November 4, 2007
Shorinji Kempo 60th Anniversary Commemorative Taikai
Shorinji Kempo has marked its 60th anniversary this year, celebrated at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo attended by nearly 9,000 people including about 120 kenshi from outside of Japan on November 4th.
The Theme of the 60th anniversary was
"Half for our own happiness and half for the happiness of others
Thankful for my own life,
Thankful for having you in it"
About 2,400 kenshi participated in the taikai categories which started at 9:00am. The first part of the taikai was an All-Japan Taikai, each kenshi representing their local prefecture. It was also serving as a Japan-Open Taikai, having participants of non-Japanese branches from France, U.S.A., Italy, and Indonesia.
There were competition and demonstration sections. The competition section had 8 categories and the demonstration section had 11 categories.
The Indonesian Federation was introduced as the host of the next World Taikai 2009. They encouraged everyone to join the Indonesian dance "poco poco" (pronounced as "pocho pocho") on the arena. Then the demonstration of Shorinji Kempo techniques were presented by the Shorinji Kempo Federation Official Demonstration Team in various forms.
The Second Section of the Taikai program started with Chinkon-gyo by branch masters. In Japan and some East Asian countries, one's 60th year is the end of the sexagenary cycle called "kanreki", and is celebrated as the new beginning of another cycle like a newly-born. All the participated instructors wore a white belt, and lined up as minarai kenshi on the arena. Mr. Tsunehiro Arai, Shorinji Kempo Federation President Tsunehiro, also wearing a white belt, told the instructors to remember the feelings they had as beginners, and performed basic tsuki, keri, uke, and some hokei as well.
Various demonstrations were presented by various kenshi; children, parents, students, seniors, disabled, showing the possibilities of Shorinji Kempo activities.
With the 60th anniversary, 29 people, who have been serving committee members of Shorinji Kempo group since the early stage of the organization, have stepped down their positions and appointed as honorary members, including WSKO Instructor Kiyoshi Makino.
The result of the competition section is on the report of the Japanese page.
