Article: 59th All Japan Kendo Championships - 3rd November, 2011

[Wark 1978]

You can view the page at http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/content.php/188-59th-All-Japan-Kendo-Championships-3rd-November-2011

[TenKen1013]

I thought that Takanabe would retire but I guess he is giving his last performance in the 59th. I have my money on, Uchimura, Takanabe, Shikano, Oishi and maybe Shimizu. There are many new names and I hope to watch some good competitions.

[Fudo-Shin]

Sweet, thanks for putting this up KW!!

I don't know how it's going to pan out on the day BUT, I can say that I would liketo see in the best 8;

Shimizu (Go AICHI, this is your year!!)
Yoneya
Furusawa
And maybe even Harada's younger brother in the mix.

But that's just me....

[TenKen1013]

Harada's younger brother never does well as I recall in the past... He is young and has big shoes to fill for his older brother.


Sweet, thanks for putting this up KW!!

I don't know how it's going to pan out on the day BUT, I can say that I would liketo see in the best 8;

Shimizu (Go AICHI, this is your year!!)
Yoneya
Furusawa
And maybe even Harada's younger brother in the mix.

But that's just me....

[The great I AM]

I thought that Takanabe would retire but I guess he is giving his last performance in the 59th. I have my money on, Uchimura, Takanabe, Shikano, Oishi and maybe Shimizu. There are many new names and I hope to watch some good competitions.Why his last? A number of people competed to older than Takanabe currently is, not least his own teacher....

[Toshiro Mifune]

Why his last? A number of people competed to older than Takanabe currently is, not least his own teacher....

34 is generally the age most tokuren retire. You have to remember most of them have been playing competively since early ages and as much as police practice it takes its toll on a body. Older policemen are only going to compete so long with their younger parts. There have been older like in the 40s particpants I belive 4 years ago (one nito player a doctor). But he doesn't have the same expecations as a Tokuren player. Teramoto and Takanabe most likely will be moving towards become 7th Dan and eventually 8th Dan. So you most likely will see them at other National Tournaments just not the All Japan Kendo Championships competing.

[kendokamax]

34 is generally the age most tokuren retire. You have to remember most of them have been playing competively since early ages and as much as police practice it takes its toll on a body. Older policemen are only going to compete so long with their younger parts. There have been older like in the 40s particpants I belive 4 years ago (one nito player a doctor). But he doesn't have the same expecations as a Tokuren player. Teramoto and Takanabe most likely will be moving towards become 7th Dan and eventually 8th Dan. So you most likely will see them at other National Tournaments just not the All Japan Kendo Championships competing.

Isn't this depends a lot on the character of the player? Because they aren't on the tokuren...they may have less pressure to win(?) but doen't mean they will never want to try out again..

[Toshiro Mifune]

Kendomax not sure what you are asking but in Japan if you are going to make competitive kendo your career the pressure starts at an early age. Whether your trying to get into one of the top kendo highschools, colleges, police, company worker or maybe even teacher. Even the college student, teachers and company worker that made it have great pressure to win or do well. Winning or doing well in AJKC can easily change their life for the better although maybe there is less pressure because most people expect a police officer to win. A good example is Wako who placed 2nd in the AJKC that Shodai won. Wako was able to make the Japanese Men's Team (individuals), particpate in the Sports Accord in China and probably numerous other National tournaments in Japan. Hatakenaka was a university student in his first AJKC soon after doing well he was able to tryout for the Japanese Men's Team and I'm sure it made him look even better to Keishicho when recruiting him after college

[Fudo-Shin]

Woohoo, the big day is here.

I'm just logging into the live-stream now (although I'm at work) and planning to have a peek from time to time throughout the day.

Anyone from KWF online at the budokan today? If so, would love to hear your comments as the day progresses if you are willing to post them up?

Thanka again KWF for all the good work you put into reporting on these events!

[Fudo-Shin]

Ok, I'm a little too eager - the competition doesn't go live until 10.15am (Japan time) and the ceremony at 9.45am.

Add one hour to that if you are in Australia.

[Bear of Doom]

Broadcast is live!! Kata demonstration is now on

[Wark 1978]

Woohoo, the big day is here.

I'm just logging into the live-stream now (although I'm at work) and planning to have a peek from time to time throughout the day.

Anyone from KWF online at the budokan today? If so, would love to hear your comments as the day progresses if you are willing to post them up?

Thanka again KWF for all the good work you put into reporting on these events!

We're here now and watch this space, Twitter and Facebook for updates!!

[Fudo-Shin]

Wow, I'm watching the views on the live feed multiply!

[Fudo-Shin]

Is anyone having problems with stability/streaming from the live-feed or is just me?

