Seattle Branch, U.S.A. / September 2007 - Contributor: Colin May

Seattle Branch: Aki Matsuri demonstration/ September 9, 2007

On September 9, the Seattle Branch performed its annual demonstration at the Aki Matsuri (autumn festival of Japanese culture) held in Bellevue, just east of Seattle. Fifteen Seattle kenshi participated, some having their very first experience, others with experience of over a dozen similar events.

This time we were pleased to include two visiting kenshi. Kazuyuki Sato, branch master of the newly-established Yakima Branch, who had brought three of his new students to observe the demonstration, kindly recited the pledge (seiku and seigan) in Japanese for our audience. Miwako Tomonaga, a graduate student from Osaka University visiting Seattle for just one month to study English, was treated to the special (if slightly disorienting) experience of participating in a Japanese festival outside of Japan as she joined us in demonstrating kihon on stage. We hope she will share her experience and lead more young Japanese kenshi to try the same thing during their travels.

As usual, we began our demonstration with chinkon, during which our narrator-kenshi briefly introduced the background and purpose of Shorinji Kempo. We next presented kihon, first in group formation, then in pairs in motion.

This was followed by a solo (tan-doku) embu by Owen Murphy, 2-kyuu, who sadly will leave us soon for graduate studies in the South. Next, Onaka-sensei demonstrated Tenchi Ken Dai-ichi, Kote nuki and Juji gote with a partner as we explained goho and juho to the audience. He proceeded to invite up a volunteer from the audience in order to introduce kagite. There followed a few more techniques demonstrated in turns by two pairs of 2-dan kenshi, then an introduction of unyo-ho using protective gear, with aggressor and defender roles specified. Finally, Onaka-sensei gave a brief howa to underscore the value of cooperation, the evidence for which was all around us at the festival.

Beyond the demonstration itself we had another special experience at the festival. Every year the festival invites two or more special guest artists who are masters of some kind of traditional Japanese art. This year, one of the featured guests was a Mr. Kazuhito Miki, who performs Higo Chonkake Goma, a show of tricks using a traditional Japanese spinning top. Our Onaka-sensei happened to see and greet Miki-san practicing outside the event hall, and found out that he and his three sons in Japan are all kenshi! After our demonstration was over he came to find Onaka-sensei again to say, on the verge of tears, how moved he had been to witness chinkon and hear the familiar words of Shorinji Kempo�fs seiku and seigan ringing out even here, far from home. He was sad not to have been able to stay for the entire demonstration, but it was a wonderful example of en.

We look forward to fulfilling more en by including visiting kenshi in our activities whenever we can. Come sweat with us in Seattle!

 

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