―AJKF to participate in Expo 2005―

Expo Kendo Festival was held at Expo Dome in Aichi prefecture on 31st Aug. 2005

All Japan Kendo Federation, in cooperation with the Aichi Kendo Federation, has held as part of Expo’s official event which is “The Expo Kendo Festival” with the 3000 spectators. The event has tried to introduce “Kendo” Japan’s traditional and representative culture in a modern and friendly manner through an assorted program to synergize with Expo’s main objective of “dispatching messages from Japan to the world” and “from the present to the future.” As shown on the theme poster designed by Ai Kaneko, we hope to convey widely the spirit of “Kokenchiai” (meaning that Kendo enables one to learn how to cherish one’ counterpart by engaging in shinai keiko) regardless of gender, age or nationality.

The detail contents are as follows.

Date and Time: Wednesday August 31, 2005 12:00-16:00

Venue: Expo Dome, Nagakute in the World Exposition in Aichi (3,000 seats)

Program

Part 1: Sturdy keiko practice and discipline

Contest for about 200 elementary and junior high school students in a field fight
Keiko practice by girls and women

Practice between winners of AJKF championship and kyoshi 7 Dan led by Masahiro Miyazaki

Part 2: the beauty of Kendo kata and rationality

Yagyu Shinkageryu, Kendo kata, Iai, Jodo, Naginata etc.

Part 3: International Exhibition Match

Exhibition matches by nine groups of foreign kendoists from 18 countries. This should be one of the highlights for those foreign kendoists to show the results of many years of keiko, whether working or studying in Japan.

Part 4: Kendo beginner-toward the future

Guidance to beginners, to teach the basics. What is Ippon which is the unification of the spirit and the body. Basic keiko practice. To watch a video showing Ichiro's ball hitting method which has a common trait with that of Kendo.