[Fudo-Shin]

Well Okido took out my personal favourite but I thought Yoneya played very nice, beautifuland measured kendo against Okido. Good luck to Yoneya, I would like to see him get up one year. Interesting best 8!!

[Fudo-Shin]

Higashinaga!!! Both amazing SOLID men ippon aginst uchimura!!

[J.S]

To bad he didn't get that kote in the final, it looked like it connected on the video but who knows. Congratulations to Takanabe for his second gold medal!

[b8amack]

Dammit! Day off and everything, and I still forgot this was today! :mad:

[Wark 1978]

The tournament ladder is updated!!

[The great I AM]

34 is generally the age most tokuren retire. You have to remember most of them have been playing competively since early ages and as much as police practice it takes its toll on a body. Older policemen are only going to compete so long with their younger parts. There have been older like in the 40s particpants I belive 4 years ago (one nito player a doctor). But he doesn't have the same expecations as a Tokuren player. Teramoto and Takanabe most likely will be moving towards become 7th Dan and eventually 8th Dan. So you most likely will see them at other National Tournaments just not the All Japan Kendo Championships competing.Sorry fella, but you're a little wrong. The average tokuren retiree still very much wants to fight, they just don't get past the local taikai most of the time. There have been plenty of exceptions as well. Heck, 2 years ago one of the coaches of the Chiba police (Someya) went to round 3, losing only to Uchimura. Teramoto retired this year, but lost in the local. Sato, also from Osaka, competed in the local past tokuren retirement with the aim of the All Japans, Koseki from Tokyo was in the local this year having retired last year, Suemasu from Kagoshima was in the All Japan at something like 38, Nishikawa sensei won his last All Japan title past 40 years old, Miyazaki Masahiro last entered at 38 or 39 years old, his brother came 3rd in the Kanagawa yosen at something like 40 years old, just barely missing out on a place, Eiga Naoki also competed past his tokuren retirement. You can't simply assume that Tokuren retirement means that the police suddenly stop going for the big one. They most certainly do, and want it just as much. A few of them I've had the privilege of speaking to don't like the idea of losing to their juniors one bit, and so still take it very seriously. I don't think you are taking their pride into account. I would expect Takanabe to be gunning for it next year as well.

[The great I AM]

A good example is Wako who placed 2nd in the AJKC that Shodai won. Wako was able to make the Japanese Men's Team (individuals), particpate in the Sports Accord in China and probably numerous other National tournaments in Japan. Hatakenaka was a university student in his first AJKC soon after doing well he was able to tryout for the Japanese Men's Team and I'm sure it made him look even better to Keishicho when recruiting him after collegeHatakena was already confirmed by Keishicho by the time he competed in that taikai, and was already involved with the national team. They get earmarked for greatness fairly early.....!

[Toshiro Mifune]

Sorry fella, but you're a little wrong. The average tokuren retiree still very much wants to fight, they just don't get past the local taikai most of the time. There have been plenty of exceptions as well. Heck, 2 years ago one of the coaches of the Chiba police (Someya) went to round 3, losing only to Uchimura. Teramoto retired this year, but lost in the local. Sato, also from Osaka, competed in the local past tokuren retirement with the aim of the All Japans, Koseki from Tokyo was in the local this year having retired last year, Suemasu from Kagoshima was in the All Japan at something like 38, Nishikawa sensei won his last All Japan title past 40 years old, Miyazaki Masahiro last entered at 38 or 39 years old, his brother came 3rd in the Kanagawa yosen at something like 40 years old, just barely missing out on a place, Eiga Naoki also competed past his tokuren retirement. You can't simply assume that Tokuren retirement means that the police suddenly stop going for the big one. They most certainly do, and want it just as much. A few of them I've had the privilege of speaking to don't like the idea of losing to their juniors one bit, and so still take it very seriously. I don't think you are taking their pride into account. I would expect Takanabe to be gunning for it next year as well.


Not necessarily wrong as I didn't say they don't want to fight. Nobody just wants to give up especially any athlete. I believe Teramoto has winning the All Japan Police Championships individuals as one of his goals still. Also kendo as it is now it is highly unlikely to see someone will dominate as Miyazaki was or even Nishikawa Sensei at that age. You saw how many of the matches went into encho especially on Court 1. If you add up the amount of matches that went into encho in the 90s Miyazaki won and some of the early up to maybe 2003 AJKCs. I bet you last year and this years AJKC will probably come pretty close if not more matches that went into encho. Plus more people in recent years are bummed out by their favorites not making the AJKCs in the qualifiers.

Change of Subject this was maybe a 5 minute segment about Kenji Kanazawa who fought in the AJKC this year. He is still heavily involved in searching for people that are still missing after the big quake and tsunami. Very impressive his determination with the little time he has to train. You might need a Windows Multiplayer plug-in to view.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/feature201111161004.html