A delegation consisting of 6 Sensei from AJKF visited Panama and Guatemala from December 1 to 10, 2000.  It was the first time for AJKF to send a delegation to those countries.

Panama

At the Panama Kendo Doko-kai, 40 Japanese and 10 local people practice Kendo once per week.  The members of the AJKF delegation performed Nihon-Kendo-Kata demonstration and Iai demonstration in the presence of those PKD members and other spectators.  They also gave instructions on Reiho and how to correct Suburi to the students of the Panama Japanese school.

Guatemala

The delegation arrived in Guatemala on December 5.  The members of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) of JICA introduced Kendo several years ago and now many people practice Kendo there.  Presently the JOCV member, Mr. Imafuji, gives Kendo practices to the local people 3 to 4 times a week.  The AJKF delegation members performed Nihon-Kendo-Kata demonstration and had instructive Keiko with the members of the Guatemalan Kendo Association.  On the second day, the delegation members appeared on TV and performed Kendo and Iai Enbu demonstrations.

The delegation members from AJKF were; Mr. Sonoda, Mr. Suganami, Mr. Nakano, Mr. Ono, Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Takii.

**This delegation was sent as a part of the business plan of The Japan Foundation.

The AJKF Delegation to Malaysia and Singapore


                      AJKF delegation in Malaysia

As a part of the business plan of The Japan Foundation, AJKF sent a delegation consisting of 6 Sensei to Malaysia and Singapore from December 1 to 10, 2000.

Malaysia

The Kendo population of Malaysia is approximately 150 and 100 among them practice Kendo in Kuala Lumpur.  The half of them is Japanese and the others are local people.

The AJKF delegation gave a Kendo seminar and instructive Keiko to the members of the Malaysia Kendo Association.  And they also performed the Nihon-Kendo-Kata and Iai Enbu demonstrations.  The delegation members helped the Dan examinations held by MKA as examiners.  All examinees passed the examination successfully.

Singapore

The Kendo population of Singapore is about 250.  The delegation members gave a Kendo seminar and instructive Keiko.  And they also helped the Dan examinations held by Singapore Kendo Club as examiners.  On the last day of the stay, the delegation members performed Nihon-Kendo-Kata, Iai and Model Keiko demonstrations in front of the Japanese Ambassador, other invited guests and the SKC members.

Both the Malaysia Kendo Association and the Singapore Kendo Club are the members of International Kendo Federation (IKF). The delegation members from AJKF were; Mr.Takeuchi, Mr. Mitani, Mr. Shimomura, Mr.Asano, Mr. Umemiya and Mr. Sugita

**This delegation was sent as a part of the business plan of The Japan Foundation.