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First of all, thank you very much for visiting Ukraine. This is a big event for Ukrainian kendoists and kendoists from Russia and other countries.
That’s my pleasure. I’m so happy too.
Almost a year from your last visit. Did anything special happen to you in your kendo life during this year?
During this year?
Yes, maybe some discovery in kendo
Yes, of course
I discovered many things.
For example, how to make a good opportunity with my opponent
I try to do many-many kinds of actions before attacking. And something happens.
You usually teach when did you find time to find anything for you?
I teach basically techniques to make a chance.
In my side I have a lot of things. Something forget, something find, something discover.
Every time I find a new idea, a flash, a discovery. And so I’m very happy.
Not stopping.
Not stopping, yes. This is the way of kendo.
There is not much information about you in English and unfortunately not so many people understand Japanese to know more about you.
So maybe you can tell us your story?
My story?
Yes
Started when I was born?
Oh, as you wish. Probably some short story.
Short story. Yes.
I started kendo at 8 years old.
That was a year when Japan kendo started again after Second World War.
I was fourth grade of primary school.
And after I went to junior high school, high school and university.
But during student and school time I never got the first place.
Really?
Yes, sometimes I won but many times I lost.
So not everything is lost for us who didn’t take first place.
No-no, I never get champion of a big event, but I could win some small events. Took first place.
But I don’t remember I got first place in a big event. But I like very much kendo.
Did you get disappointed when you didn’t get first place?
no, because my spirit was not enough, my techniques were not enough and my training was not enough.
So were you disappointed?
When I got 7 dan I found something like that: oh this is that technique or this is a good opportunity.
Before that I could not understand the pure theory of the kendo, theory of the attack. But try, try, try every time.
So my kendo history is very late, more late then other kendo senseis.
You mean that you understood something in your 7 dan, not before. And some senseis did it before
Before only high attention, only attacking, attacking and attacking.
I could not keep calm, keep beautiful situation. Only aggressive, only attacking. So it’s no good for kendo matches.
But when I was 29 I moved to University physical education courses.
So I had to teach the theory of kendo attacking, theory of kendo movements.
So I was thinking of theory, what is the theory, good theory for together you and opponent.
Every day I was thinking, trying something.
That was good for me. Before I became a teacher at a High school I didn’t think about that.
Only “do this!”, only “do this” to my students. And never thinking.
Wnen I moved to University for physical education courses I had to think, I had to give a lecture sometimes. This was good for me.
I read that you got your 4th dan in a year after 3rd dan. But looks like nowadays it is prohibited to participate in exams so often.
Why?
During time before the day of this rule you could get upper grade dan,
starting with shodan, nidan, sandan, yondan, godan. You could get them every year.
You could challenge every year. That was a rule in the old Japan Kendo Federation.
But after shodan to nidan – 1 year, nidan to sandan – 2 years, sandan to yondan – 3 years
Why was it decided that way?
I think… When we started kendo after Second World War there was not so big number of kendo people.
So this was to make high grade dan people. They needed high grade dan people.
And so year by year we could challenge.
So that was a situation
Yes, some kind of situation.
Do you feel you can become a 9 dan sensei?
9 dan? Now we don’t have rules about 9 dan. So it’s impossible to get 9 dan now.
So for now nobody can get 9 dan
Nobody.
And what is about future?
About future? I have no idea now.
Because now in a rule the most difficult examination,
the best one is an 8 dan.
What are your goals for future?
I have no idea now, because
when I was 7 dan and I got 8 dan I knew some 9 dan senseis.
Very beautiful, very calm, very strong.
There are still some videos of them.
So I remember that sensei and I know myself now
but Many-many distance between us
Now I am here, 8 dan hanshi but 9 dan far from me
But you have an imagination how to go to that level.
Of course I have some model in my head.
So 9 dan sensei do this, 9 dan sensei did this.
This kind of technique, this kind of posture.
I remember many 9 dan-senseis images. So I want to go, I want to go, want to do that
So probably some day you will be there.
Yes, all days I am thinking… “No”
Sometimes: “Oh! This is one of 9 dan senseis technique!”
I remember that. I am closer to him now.
Growing every day.
Yeah, I have to grow more and more.
Ok, even Sumi sensei has to grow.
Was there an event in your kendo life that you proud of the most?
Proud… Yes, when I got 8 dan at a first challenge I was very-very proud.
But the day after – “Oh, 8 dan it’s very big …”
Duty?
Yes, very-very big duty! I have to practice more and more.
Very proud but…
8 dan at a first attempt you said? It is probably very difficult. Congratulations.
