To All Branch Masters and Kenshi
of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization

In many countries around the world, extraordinary measures such as border closures and home quarantines remain in order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Many of them set the end of such measures to the beginning of May. We only hope that these harsh measures will end at the set dates. However, we do not see many good news and the possibility is high that they may be extended. Due to such circumstances, we wonder many of you are forced to live with less freedom not only to stop practicing Shorinji Kempo for a long time.

If there is any branch master or kenshi who is not well, we sincerely wish for speedy recovery.

If there is any branch master or kenshi who continues to work to support people’s lives, who is a healthcare professional, or who works in the field related to preventing the spread of the virus, we would like to express our deep appreciation and respect, and pray that they will keep themselves safe and healthy.

Under such a still difficult circumstances, we see wonderful activities; many kenshi are connected beyond their own branches or even country borders via online meeting applications or alike to stay together, exercise together, and cheer up each other. Some of you may already participate in such activities. Such wonderful efforts remind us that we have comrades of Shorinji Kempo in so many countries and continents, and that we can support each other.

What we need is to “Stay Home” for a little longer. All branch masters may have already been doing something for their kenshi who follow you. There may be some kenshi or their family who feel depressed. Even if it is via internet connection, or even if it is a short time, being connected to someone and doing physical exercise together, that would affect their minds positively, as a human is “Shin Shin Ichinyo” (Body and mind work together).
It would be wonderful if Shorinji Kempo can contribute to maintaining the bonds between people and their health.

Let’s believe that the human wisdom will end this pandemic in the near future. Then, let’s make the World Taikai next year an opportunity for many of you to talk about the wonderful power of Shorinji Kempo and its potentiality. For that purpose, let’s do our best now to maintain healthy body and mind.

Kesshu.

Kouma So, President
Kazuhiro Kawashima, Secretary-General
and Secretariat Staff
of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO)

[TOPICS]
Please read three topics below and contact WSKO Secretariat if you have any questions.

1. Operations of the WSKO Secretariat
Like many other countries, Japan where the WSKO Secretariat is located is seeing more severe consequences of the novel coronavirus, and its government announced the state of emergency recently.
Based on the declaration, the WSKO Secretariat staff has been working from home since April 20. However, we have re-arranged our network system so that the staff can receive/send messages at wskohq@shorinjikempo.or.jp from home every day.

Due to the temporal closure of branches around the world, we are receiving less registration documents and orders for goods, but please feel reassured; we are open for documents and applications by e-mail as usual, and for any inquiries.
However, please understand that we have stopped mailing the membership cards, Kyu and Dan certificates and learning materials due to the suspension of the postal service in many countries. When the services are back in normal operation, we will start mailing them in the proper order.

2. Special Dan Examinations in FY2020
Among the UNITY Study Sessions scheduled in FY2020, some have already been cancelled. The examinations scheduled in Japan have also been canceled for the time being. Please understand that we do not announce any schedules for Special Dan Examinations to avoid inappropriate announcement under the circumstances where many countries including Japan are trying to deal with this extraordinary situation.

3. WSKO Membership Fees and Examination Fees (SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY) We made an announcement on this matter on March 24, 2020.
We will send you the invoices as scheduled in the mid-May. If you have any request regarding payment, please contact the WSKO Secretariat.

End.