Yesterday, I held the “Wado-ryu Karate-do 3rd Kanagawa Prefecture Tournament Wado-ryu Seibu Team Victory Celebration Party,” and I was able to bring “smiles” to the children’s faces. Not only this time, but always, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Shigeru Tsuiki Senpai and Sensei Hiroko Kotaka for their thoughtfulness and support for me, my family, and my students. 31 years ago, when I was a high school student, I first met Tsuiki Senpai when I visited the university’s karate club for training. From that time on, he sparred with me, and when I had important tournaments such as international competitions coming up, he would come to my dojo and spar with me. He cares not only for me but also for my family and students, and he is truly a kind-hearted older brother figure who personally delivers lots of drinks and jelly to tournament venues and training camps. 18 years ago, one of my students set the goal of “becoming a world-class athlete,” and I decided to support him in achieving that goal by traveling to the world’s top international tournament. I called Hiroko Sensei, who lives in Hawaii, and asked if I could participate in the “All Hawaii State Karate Championships Honolulu International Karate Championships,” which she hosts every November. Hiroko Sensei, despite never having met me before, was incredibly kind and helpful, and both my student and I were able to participate. At the seminar the day before the tournament and at the tournament venue on the day itself, Hiroko Sensei, along with Chuzo Kotaka Sensei, his daughter Mari Sensei, and his son George Sensei, warmly welcomed us, allowing us to experience many things in a serious yet enjoyable way. There’s a phrase I’ll never forget. When I asked Hiroko Sensei, “Why are you all so kind to us?”, Hiroko Sensei replied with a gentle smile, “We simply want to support young people like you who are working hard in local dojos. When we first came to Hawaii, we didn’t know anyone and were completely clueless. But as we continued, one person after another extended a helping hand. We haven’t forgotten what they did for us, and now we’re simply doing what they did for us.” I will never forget what Tsuiki Senpai and Hiroko Sensei did for me. I will continue to think carefully about my students and myself, strive to grow, and dedicate myself to exploring and realizing ways to make the world a better place through Budo.
A wonderful tournament to nurture the healthy mind, body, and spirit of children! On Sunday, June 7th, the 3rd Kanagawa Prefecture Tournament of the Wado-ryu Karate-do Renmei was held at the Yokohama Budokan. A total of 345 participants took part in this tournament, with 18 members from my institute’s Wado-ryu Seibu team and 8 members from my sister dojo, Yurigaoka Karate-do Club team, competing. The results were: 2 gold medals, 4 silver medals, 7 bronze medals, and 4 Fighting Spirit Awards.
My son, now in his 2nd glade of junior high school, reached the finals in both the kata and kumite divisions, and although he lost, he secured 2nd place. More than the wins and losses, I was happy to see the improvement in his mind, technique, and physical condition, and my son happily told me about it. He said that the tournament champion, whom he had considered his rival for the past three years, had approached him after the competition and asked him to take a picture together. Like me, my son has continued to participate in tournaments with the goal of “connecting with others and becoming friends through the competes,” and I am happy that he was able to have the experience he wanted.
(挿入曲) ラストソング Last Song When the curtain falls, we’ll be apart 幕が下りれば 僕らお互いに離れ離れ Isn’t it ironic, only at times like this 皮肉なもんだな こんな時だけ How quickly it all passes by あっという間に過ぎ去るなんてさ If we have a ‘see you later’, any farewell becomes easier またね”があれば どんなお別れもマシになるね When will we no longer be able to say it? Can’t think about it いつ言えなくなるだろう？ 考えちゃだめだよなぁ Whenever it is, it’ll feel empty いつだとしても虚しくなるから The sparkle of a summer melts the ice ひと夏の煌めきがICEを溶かしていく In a feeling so similar, just a little bit それによく似たやるせなさにはほんの少しだけ The taste of the moment mixes sweetly 刹那の味が甘く混ざり合う It’s sad that today is ending 今日が終わるのが悲しいから Please, morning sun, don’t come out again 朝陽よ二度と出てこないでと I twisted the clock tightly, a comforting sound 時計をぎゅっと捻ったら慰めの音がしたよ I’m not done playing yet, I want to sing more まだ遊び足りないよ もっと歌いたいのにな Because there’s an end, everything is beautiful 限りがあるからこそ全ては美しいんだと To me, who’s cowardly with such logic そんなど正論臆病な僕には It’s too much to bear 振り過ぎて聞けたもんじゃないな With each passing day, little by little 月日を重ねるたび少しずつできていく The gaps in my heart, like a crossword puzzle, are filled クロスワードみたいな心の隙間埋められるのは With exchanged words, promised time 交わした言葉 約束の時間 What always lingers after it’s over いつも終わってから漂うのは Is the scent of the gunpowder from handheld fireworks 手持ち花火の火薬の香り Clings and doesn’t let go, the dazzling voice that remains on my fingers まとわりついて離れずに指に残る眩い声と The blue and hot ringing in my ears, I want to hear more 青くて熱い耳鳴り もっと聞きたいのにな The memories we created together 君と作り上げた思い出と To not let this happiness fade away このHAPPYを絶やさないように I’ll make a sound of laughter, deliver a ‘see you later’ 僕は笑い声を立てる “またね”を届ける嘆きの雨に In the rain of lament, getting a little wet 少し濡れながら Even if it’s the last day on Earth 地球最後の日だとしても It’s sad that today is ending 今日が終わるのが悲しいから Please, morning sun, don’t come out again 朝陽よ二度と出てこないでと I twisted the clock tightly, a comforting sound 時計をぎゅっと捻ったら慰めの音がしたよ I’m not done playing yet, I want to sing more まだ遊び足りないよ もっと歌いたいのにな I want to sing more もっと歌いたいのにな
When I asked Mike Sensei, “I want to show my students Budo kumite, not competitive kumite, just like we did in the finals of the international tournament two years ago, so would you be willing to Kumite with me?”, he readily agreed. I have always hoped for a world where people of all nationalities, religions, skin colors, ages, and genders can join hands and share the effort and significance of creating harmony, and I believe that the path of Budo is what has been given to me to make that a reality.
