Nanseikan Kendo Club 南西館剣道クラブ

Last Monday, Nanseikan held its second gasshuku for 2009. The day was a great success with 18 participants, the majority of whom stayed for the full eight hours. The little dojo at St Pius X was pretty much at capacity with these numbers, so there was a great deal of energy and spirit in the training. The day was quite warm, about 28 degrees: pleasant for a picnic in the shade, but very sweaty and tiring when wearing dogu . Our previous gasshuku had members from two VKR clubs. This time, five VKR clubs were represented: Nanseikan, Fudoshin, UMKC, MBK and Mumeishi. Participants’ ages ranged from 6 to well over 40-something. The day focused on basics and commenced with everyone performing 1000 suburi . To allow participants’ arms to recover this was followed by a short lecture on Toho (刀法) or practical principles relating to the use of a sword. There then followed an extended session of shinaigeiko looking at basic movements required for cutting, especially focusing on kikentaiitchi .

On Monday 21 December we will be having our second gasshuku (training camp). It will be from 9.00am until 5.00pm with a break for lunch. Date : Monday 21st December Location : Nanseikan Dojo , St Pius X Primary School Hall, Waterdale Road, Heidelberg West (300m north of Bell St intersection). Start time: 9.00am Lunch : 1.00pm Please note, lunch is now BYO. Finish time : 5.00pm Cost : All day under 16 $15.00 (half day -$10.00) All day senior $20.00 (half day - $15.00) Requirements for attendance : VKR member, shinai and bokuto, kendogi and hakama, bogu (if wearing bogu), own lunch Refreshments will be provided but please bring your own lunch. Note, there is a kitchen with fridge, microwave, toaster, etc available at the dojo. Please advise of any health or dietary issues beforehand. RSVP and enquiries : email direct to Ben Sheppard nanseikanATkendovictoriaDOTasnDOTau by Friday 18 December

The hitting dummies ( uchikomidai ) at Otemae Senior High School Kendo Dept. My host in Osaka, George, demonstrating how small my hotel room was (I took this picture standing outisde the door!) Note George is proudly wearing his souvenir Nanseikan polartop. :D Seen from the window of my hotel in Osaka: a remnant of the "bubble economy" (when Japan had too much money in the late 80s, early 90s). A Dept store building with a rollercoaster built in. Unfortunately it's now closed. The big temple gate of Senso Temple in Tokyo. You can see how big the lanterns are by the size of the people standing directly underneath them.

Autumn in Japan means the maples ( momiji ) are on fire. Maples and the autumn moon on a street in Sakura City, an hour outside of Tokyo. In Ikebukuro there is a great bogu shop called Genbudo. They have a display cabinet of some really fancy do-dai . I didn't ask how much...

Fugu! My favourite part of the Kobukan Dojo. The skinniness of the door gives you an idea of how compressed the whole space is. The opposite corner of the Kobukan: books and bokuto!

The Tokyo Budokan, where the 6th dan gradings were held. Immediately after my grading but before I knew the result! The neighbourhood I stayed in whilst in Tokyo, Ikebukuro. A shrine to Jizo Bosatsu, whom Buddhists believe helps the spirits of children who have died. Tradtionally, people wrap him up in bibs, woollen beanies, even coats and jackets!

The "Rapito" train from Kansai International Airport to Osaka City. Shinjuku, one of the main entertainment districts of Tokyo, on a Friday night. Outside the Kobukan Dojo in Nakano, a suburb of Tokyo. The dojo is part of a private house, owned by the head sensei, Ozawa sensei. The Christmas, er... bunny? A poster in a subway in Tokyo.

A street in Osaka A typical vending machine, serving hot, as well as cold, drinks. The view of Osaka Castle from the art room at Otemae Senior High School.