UPDATE - 9th Kendo World Keiko-kai

9TH KENDO WORLD KEIKO-KAI (July 12 Update)

The 9th Kendo World Keiko-kai will be held on October 25, 2025, in Sakura City, Chiba prefecture, a castle town where the culture and buildings of the samurai remain to this day. The keiko-kai venue will be the historic Sakura Seishonen Gymnasium, a beautiful wooden dojo originally constructed as a budojo for the Sakura domain.

Previous Kendo World Keiko-kai have been on a Saturday, with training in the morning, a party with food and drinks in the early afternoon, and then more festivities at a nearby bar until the last train home. This year’s plan is different: after a lecture at the National Museum of Japanese History where you can learn about samurai culture, we will work up a sweat in keiko before having a party in a nearby hotel.

However, unlike other years, if you want to make a weekend of it, we have secured a limited number of rooms at a nearby hotel for the evenings of Friday 24 and Saturday 25. There will also be other opportunities for keiko.

From the afternoon of Friday 24 to the morning of Sunday 26, tours will be available where you can experience Sakura's historical buildings and Japanese culture in addition to keiko. Activities are currently being worked out, but they will be announced as soon as the schedule and fees are finalized in the coming weeks.

Tentative Plan:

Friday October 24: Visit to Hotta Residence for Zazen and tea ceremony experiences in the afternoon, followed by keiko in the early evening.

Saturday October 25: Visit to National Museum of Japanese History in the morning; Kendo World Keiko-kai in the afternoon, with local area sensei and 8-dan sensei; party at Wishton Hotel in the evening.

Sunday October 26: Visit to old samurai residences, Asagata Shrine and kendo-gu shop in the morning before dispersing around lunchtime.

PLease Note:

* This is the keiko-kai/tour schedule as of July 12. It is subject to change depending on the number of participants and availability of activities.

* Fees will differ depending on the number of days of stay and participation in activities.

* Fees will be announced as soon as they are decided.

SAKURA CITY INFORMATION:

Sakura City is located in the north-west of Chiba prefecture. During the Edo period, Sakura’s castle was an important administrative and military hub whose purpose was to protect the eastern flank of Edo (modern-day Tokyo). At this time, many feudal lords were stationed there. The Sakura Highway, later known as Narita Highway, linked Sakura with Edo and facilitated busy travel. In the latter part of the Edo period, Lord Hotta Masayoshi advanced Western education at Seitoku Shoin, which transformed Sakura into a college town, placing Sakura at the forefront of Western studies.

Today, Sakura City is a hidden gem rich in samurai heritage, historical sites, and cultural experiences. Once a jokamachi (castle town), Sakura retains its feudal charm through landmarks like its old samurai residences and the serene bamboo forest at Hiyodori-zaka Slope, where visitors can walk the same paths samurai once did. These preserved homes, such as those that were for the Kawara, Tajima, and Takei families, offer a glimpse into the lives of the Sakura Clan’s warriors.

For history enthusiasts, Sakura is home the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku), which gives a comprehensive journey through Japan’s cultural and societal evolution, from ancient times to the modern era. Also nearby is the Sakura City Museum of Art, housed in a beautifully restored Western-style building, that highlights local and regional artists with rotating exhibits.

If visitors need to unwind, they can try the “Heart of Zen” program, held at the former residence of Lord Hotta. Led by a Zen priest, this special activity includes traditional zazen meditation and a Japanese tea ceremony, offering a peaceful and authentic window into Japanese spiritual culture.

Whether you’re interested in samurai lore, artistic heritage, or seasonal beauty, Sakura City offers a well-rounded cultural escape in a serene, easily accessible location.

More information about Sakura can be found at the following websites:

Visit Chiba: https://www.visitchiba.jp/things/sakura-city/

Hokuso’s Historical Districts: https://hokuso-4cities.com/en/about/sakura/

Sakura City has produced the following videos to introduce the sights and activities in their city:

Former residence of Lord Hotta, the last head of the Sakura Clan

The attraction of Sakura

Sakura – A city where flowers bloom

 Hiyodori slope and samurai forest