Dojo in Nagoya

[Malkie_Nek]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here at this Forum. Actually, I've just registered the whole thing, so, please, forgive me if I commit any mistake or break the reigi.

I found the forum by googleing (with no success at all) for a dojo in Aichi-ken.

I've already checked the previous threads, lots of pages that Google has returned to me, and, still, I have no idea of where I can practice kendo here in Japan.

Many people have said were going to stay in Japan for a short period of time. Alas, I won't. So I'd like to take my time here and improve my (poor poor) kendo.

I live in a small city called Miwa-chou (the train station, however, is called Kida Eki), but I'm pretty close to bigger cities, like Jimokuji, Sukaguchi, or even Nagoya.

I've already seen some people trainning kendo in a school here, but I guess it's students only.

So, if anyone here, by any fortune, comes to know of any kendo dojo at any of those places, I'd apreciate a lot if one could share.

Thank you.

[xvikingx]

Hi Malkie,

Welcome to the forum. I'm not familiar with AIchi prefecture so I can't be much help but if you can read Japanese you may want to give this dojo search a try:
http://skijournal.co.jp/kendo/dojo/search/list.cgi?mode=find

Also this is the listing for the regional kendo organizations in Aichi prefecture:
http://www.aichi-kendo.jp/shiku/shiku_m.html
I have found that they are usually very helpful even for non-Japanese speakers.

[Hyarion]

Who are you staying with in Japan? Can you speak/read Japanese? Your best bet is to search in Japanese, and also ask around town. You can also contact the kendo federations for the addresses/phone numbers of the closest dojos to you. But you should always ring before visiting, and only watch for the first time.

[Malkie_Nek]

I'm not very skilled in Japanese, but I'll try it out.
xvikingx's link had a Nagoya dojo. If I can't find any other closer, I'll try that one.
Thank you all for the help and support.

[xvikingx]

I'm sure there has got to be something closer. GIve me some time and I'll see what I can come up with.

[Fudo-Shin]

There is one in Nanyo-ku(?)...which is 'Gaijin friendly'. Good Luck with it.

[Kenshi]

I sent him a PM with a contact in Nagoya.

[JoDuncan]

I think Josh Reyer has Nagoya down as his location too....

[Hyarion]

There is one in Nanyo-ku(?)...which is 'Gaijin friendly'. Good Luck with it.

I think most dojos in Japan are gajin-friendly. Of course, this depends on the gajin in question. Speak quietly, and not too much. Be polite and unobtrusive. Listen to what the teachers tell you, and then do it.

[Fudo-Shin]

I say this 'tongue in cheek'.

[Malkie_Nek]

Wow, people!
Thank you all. Seriously, very nice of everybody helping me here!

Kenshi, I got the contact, just wrote to him, waiting for a reply, thanks.

Also, about asking federations, I've received an email from AJKF with the contact of the Aichi-ken prefecture regional kendo federation.
They were very receptive and atentious, and have answered my email very quickly, what surprised me - not only because they are the All Japan KF, but because I am not very proficient in Japanese.
If it ever comes to be of any interest of yours, it is:

愛知県剣道連盟 (Aichi-ken Kendo Federation)
Ｔｅｌ：　052-481-0093
Fax: 052-481-0095
Home Page: www.aichi-kendo.jp
E-mail: aichi-kenren@cap.ocn.ne.jp

However, I still haven't contacted them - I'm not skilled in Japanese (will ask my girlfriend's help on this matter, but, for that, she must be in good mood, what will happen as the will of the Gods).

And finally, nothing to worry about visiting the dojos, reigi, humbleness, etc.
Even if I wish to, I'm not skilled enough to go arrogant. :P

[kurisu]

I visited this dojo while I was in Nagoya. Kondo Sensei is hachidan. They were very friendly. Nobody spoke english.

http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~kondo/index.html

[yagyuu gal]

Another tip is to try the local police station, not police box but the -ku or -cho. I practiced at one in Tenpaku-ku. Also went to the big practice by Nagoya Castle.