Yes, so good proud with good heavy duty.
And controversial question, is there anything you dislike in kendo?
Disliking in kendo.
Yes, maybe there is something.
Sometimes, of course me, get angry.
When receive or hard taiatari. Sometimes get angry.
It’s very serious and I don’t like that.
So we have to learn from kendo.
If opponent does very hard, very bad taiatari – make smile. “Thank you”, like that.
Don’t angry.
You dislike your state of mind when you get hit like that.
What is your usual day schedule?
Day schedule? Usual?
I already retired from university
and I have some position of Fukuoka prefecture kendo federation,
some position at All Japan Students Kendo Federation,
Kyushu area students kendo federation president. Some position.
But in a day time I am free.
I am reading kendo books and sometimes go fishing. I enjoy fishing.
In the evening I go to University kendo club twice a week.
I go to company kendo club once a week.
And I go to high school kendo club at the high school I graduated from.
So usually four times in a week I do kendo.
You have training.
Training with students and adults.
In Saturday and Sunday many times I move to other prefectures or other country for kendo seminar.
But usually in a day time I am free. Already retired man.
You said you like fishing. Anything else? Maybe some other hobbies?
Or yes, gardening!
Do you like plants?
Planting vegetables and cutting the shape,
just kind of bonsai trees.
And planting flowers and some vegetables.
Do you have a favorite flower?
Favorite flower?
Every flower I like.
My wife likes planting and gardening too.
So when I have time, for example Saturday afternoon or someday
if both of us have a chance we to go to the garden
And working together
Yes, yes
What is your wife’s name?
Kaoru, Kaoru Sumi
She still has a job in a girls High school.
Naginata sensei?
Science teacher and naginata club teacher.
Do you travel with her sometimes in other countries?
It’s impossible now because she has very important position in a high school
so she cannot have a long holiday.
So maybe over next year after she retired we go outside together.
Probably you visit Ukraine together. It would be great.
Yes, thanks.
What is your view towards kendo as an Olympic sport?
Olympic sport?
I believe kendo is not going to join Olympics.
There is a reason why. Because kendo is not competitive part only, it is some kind of way of life.
Practicing, learning, teach together is kendo. Not only…
Fighting?
Fighting, not only get win, get medal.
We have world championships in kendo and they are not only fighting, not only fighting for nationality
Like you said previously kendo is a partner of life so it is not a sport
Not only a competitive sports.
What are the most common mistakes when grading for 1, 2, 3 dans?
I looked many time for grading panels and big mistake is “too rush”, too much attacking, too rush.
Standing and waiting is ok?
No, they don’t do the watching, they don’t keep high concentration together and don’t do some kind of conversation before attacking.
Give and take. Not hitting.
You mean they do not do this kind of conversation.
No, only attacking. They are too busy attacking. That is a very big mistake during the 1, 2, 3 dans grading.
So every time I have to say “Make high attention and make some relation together. Then some action and pass your all strength”
That is a very important part of the examination.
Or this is the main part.
This is the main part?
Or something else?
Yes sure. Sometimes they stop like: one attack, one kiai “MEEeen”
“Kote - MEEeen” and stop.
Please continue three or four time attacks.
Keep high concentration, keep speed.
Until final attack you don’t stop the breathing, never stop the attention. It is very important.
Ok, thank you.
What is the last thing you want to see in the grading exams?
The last thing, the worst thing during grading?
Worst?
Kendoka lost himself.
Cannot keep, don’t keep…
Kamae?
Kamae, don’t keep calm. Only aggressive “Yaaa”.
Say “Yaaa” and stand up is ok, but he does’t understand himself:
now he approaches me or no, he is waiting or no, he is not understanding.
This is very-very big point.
Do you watch films?
Sometimes.
Do you have a favorite actor or favorite film?
Actor?
Aha
Japanese?
Ok
Mifune, Toshiro Mifune
Oh, that is my favorite actor too.
I looked his films many times before and now
Yojimbo?
Yes, yojimbo of course.
Do you like listening to music?
Yes, of course.
What kind of music?
Classics, not modern music,
I don’t understand and I don’t like it. Classic is the best.
What is your favorite dish?
Dish?
Of course sashimi and I like sukiyaki very much.
Sukiyaki?
Meat.
Aha, understood.
Meat with soy *** and sugar.
Sounds tasty.
Would you like to say something to kendoists you have practiced here with?
At this seminar?
Yes
Please enjoy kendo
This is to all kendoka I guess
Hard practice, very hard but you must keep enjoyable.
Thank you very much
You are welcome, my pleasure. Thank you.