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The 'problem' with living in Japan is that there is always so much to do. Especially since posting my previous blog entry, so many things (good things for the most part) have happened that I find myself too busy living life to write about it. In a VERY small nutshell, I started a new job in April at Kansai University. Kandai, as it is often referred to, was established in Osaka in 1886, and is considered to be one of the top private universities in Japan. (www.kansai-u.ac.jp). The ...
It was with lots of anticipation and a certain amount of apprehension that I recently participated in the fifteen-day Osaka University of Health and Sports Sciences (aka Taidai) Kendo Club ‘kangeiko’ (midwinter training). The university is famous throughout Japan for its superb kendo teachers and skilled students. I’ve been teaching at the university for a year now, mainly for the self-interested purpose of joining in the kendo trainings at the end of the day. The kendo club’s alumnus ...
Remember the massive earthquake that happened in Japan at 5:46am on January 17, 1995? I do. It happened one month before I moved from New Zealand to Kyoto (45-minutes train ride away from Kobe). It hit at the end of a public holiday, just when everybody was gearing up for another year at the office. The inner-city area of Kobe was the hardest hit. High-rise buildings and homes were left in complete ruins. Many lives were lost. The official death toll stands at 6,434 people. Minor ...
Yes folks, there’s more to Japan than just kendo. Japanese people love to go skiing. It’s not exactly a traditional activity, but I’d be willing to bet my furry slippers that more people in Japan ski than do kendo. Even Japanese who are not into sports all seem to have had some skiing experience. Come rain, hail and especially snow, skiing is the number-one winter leisure-time activity in Japan. They reckon that 80% or so of people between the ages of 18 and 35 have been skiing, and over half of ...
Alex continues his rant about no zanshin in judo.JPGThe question of etiquette or ‘rei’ is a crucial element in budo. Without it, budo is pure violence at worst, and just another competitive sport at best. A couple of weeks ago I was very fortunate to have been asked to participate on a ‘Budo Panel Discussion’ at the well-known National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. Kendo buffs will have heard of this university as it boasts a large number of Japanese national collegiate titles. The theme of the symposium was ...
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