Detroit Kendo Dojo

On May 14, 2024, Mr. Yoshiteru Tagawa, the President and Founder of Detroit Kendo Dojo, received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette Commendation at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor at the Spring and Autumn Room of the Imperial Palace (Tokyo, Japan). This award recognized his long-term contributions to cross-cultural understanding through the practice of Kendo in the United States.

Mr. Tagawa was sent to the United States as a Kendo instructor by the All Japan Kendo Dojo Federation in 1976. Since then, he has contributed to cross-cultural understanding by training himself and teaching the Japanese martial art of Kendo to people in the United States. In 2005, he received the highest rank in Kendo, 8th Dan, and in 2016, he received the title of Kendo Hanshi. This was the first Kendo Hanshi title held outside of Japan. Mr. Tagawa is currently the Chief Executive Advisor for the All United States Kendo Federation and the Vice President of the International Kendo Federation. Prior to this conferment of decoration, Mr. Tagawa received the Consul General of Japan Award in Detroit in 2013 and the 2016 Japanese Foreign Affair Minister’s Award for his contributions. We, the members of the Detroit Kendo Dojo, are proud of Mr. Tagawa’s honor and hope for his continued guidance in the future!

The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese government honor which was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.

Dear AUSKF Federation Presidents and Kenshis

AUSKF Education would like to inform you regarding  2024  AUSKF Summer Camp to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday August 16th to Sunday, August 18th. We will have an exciting program scheduled and our two guest senseis will be (Hanshi 8 Dan) and (Kyoshi 8 Dan). The registration form will be sent soon. We expect a great turnout and look forward to having many US kenshi participate.

Regards,

AUSKF Education

Tentative schedule

DATE:

Friday, August 16th

3:00-5:00 PM : Registration at YMCA

3:00-4:30 PM: Free Keiko

Saturday, August 17th

8:30-9:00 AM: Registration

9:00AM-4:00 PM: Seminar

Sunday, August 18th

8:30-9:00 AM: Registration

9:00-11:45 PM: Seminar

12:30-1 PM: Promotion Exam Registration

1-4PM: Promotion Exam (announced by promotion committee)

LOCATION:

Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA

4141 Meadows Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89107

Free Parking

INSTRUCTORS:

TBD

ELIGIBILITY:

All AUSKF Members 18 years of age or older at the time of the event.

18 and under may also participate, provided they are accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian AND prior notice is provided to the AUSKF Education Committee.

Headquarter : Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

129 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

We have NO hotel recommendation.

You will stay at your favorite hotel.

Regards,

Hayato Okawa

To All Kendo Dojos and Kenshi

We are pleased to inform you that the 26th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament and Kendo Seminar will be held on Saturday, February 17th and Sunday, February 18th, 2024 so mark your calendars!

The venue for both days is Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan. (Map link below)

After the Kendo seminar on Saturday there will be a Kyu/Dan examination.

Kyu/Dan examination is for all Kyu levels and Kendo 1-Dan through 4-Dan.

Seaholm High School

https://maps.google.com/?cid=17674327666501385252

In mid-December, we will send you detailed information about the testing/tournament registration website and our special guest instructor for the Kendo seminar.

We are looking forward to seeing you in February!

Best regards,

Detroit Kendo Dojo

Tournament/Seminar Committee

We were honored to be invited to this year’s Japan Festival sponsored by the Japan Business Society of Detroit at Novi High School.

Thank you to Shitani-san for taking the video. It was a great experience and we hope to see you again next year!

Here are the results from the 2023 Detroit Open Taikai. Thank you very much to all attendees and volunteers who made this event happen!

Also, you can purchase photos taken by our professional photographer at this link -> https://nabeshima2.wixsite.com/bpartplus/kendo Purchases are available through 3/22/23

Hello fellow Kenshi!

We are excited to announce the annual Detroit Taikai will take place on the weekend of February 18th and 19th 2023 at Seaholm High School.

We are honored to have Kendo Kyoshi 8-Dan Komeda Toshiro Sensei who will be leading a seminar on Saturday the 18th at 8:30AM.

