This time the journey for Japanese Martial Arts occurred from November 24th, 2012, to January 26th, 2013. The trainings included arts such as Karate, Ryukyu Kobujutsu, Atarashii Naginata, Jikishinkageryu Naginatajutsu, Jodo, and Kendo. In comparison to the earlier similar visits, this time there were not as many visits to the castles of temples. Instead, I visited several graves of past teachers, to whom I wanted to pay respect.
Pictures for November, December, and January are available in Flickr.
At the moment I entered the bus going to the airport in Finland, in order to depart for Japan, I realized that I forgot my digital camera on the bookshelf at home. This meant that I had to buy a new camera in Japan. After a short research and evaluation, I went to Osaka to buy Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT4, which could be considered childproof due to its water- and shockproof features.
In early December, I was still working on my Master’s Thesis, which I managed to deliver in the last moment before my student status at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences ended. The thesis is available under the Creative Commons license.
On the first day of the year, people usually go to the temples to pray for a good year. I visited Nagata Jinja again, to say hello to the _Chikara Ishi, rock of strength. It was carried there by an ancestor of Yoshinao Nanbu, doshu-soke, the founder of Nanbudo.
The first training of the year was Kendo at Kobe Kitaku Kendo Club, which came as a surprise, since my last Kendo training was in 2007 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Anyhow, it is something I should focus a bit more on, as it is the other half of Ishujiai (Naginata versus Kendo match).
During those two months, it became clear that an official branch for Jikishin-Naginatajutsu should be established in Finland. As soon as I realized, it became reality, and with the permission from the 18th Soke, Masami Sonobe, there now exists Shutokukai Finland Shibu. It is the second branch outside Japan, the first being in Hawaii.
My daughter took her first steps, all four of them, while in Japan. Unfortunately, I was in Kanto while she was walking in Kansai. After that, I have been happy to see her steps getting faster and more determined. On the day we departed from Japan, she had her first birthday.
I do not hurry to go back, as there is again so much to study, so many different aspects to consider in my technique, and above all, so much more Japanese language to acquire.