Budokan

[elfboy]

I was reading something about Utada Hikaru's live in Budokan tour (yeah - I stand accused of listening to bubbly pop music, but then again, doesn't half of Asia love BoA? :D) and then I remembered that the Budokan is still used for martial arts practices, and I think there were a couple of Kendo-related events going on there, as well as practices and whatnot. If one were to go to Japan, would I be able to train in Budokan or is there much more to this than meets the eye? Just curious...

Oh, I hear the Noma Dojo is quite interesting too, although I would like more information on that as well.

P.S

Anyone ever train in Korea? I hear that Yonsei University has a very nice Kumdo center now. I'm probably going to Korea in the summer with a friend and we're going to stop by there to train a bit, but it'd be nice to have some information beforehand.

[sminki]

Oh, I hear the Noma Dojo is quite interesting too, although I would like more information on that as well.


Elfboy,

If you can read Korean, I got a magazine with a nice article on Kodansha Noma dojo which I can bring to practice.

[xvikingx]

I have never been their personally, but the nippon budokan is just a giant event hall. It seems strange to read "live at the budokan" but it's not like they are holding a concert at a dojo.

[mingshi]

Some sites you may be interested:-

Nippon Budokan
http://www.nipponbudokan.or.jp/

Noma Dojo (in English)
http://www.kodansha.co.jp/dojo/noma_dojo_e.html

AJKF holds their Kanto area Godou (goodwill) keiko regularly at the Nippon Budokan. You can check http://www.kendo.or.jp and the date for this month is in the middle of their front page. Like now it will be on April 14th.

HTH.

[JSchmidt]

Noma dojo is probably the most 'authentic' dojo you'll ever find and has the most amazing floor.
While it's an open dojo and all are welcome, I would still recommend contacting them in advance.

http//:www.kigurai.com/kendo/noma1.jpg
The floor.

http://www.kigurai.com/kendo/noma2.jpg
Hosokawa-sensei and me.

[xvikingx]

Excuse me, I totally misunderstood your question about the budokan.

[Musha]

Nothing on that site JSchmidt,

Only a title page..
/www.kigurai.com/

[sminki]

The Kodansha Noma dojo does seem like quite a good place. As I've read, since the former owners (the Noma father and son) have passed away, it's managed by a publishing company and has a manager only. I read that a lot of sensei-level people practice there on a regular basis and most of practice is doing keiko, so would not be the best place to actually start kendo there. The dojo was once headed by Mochida Moriji sensei himself! I myself would love to visit next time I go to Japan.

[JSchmidt]

Hmm..works fine here, (at work), Musha.

Toda-sensei (I believe that's his name), oversees the practices at Noma dojo. (Former multiple All-Japan, former 9th-dan). Add a spattering of 8th dans, with a fair amount of 7th dans, so it's not just 'managed' :).
The public practice is 'just' ji-geiko, every morning at 7am-8am. (You'll actually find that many adult dojo's only do ji-geiko).
Still, it's by far the most unique place I've practiced in Japan and due to the age and structure of the building, it feels like getting zapped 100 years back in time.
Did I mention the floor?..anyways, I'll do it again..the floor is amazing!.
It's solid planks going across the width of the floor, but they're nailed in at the ends, bending slighly upwards, so they act like springs. First practice was slightly disconcerting, as my opponent appeared to be moving all over, due to all the people practicing around us, making the floor 'bounce'.
It is also one of the reasons that the dojo is popular with a lot of older kendo-players, as the floor is very easy on the joints.

Jakob

[sminki]

Headed by Toda sensei? WOW.

Toda sensei - All Japan kendo Champion in 1962 and 1964. Used jodan. One of only three jodan kenshi to win AJKC.

[Musha]

Sorry the first link works about 3 minutes but the second does not seem to work at all. Wanted to see what you looked like too lol.

I went to a sports centre in Japan but there was a Genkan at the front to take your shoes off there was also a small tatami section of the Dojyo where the Sense's put on there armour. A Kyuudo archery range next door too.

In the UK people seem to have a real problem with the floor. Our Dojyo is full of holes and electric tape you also have to wash your feet so much after practice because they are black with dirt :(. Why don't people run with floor cloths like in Japan here :D..

[JSchmidt]

Headed by Toda sensei? WOW.

Toda sensei - All Japan kendo Champion in 1962 and 1964. Used jodan. One of only three jodan kenshi to win AJKC.

That's the guy. He doesnt practice any longer due to his failing health, but still comes to the dojo from time to time to watch the practice and give lectures...and he makes a point of giving every foreigner who visits some advice.

Jakob

[Kingofmyrrh]

That's the guy. He doesnt practice any longer due to his failing health, but still comes to the dojo from time to time to watch the practice and give lectures...and he makes a point of giving every foreigner who visits some advice.

Jakob

Failing health... well if his health is bad now then I`d hate to have seen him before... I practice with toda sensei about twice a week and he is anything but unhealthy. Any public dojo he goes to sees hour long queues, which he always deals with without taking a break. He is also the director of kendo here at keio and has no trouble putting down even the best students. Are you sure you`ve got the right person? Toda sensei is definitely the jodan two time winner, but I`m not sure he goes to noma dojo all that much...

[JSchmidt]

I could be wrong. I was introduced to him and was told who he was, but as I met 1 zillion people that week, I've could have mixed it up.
He certainly appeared to be in the 80s+ and I was told he didnt practice much due to health reasons.

Jakob

[JSchmidt]

Anyways..I'll be back in Tokyo next weekend and find out whether I'm completly nuts or not :)

[Kingofmyrrh]

hmmm... I think he`s about 64. Might be a different person. After all, toda is not exactly the most uncommon of names. If you`re coming next weekend (20-21st??) then you probably won`t get to see him, as that`ll be the last two days of our gasshuku. But then again he might not stay all week, who am I to say? Where abouts in tokyo do you go to practice?

[JSchmidt]

64?..ok, not the same guy :).
I'm only passing through Tokyo (19-21st) on my way back to London and still not sure if I'll get to practice or not. (The teachers I know are all away that weekend!).
I practiced in Noma, Ministry of Economy and some school near Ueno. (Forgot the name). (I was only there for a week last time).

Jakob

[Kingofmyrrh]

I can imagine for a jodan guy like you, the ceiling at the ministry of economics was fun... Sometimes when I finish practice there by men has a little coating of dust on the top from when I banged my shinai into the pipes too hard. School near Ueno... not Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo museum of art)?
Anyway, I`m going back to london sometime during the summer so I expect I`ll run into you. Enjoy the spring.

[JSchmidt]

Yes, I added another dent to pipe in the celing..and it was a good opportunity too!!. (Much to amusement of people around me)