Education

Kyushu Gakuin High School and Chuo University

Occupation

Kyushu Gakuin High School Teacher

Kyushu Gakuin High School Coaching

Works as Kendo Head Coach at Kyushu Gakuin and led the high school team to achieve the following results

Japan National Inter-High School Kendo Championship

Team 1st place 8 times

Individual 1st place 4 times

Japan National High School Selection Kendo Tournament

Team 1st place 10 times

Japan National Gyokuryuki Kendo Tournament

Team 1st place 10 times

Japan National Sports Festival, Kendo Tournaments

Team 1st place

Individual Kendo Results

The All Japan National Kendo Championship

Participated 3 times

The Japan East West Kendo Competition

Participated 3 times

Japan National Sports Festival, Kendo Tournaments

Participated

All Japan Teacher Kendo Championships 

Team 1st place

This is a rare opportunity to work with a distinguished sensei and should not be missed.

Seminar Schedule

7:30-8:30 Seminar Registration

8:30-8:50 Seminar Opening Ceremony

9:00-11:30 Seminar Main Portion

11:30-12:00 Individual Practice for Seminar Instruction

12:00-12:45 Lunch Time

1:00 Rank Testing Check-In

1:30 Onward – Rank Testing

Hotel Discount Available! (Includes breakfast meal vouchers)

We have secured a discounted rate at a the Detroit Marriott Southfield hotel which is near the Taikai. You can use the link below to purchase a room at the discounted rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast vouchers for 2 or 4 per room night are included. Breakfast is also served from 6:30 am on Saturday (Seminar) and 6:00 am Sunday (tournament) for your convenience.

Book your group rate for Detroit Kendo Tournament

Registration links for the tournament and seminar will be sent out soon. We are looking forward to seeing you and practicing Kendo together.

Mejirushi / Tasuki

Participants need to bring their own mejirushi / tasuki to the tournament. There will not be any provided.

Tournament / Seminar Registration Link

Registration is now closed.

If you have any questions please contact tournament@detroitkendodojo.com for more information.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the internal Tournament on Sep 4 2022! We would also like to thank the volunteers who made this possible. We would not have had a successful tournament without your help.

We would like to remind everyone that for participation in dojo practices, we ask that all members wear a double-mask to ensure strong transmission mitigation.  We encourage a mesh mask next to the face and an additional fabric mask covering the mesh mask. This allows respiration, yet ensures appropriate exhaled droplet containment and inhalation prevention.  When using kendogu (wearing men), we ask that you wear a mask on the inside as well as a rigid faceshield/mouthshield to avoid exhalation/inhalation of droplets. 

For those that are interested in making their own fabric masks, instructions are below showing how to sew your own mask using tenugui (bandana/cloth) material. Thank you very much to dojo member Ishida-san for her adaptation of the instructions from the AJKF guidelines!

1. Cut out 2 of 3 cm strips from the bottom of the Tenugui.  Then cut the rest of tenugui in half vertically.
2. Fold in half of the 3cm strip horizontally, then fold 0.5cm of both long sides inside. Iron the strip then sews both long sides together.  This will be attached to the mask in the process ④.
3. Fold the tenugui in half with the backside out. Then sew 1cm from the outside leaving one side open. Turn over from the inside then iron it.
4. Sew the strip on process ② to the tenugui on process ③. Making sure the center of the strip and the center of the tenugui matches so the strip will be attached to tenugui evenly. Finish with iron.

We recognize that wearing a double-mask can contribute to difficulty in breathing and heat stress.  Please find below useful information regarding heat stress in kendo:

English (credit to the Associación Ecuatoriana de Kendo) -> KENDOECUADOR.ORG :: Asociación Ecuatoriana de Kendo » Hyperthermia in Kendo «

Japanese (credit to the All Japan Kendo Federation) -> 熱中症 | 全日本剣道連盟 AJKF (kendo.or.jp)

As always, safety is our top priority. Let’s work together to stay safe and participate in our sport!

Here are some photos from our most recent shinai maintenance session. As a reminder – all members should check their shinai before and after each practice session for any elements that could be dangerous. This includes splinters, broken/cracked slats, loose strings/bindings and overall condition.

We conduct periodic training sessions for shinai maintenance and other equipment maintenance.

Safe equipment is required for participation in kendo and at our dojo. If you have any questions please reach out to the sensei at the dojo; they are always glad to assist you.