Women in Kendo World Magazine

[Li Pin]

Hello all

I enjoy reading the magazine very much however I was wondering about the lack of representation of women in the Kendo part of the magazine.

I realise that the ratio of men to women practising kendo is very high, however I would have thought that being in Japan the magazine would have been able to find some high-ranking women kendoka to interview for their opinions on different aspects of kendo etc.

Any comments?

Regards,

Pin

[hamish]

Hi Pin,

A section on women's kendo is in the pipeline at the moment, as this is one important priority for us, but it's going to take a little time to do it properly.

What sort of things would you like to see?

regards

Hamish

[Ares2907]

A centrefold?

. . .


*leaps into asbestos suit*

[Kenshi]

i'd like to see info about the All Japan Female Champs. Like a whos-who, any famous female kendoka out there, etc.

Cheers,

[Alex]

The Kendo World team was at the recent All Japan Womens' Tournament. We are preparing Issue 4 of the magazine now and will include a CD ROM with video footage of the final, as well as photos and a full report. :D

[Confound]

Ares,

re that centrefold, we have a really pretty 5 dan in my area, she might be up your alley. however, i'd rather see some tournament schedules!

c

[Li Pin]

Hi Hamish

thank you for replying, sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, I have been experiencing technical difficulties - ADSL with BT is absolute pants!

I guess I would like to know stuff like how many women hold hachi-dan? In fact are there any women of that rank, if not why not? Also in that case what is the highest rank held by a woman both in Japan and abroad?

Could Kendo-World interview a few high ranking women and find out about their experiences? How does being female affect their kendo? How have they been treated by their kendo colleagues and sensei?



Ares2907 :

A centrefold?

A fit, muscled Japanese guy in one of those dinky loincloths (sp?) would please me too :p

Regards,

Li Pin

[Alex]

Hi Pin,
to answer your questions, there are no 8th dan female kendo practitioners, although I do know an iaido 8th dan. The highest female rank in Japan at the moment is 7th dan Kyoshi. Kendo World is planning a special feature issue on womens' kendo for issue #5. We intend to interview some of the highest ranking female practitoners.

I think we'll leave the loincloth clad Japanese lad out of the mag for the meantime...:o

[Ares2907]

Originally posted by Confound
Ares,

re that centrefold, we have a really pretty 5 dan in my area, she might be up your alley. however, i'd rather see some tournament schedules!

c

Hmm. . .perhaps you would be so kind as to ask her if she has any intention of visiting Australia any time soon.

Hamish - do you remember the 4th year girls' captain at Budai when we were there - Konishi - she was quite high on the stepping-on-my-own-tongue-o-meter. Perhaps you could ask her if she's up for it.

As far as kendo schedules go, perhaps you could mark important dates on a calendar inset into the centrefold :p

Li Pin - Dunno about wiry jap-boy in fundoshi, but maybe his and hers kendo-world pin-up calendars are the go. I'm sure you could sell them - in vending machines - right next to those ones in shinjuku that vend underwear. . .ahem.

time for my medication.
A

[Confound]

Ares and Li Pin,

Why don't the two of you get together and start a calendar? Please, do not put me on your mailing list. I do not want the 'kendouka playmate of the month'.

However, if i could reiterate a request for schedules, it really is wonderful to have a calendar on the website though. i appreciate that immensely.

c

[Hannabi]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_1_301.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001) Hello all

3rd, 5th, 100th dan who cares. Real warriors want to of women who take the warrior spirit seriously.

Hannabi.

I realise that the ratio of men to women practising kendo is very high, however I would have thought that being in Japan the magazine would have been able to find some high-ranking women kendoka to interview for their opinions on different aspects of kendo etc.

Any comments?

Regards,

Pin