I don’t think there’s any need to make it unnecessarily complicated. If you’re sharing value and enjoyment with people who are interested, then simplicity is fine. The way people perceive the flashes of inspiration, surprises, and new possibilities that arise from that simplicity is different for everyone. I feel that a life in which I can share the appeal of Budo with people of all ages and genders is a treasure given to me by God.
Our first important event of the year took place on March 7th. It was my first opportunity in three months to perform a new piece, and my adorable students, ages 7 to 9, performed it. One girl, who had been anxious about not being able to complete the “Tile Breaking” (Kawara-wari) until the day before the performance, succeeded in the actual performance. Another girl, who had performed Kagura with me at the end of last year, took on a sense of responsibility and confidence as the oldest student and performed admirably. The following day, March 8th, was Sunday class practice day. The sky was clear, the temperature was just right, and the practice room was a tatami room, so I could feel the students’ enthusiasm. This month, we’re spending 14 days conducting promotion examinations for 60 students in 19 classes at six locations. To support students who are working hard not only at the dojo but also on their own in order to pass, we’re offering “Advice for Independent Practice.” Every day, I receive videos and questions from students, such as, “I’ve memorized the order of the kata, but I want the teacher to confirm that my stance is correct,” “There are parts of the stance and hand movements I don’t understand, so I’d like to ask the teacher,” and “If I understand the meaning of the kata movements, I can practice them more consciously, so please teach me.” “Parent, child, and teacher form a triumphant four-legged race” Even if others call me a “fossil-level analog person,” I want to share the importance of “facing each individual honestly.”
I moved to the United States in May 2000, and lived and practiced karate in Salt Lake City, Utah for three and a half years until returning to Japan in 2003. I was given the opportunity to meet and interact with wonderful athletes and instructors while competing in tournaments held in Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New York, and Hawaii. I also had the opportunity to meet pioneers who came to the United States in the 1960s and 1970s and worked hard to spread and develop karate. Here are some words I received from one of those great teachers: This is because, “It is not optimal to simply stay close to your teacher and learn from them forever. There is much to lose while being called “sensei” (teacher) and staying close to your teacher. It doesn’t matter if it’s small, but create a place to teach yourself. It doesn’t matter if it’s small, but find someone to share your thoughts with, listen to what they have to say, and study together. And never give up on the effort to share what is good, even if it’s in your own way. This will lead to the spread and development of sincerity.” With these words in mind, I opened my own dojo in May 2007, and for the past 18 years, I have been practicing and studying every day, 7 days a week, in 16 classes at 7 locations, with over 100 students.
令和八年一月十一日は、和道流空手道連盟・百合ヶ丘空手道クラブ支部の稽古始めでした。早朝から気温は非常に低いのに着るのは道衣のみで、冷たい床の上を裸足で立つことになる道場に、一人も欠席せず全員が集まりました。 共に武道精神を探求し和の道を歩む友に、「私が出来ることを今年も精一杯努めたい」と強く思いました。 January 11th, 2026, was the first day of practice for the Wado-ryu Karate-Do Renmei’s Yurigaoka Karate Club branch. Despite the extremely low temperatures from early in the morning, everyone gathered in the dojo wearing only their karate-Dogi and standing barefoot on the cold floor. To my friends who share my pursuit of the Budo spirit and the path of harmony, I strongly felt that I wanted to do my best in what I can do this year as well.
On the second and third days of the summer training camp I organized for three days and two nights from August 8th, the 61st Wado-ryu Karate Federation National Tournament was held at the Tokyo Budokan. It wasn’t easy traveling back and forth between the summer training camp and the national tournament venue every day with 21 students, but once again we created some wonderful summer memories this year. Two of our students won prizes in the kata division, and I competed in the kihon kumite division as a pair with my training partner, Takeshita Sensei, and won a bronze medal. Just like last year, I fought under the theme of “harmony” in the Jukuren Kumite division, hoping to win a black medal, but I wasn’t able to surpass my performance from last year and didn’t get the black medal. However, for me, the best bout was the semi-final against my trusted Takeshita Sensei. Not only was I suffering from pain in my right Achilles tendon, but my right side body had been numb for the past two weeks and I was completely exhausted, but for the first time in my life I want to praise myself for having led more than 21 students through the summer training camp and national tournament.
I first heard this song in 1991 when I was in the second year of junior high school. At that time, I had already decided my life. I went to practice at the dojo even in the rain, snow, or hurricane. It was exactly like “Can’t stop this thing I started”. Today, 34 years later, there was a strong wind and heavy rain that caused trains to stop and delay service. As I waited for my students at the dojo, I thought, “Maybe none of them will come today.” However, just like when I was 14 years old, my students came ! As expected, “Can’t stop this thing we started” ♪ In Japan, there is a four-day holiday called Golden Week starting today ! I decided to hold a “Golden Week Special” and practice in a way that students would find different from usual ♪