More than that, though, I recommend the dojo at HigashiBestuin. It's a temple just south of Osu Kannon right at the subway exit in back of a TV station. If you go to Betsuin, I also strongly recommend the iai practices. The people are really great. If you decide to try the iai, write a private message to me and I'll send my name and the sensei's names. They definitely remember me!

Good luck!

[758jo]

Hello. I have been living and training in Nagoya for the past 6+ years...please send me an email and I'd be happy to introduce some exceptional dojo to you.

[Malkie_Nek]

I've called the Aichi-ken Regional Kendo Federation (actually, a friend of mine did, nihongo o mada dekimasen), but, unfortunatelly, they don't have any kind of list or contacts of dojos in the places I've been looking for, what would be Miwa (where I live - a quick google search told me I live here: http://yubin.senmon.net/en/4901222.html), Jimokuji or Sukaguchi, what's pretty close to me. Nagoya is close, too, but it's like 45 minutes away from here (ok, I'm a bit lazy I guess, but it's really hard when you have the swords and the bogu and the everything else to carry and you don't have a car).
They've told me to try looking for the prefecture's Sport Center (or something like that, I can't remember very well by now, my friend called them when I was working, and I was kind of busy to take notes), that they might have some info. I'm gonna try there (when I manage to get someone there with me), but I'm not very sure I'm gonna succeed...

[Malkie_Nek]

Yagyuu Gal, do you mean the Koban station? If positive, I guess I'll try them before the prefecture. Much closer to my place :D

[Oroshi]

Miwa (where I live - a quick google search told me I live here: http://yubin.senmon.net/en/4901222.html), Jimokuji or Sukaguchi, what's pretty close to me.

You (or your friend) could try contacting the Owari Kendo Renmei: http://www.owarikenren.org/

It's part of the Aichi-ken Kendo Renmei, and lists Miwa and Jimokuji amongst the areas it covers. I imagine they probably have a list of local dojo.

[Josh Reyer]

Have you asked about the kendo club at your school, or are you just assuming it's just for the students? Because the kendo dojo I very briefly trained in was connected to an elementary school, while a friend of mine who worked for a junior high school was gladly accepted into his school's kendo club. Kendo clubs like warm bodies -- the more the merrier

[Malkie_Nek]

Josh,
Actually, I'm assuming it. Their dojo isn't connected to the school, but, actually, is inside the school (it's on one of the floors of the school, and you can see they practice kendo because of the large windows on the floor).
And, beside living near the school, I have no other connections with them (don't study nor work there).
Do you still think I should try asking them? Because then, again, I guess I'll have to ask someone to go there with me :P (man, it's really depressing to depend so much of tsuyaku here).

[Josh Reyer]

Josh,
Actually, I'm assuming it. Their dojo isn't connected to the school, but, actually, is inside the school (it's on one of the floors of the school, and you can see they practice kendo because of the large windows on the floor).
And, beside living near the school, I have no other connections with them (don't study nor work there).
Do you still think I should try asking them? Because then, again, I guess I'll have to ask someone to go there with me :P (man, it's really depressing to depend so much of tsuyaku here).

Yes, by all means. The absolute worst thing that can happen is that your current situation won't change.

What kind of school is it? University? High school? Primary school? If it's the first two, you might be out of luck, but if it's the last you'll probably be free to join.

[Malkie_Nek]

It's not an university, for sure. But, wouldn't I be kind of... big?... to practice with primary school students? :P

[Josh Reyer]

It's not an university, for sure. But, wouldn't I be kind of... big?... to practice with primary school students? :P

You do suburi and stretches with the kids, and when you get better you can be a nice motodachi for them. The people you'd practice with for your training would of course be the sensei and other adults in the class (mostly parents and a few independents such as yourself). Probably some fifth or sixth graders, too; they can get pretty big.

At the dojo I practiced at (for only a few weeks), there was kids' time, wherein beginner adults worked on their basics. After the kids went home, though, that's when the hard, scary practice with the intermediate and advanced adults began.

[Malkie_Nek]

I guess I still can be a motodachi :P
Well, it seems to be another option. I didn't know it was possible to one (not student, not employee) to join a school kendo club, then I thought there would only be students training...