. Fukuoka, Tozenji 2nd place - S. Ito, Steveston
3rd place - R. Nakano, Steveston 3rd place - H. Asaoka, Youshinkan 3rd place - K. Darbyshire, Vancouver
3rd place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu 3rd place - C. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - I. Kim, Renbu
16 to 20 Years 21 to 30 Years 31 to 40 Years
1st place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji 1st place - SJ Lee, Central 1st place - T. Yamada, Vancouver
2nd place - R. Asato, Vancouver 2nd place - R. Kuki, UBC 2nd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle
3rd place - L. Oka, Tozenji 3rd place - G. Mizutani, Renbu 3rd place - T. Nakamura, Youshinkan
3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu 3rd place - E. Kita, Renbu 3rd place - J. Chien, Youshinkan
41 Years and Over Women
1st place - M. Hasegawa, Renfrew 1st place - A. Fukushima, Vancouver
2nd place - Y. Row, Steveston 2nd place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu
3rd place - J. Schmidt, Vancouver 3rd place - M. Kobayashi, U Vic
3rd place - Y. Komukai, Vancouver 3rd place - K. Leung, UBC
Junior Team
1st place - Tozenji (N.Kono, M.Fukuoka, A.Shimizu, K.Kono, S.Takahashi)
2nd place - Renbu A (R.Kim, H.Chun, E.Lee, E.Fujita, I.Kim)
Senior Team
1st place - Vancouver (R.Asato, T.Yamada, SHJung, A.Lee, A.Fukushima)
2nd place - Central (M.Park, YSChoi, SJLee, D.Hong, HKRyoo)
Sportsmanship Pledge - K. Darbyshire Spirit Awards - L. Takahae, Steveston
K. Kono, Tozenji
25th ANNUAL BELLEVUE JUNIOR TAIKAI – May 16, 2015, Bellevue
10 Years and Under 11 to 12 Years 13 to 14 Years
1st place - K. Campbell, Sno-King 1st place - D. Hyun, Bellevue 1st place - B. Park, Bellevue
2nd place - E. Sugimoto, Kent 2nd place - J. Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - H. Kim, Bellevue
3rd place - N. Quiraga, Bellevue 3rd place - J. Shim, Obukan 3rd place - D. Lin, Bellevue
3rd place - E. Kim, Seattle 3th place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - M. Ohata, Bellevue
High School Girls High School Boys
1st place - M. DeJong, Highline 1st place - T. Marsten, Kent
2nd place - K. McManus, Kent 2nd place - A. Nagasawa, Bellevue
3rd place - J. DeJong, Highline 3rd place - A. Kanemasu, Kent
3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue 3rd place - K. Toyokawa, Tacoma
Junior Team
1st place - Bellevue Red (D.Hyun, B.Park, H.Kim, L.Shibata, D. Lin)
2nd place - Bellevue White (C.Park, A.Mooko, L.Ohata, F.Yang, M.Ohata)
High School Team
1st place - Highline (J.DeJong, D.Imanishi, M.DeJong)
2nd place - Bellevue Red (JWChen, A.Hyun, B.Liao)
Head Shinpan - David Yotsuuye; Taikai Chair - CJ Chaney; National Anthem - Joe Yang, trumpet; Competitors' Pledge -
Andrew Nagasawa;
Awesome Spirit Award - Josh Kim, Federal Way; Centurion Bellevue Highline Sno-King Youth Leadership Award - Jane Higa
SHINKYU SHINSA
ALL-JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION ANNUAL RENSHI AND KYOSHI SHINSA, May 10, 2015, Himeji, Japan
RENSHI: Kurt Schmucker (PNNF).
THE LAST WORD
The tea master approached another Samurai to help him in this predicament. The Samurai told him that he was not a sword fighter, but a
great master of the tea ceremony. “Therefore, you cannot challenge this Samurai with sword technique. Use what you know best to meet the
challenge. Draw you sword, face your opponent directly, slowly close your eyes, pull your sword high above your head with both hands, and act
as though your opponent is your guest of honor in your tea ceremony. Wait until you feel something cold come down on you. That’s when you
bring down your sword.” The tea master did exactly what he was told and waited for a long time, but nothing cold came down on him. Slowly, he
opened his eyes. To his surprise, he saw the challenging Samurai squatting down with his sword in front of him, bowing and apologizing for his
past rude behavior.
There was never a sense of lecture nor did I take notes. He was never critical, and I never felt embarrassed. “Concentration is
necessary,” he might comment, but would never mention that at the previous practice I had been distracted and had wavered as I cut, my shinai
twisting so that I missed my target by at least six inches. He would question me at times, especially when I felt discouraged. “What are you
doing Kendo for? The sport, or your father, or..?” But he never pressed for an answer. This was for me to contemplate.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 13. Available as free download at lulu.com.
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Kenyu Online
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
Volume 29, number 1/2/3
January/February/March 2015
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