So, February 2nd 2012, in Ibaraki Budokan, Mito City. I will attempt sandan!! Suzuki Sensei came to me recently with the information and I'm really looking forward to it! I need to find out if the written test can be in completed in

Want to say congratulations to Salmon Sensei for successfully passing his Kyoshi exam. Geoff has always been a pleasure to train with and deal with regarding visiting Ireland. Constantly gives great advice on all things kendo, big and small. He also likes a

One advantage of Yokose ES. Two of the teachers do kendo! They can speak alright english and talk to me everyday. Trying to pick up some new words by translating a kendo manual. it's not an exact science as my Japanese is rubbish.

Take that winter. My disgustingly pink uniqlo room shoes. Yes yes yes. They had many other colors an patterns. But these were just so awful that I had to! And my everlasting "sheepskin" converse. With a good pair of socks these things are

Last night I practiced with the junior Highschool group again. It was really good and I feel a lot ether after it! First up was kirikaeshi, normal and then 50 cuts. After that we did a weird version! Alot of the time people

My new Kote arrive today, Tokuren Keishi Gata from Miayko Kendogu. Very happy with them after one keiko. The fist is shaped a lot more than normal kote, and fits very well. The trim around the fist that keeps the tenouchi-gawa on is

If you love someone, set them free.

Time flies! I've been here 4 months now since the 27th of June. In that short amount of time it seems my kendo club has taken on a few new faces. Looks like a really happy bunch! Can't wait to meet you all

Last night I went to omigawa for kata practice. This time with Kobayashi Sensei himself. I was a little wound up so I found it hard to settle at first. I kept taking the lead as shidachi by mistake. But, after a quick

Just thinking about getting paid my first real pay cheque tomorrow is making me shiver. I CANT WAIT. Im going to buy sooo many things for my apartment, and ill put a load of pictures up when im done. Ill also have money

Enkin. Perspective. えん far きん near Two students were outside my office sketching the corridor. I went to have a look. One guy tried to explain enkin to me as big see and small see. Asko small Koko big. Meaning "over there" is

Its not surprising to hear news about the euro being in crisis. I was working as a lounge boy all those years ago when they introduced the Euro. The first thing i noticed was the phallus in place of scandanavian peninsula. amazing. Doomed from

well, its at 1120 now!! woohoo!! someone is watching!! I havent had the energy to post lately, but ill get on it at the weekend! im doing some halloween lessons this week so maybe ill post about them?? kendo is ok! Toru is

Last week I went to Kata practice in the dojo in Omigawa dojo, i really must find out the propper name of it........ ok, so I havent dont Kata alot since Nidan, with looking after beginners and the changing around of halls I

If there is one thing I never skimp on. It's bog roll. That's all. Ps. I now have 5 practice sessions a week. My new futon is helping with back pain (from old tissue/futon). I went to kata practice yesterday which was great.

I would just like to point out. That I was not the first Irish person to take part in a shiai in Japan. The lovely ms Siobhan Bell took part in the Miyagi prefectural takai shodan category and won. Possibly in 2009? So

Today I heard about a taikai in my dojo. The Kentou taikai! its  the east Ibaraki Highschool Kendo taikai. With schools from Kamisu, Kashima, Hasaki being represented as well as other places that I dont know the names of! It was an Individual

Tomorrow i will take part in the 36th Joso Kendo taikai in Toride city. 常総剣道大会 It is supposed to be fairly big, and there is  quite a few people from KamisuKen going! there will be competitions for, elementary school, JHS and adults. Im not

Today at Lunch we had honeyed peanuts!! They were delicious! I said so when I got back to the staffroom and they gave me a whole bag! Yata!! All about these for at least two weeks. Today at Lunch we had honeyed peanuts!!

One of the older female teachers in my local school gave me a present this afternoon. A small bottle of green tea and two large slices of Japanese pear. skinned and pipped in a little bag. I just ate one half of it,

wow! it has been quite a while!! the heat has basicly been unbearable keeping me in an almost unconscious state for the alst few weeks. With work returning from september 1st ive also had to readjust the body clock!! Things are going well, School is

Well, last night, I went to keiko in Ohnohara-sho (onohara elemnetary school) It was a beautiful cool evening. Seriously, like being back home, A soft warmish breeze and no humidity, the whole day and been cold and wet with a light rain. Very nostalgic! So,

Basicly, ive just been chilling out at home. Studying Japanese and watching a bit more TV. I met with Nanami in Ikebukuro on Saturday 20th, we had some lunch in burger king (special offer) and had a great time at the Sunshine City

OK! so today, I made Oyako don! Oyako don is a really popular Japanese Donburi dish, and is pretty tasty!!Its made with Chicken and Egg, and is served in a donburi (large bowl) on top of hot rice.Oya means parent and Ko means

This morning I received my new Tokuren keikogi from Miayako Kendogu. This is a synthetic type of keikogi and is my first time trying a non cotton keikogi. The last few times ive been to keiko it has been extremely hot, Im talking "I think im going

A picture paints a thousand words, so enjoy. quality is not great, Iphone4 camera

Not. We slept for 3 hours, and woke up at 5 am. After much deliberation, it was decided that we would return to bed. so that we would be fresh for the days labours..... aaaaaannyway. We left the hostel at 11, feeling very refreshed and