Delegation Abroad 2007 Delegation to Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Poland Kendo Instructions & Demonstration in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland and Sponsored by Japan Foundation Nov. 6 to Nov. 19, 2007 AJKF instructors: Yutaka FURUTA (Kendo Hanshi 8 Dan) Masaaki ENDO (Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan) Shoji MIYAHARA (Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan) Tetsuo YOSHIMURA (Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan) Serbia: 50 Kenshi joined the seminar and mainly had Basic Technique lessons. Dan grading has been done and 3 /3 of Shodan, 6/6 of 2 Dan and 4/5 of 3 Dan have been granted. 300 spectators enjoyed the seminar. Croatia: 87 Kenshi including 1 from Italy joined the seminar and had lessons for Nihon Kendo Kata Tachi 7 Hon, Reihou, Basic Technique, Uchikomi and Jigeiko. Furuta sensei appeared on the local broadcasting station and had good immediate response from the listners. Slovenia: 27 Kenshi including 5 women joined the seminar and had lessons for Nihon Kendo Kata (mainly Kodachi) and Jigeiko. Poland: Furuta sensei made a speech for 36 Japanese students and their parents at the Warszawa Japanese School. After the speech many children excited to try striking Men and Dou. 20 Kenshi joined the seminar and 8/8 granted Shodan. All Poland Kendo Championship was held participating 16 kenshi. 200 spectators enjoyed the good fights. T.V. and newspapers reported the activities of the mission and instructors felt sincere attitude of learning Japanese culture as well. **This delegation was financially supported by The Japan Foundation. Delegation to ASEAN Kendo Tournament in Thailand 2007. 8th ASANA Kendo Tournament was held in Bangkok Thailand on 13th and 14th Oct. 2007. The following 6 countries was participated to the tournament. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei Japanese Delegation, Mr. K. Hayasi, S.Kokubo and Y. Baba ( all 8dan ) were participated as leading Instructors. ( This delegation was financial supported by Japan Foundation. ) Team Match results are as follows. Men's Team Match 1st place Thailand 2nd place Indonesia Ladies Team Match 1st place Thailand 2nd place Singapore **This delegation was financially supported by The Japan Foundation. Delegation to FIK Asian Zone Referee Seminar FY2006 FIK Asia-zone Kendo Referee Seminar was held on March 17 and 18, 2007 at University of Sydney Sports & Aquatic Centre in Sydney Australia. The visited instructors and trainees from Japan were as follows. Mr. Eiji Taguchi, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Hitoshi Murakami, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Yuji Nakata, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Mitsuru Hamasaki, Kyoshi 8 Dan Mr. Noriyasu Makise, Kyoshi 8 Dan Mr. Nobuhide Sato, Kyoshi 8 Dan Mr. Arinobu Kurose, Kyoshi 7 Dan Mr. Junichi Kato, Renshi 7 Dan Number of trainee was 44 from 7 countries but total attendee was more than 70 including the exhibition match players and local Kendo fun. Following to the opening message by Mr. Richard Ward, President of Australian Kendo Renmei Incorporated, Mr. Taguchi, Managing Director of All Japan Kendo Federation, made a speech representing instructors. The main point of this seminar was to clarify and ascertain Yukodatotsu. The grading examination was held with the applicants of 7 for the grade of 5Dan and 6Dan. The results were as shown in the following figures of success/number of applicants. 5Dan 2/2 and 6Dan 4/7, average passage was 57%. Worthy of special mention is that through 2 days seminar, judging skill has been greatly improved and confirmed that some trainees are capable for the World Kendo Championship referee. Delegation to FIK American Zone Referee Seminar FY2006 FIK America zone Kendo Referee Seminar was held on March 17 and 18, 2007 at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach California. The visited instructors from Japan were as follows. Mr. Shuji Fukumoto, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Minoru Fujii, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Kunio Hayashi, Hanshi 8 Dan 86 trainees (U.S.A.=77, Canada=6, Argentina=2 and Hawaii=1) participated the seminar. On Mar. 17 (Sat.), following to the opening speech by Mr. Fukumoto, Vice President of FIK and Mr. Hori, President of AUSKF, Mr. Fukmoto stated about the significance of this seminar, object of judgment, duty and rules of referee and ascertaining of Yukodatotsu and Hansoku. Then Mr. Hayashi instructed referee's behavior, showing of Shinpan-ki and way of Senkoku. Through demonstration by 13th WKC referee, united view for Yukodatotsu and Hansoku has been confirmed. In the afternoon, trainees were divided into two and Mr. Fujii was in charge of 8 Dan to 6 Dan and Mr. Hayashi was in charge of 5 Dan and 4 Dan. They instructed referee's positioning, smooth replacement and overlooking of Yukodatotsu (Men or Kaeshi-Do, Men just after Kaeshi-Kote and unexpected Waza, etc.). On Mar. 18 (Sun.), mainly reviewing of last day's training has been done for two groups (43 trainees of 8 Dan to 6 Dan and 43 trainees of 5 Dan and 4 Dan). It has been emphasized by all instructors that unless appropriateness and fairness, there is not a qualification as a referee. Delegation to FIK/EKF European Zone Referee Seminar FY2006 FIK European-zone Kendo Referee Seminar was held on February 10 and 11, 2007 in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, as in the past years. Before the formal seminar, Ji-Geiko for 90 minutes was carried out in the evening of February 9 joining 120 participants. The visiting instructors of this year were as follows. Mr. Shuji Fukumoto, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Eiji Taguchi, Hanshi 8 Dan Mr. Hitoshi Murakami, Hanshi 8 Dan Number of formal trainee is 81 from 14 countries but including local players for referee training, the number of participant is over 120. Following to the opening message by Mr. Alain Ducarme, President of European Kendo Federation and Mr. Shuji Fukumoto, Vice president on International Kendo Federation, Mr. Taguchi spoke to the participants about the aim of this seminar, i.e. making sincere efforts in improving the referring skills to judge Yuko-Datotsu correctly and to deal swiftly and properly with prohibition items and positioning among the referees. In the morning of second day, the seminar continued mainly reviewing last day's study and in the after noon the grading examination was held with the applicants of 95. The results were as shown in the following figures of success/number of applicants. Shodan 6/8, 2Dan 7/9, 3Dan 5/9, 4Dan 3/12, 5Dan 1/6, 6Dan 7/40 and 7Dan 3/11, Average passage was 33.7%. As general observation, almost all of the applicants presented an obedient KENDO and posture, attitude and Datotsu were well appreciated. We could have wished to do more challenging practice and expect further devotion.