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All Japan Kendo Championships (2019)

The 67th All Japan Kendo Championships (mens) was held on Sunday the 3rd of November in the Osaka Prefectural Gym. Luckily for me, some repairs and/or renovations on the Nippon Budokan for next years Olympics brought the shiai (for the first time) to Osaka, the venue being about a 20 minute bicycle ride from my flat.

The first time I attended this particular event was in 2003, just after I arrived to Japan (my plan was to be here for two years max…), and I went every year after that until about 2008 I think. Every time, except once, meant spending lots of money on a Shinkansen ticket and travelling for hours there and back. The one time I took the cheap option – an overnight bus – I regretted deeply as it was a truly miserable way to travel!

During that period I also realised something: watching the Osaka preliminaries for the shiai at close range was much better than travelling all the way to Tokyo and watching from afar, so after 2008 I stopped bothering to attend, instead just watching the live broadcast on NHK. Still, if you have never attended before I do think it is something you should do, at least once in your life.

When I heard that the the shiai was moved to Osaka this year I wasn’t sure whether I’d attend or not, but I picked up a ticket anyway. In the end, I am glad I went, as who knows when it will – if ever – be held here again.

Today’s post is basically a picture-fest with links to official media and the odd embedded YouTube video. Enjoy!!!!

Official media from the ZNKR can be found here: PICTURES | VIDEO.


Kata embu: Makita sensei (uchidachi) and Kasamura sensei (shidachi):

Gallery one: early rounds

Gallery two: mid-way through

Gallery three: the final couple of rounds


The winner of this years competition was Kunitomo Rentaro, a 29 year old 5th dan policeman (graduated Kokushikan) representing Fukuoka prefecture. He had twice been runner-up in the event before.

Second place was 21 year old 4th dan – and current 3rd year student at Tsukuba university – Matsuzaki Kenshiro. Originally from Nagasaki, he was representing Ibaraki prefecture. I am sure we will hear more from him in the future.

Kunitomo Rentaro, this years winner

Video:


By George

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2 replies on “All Japan Kendo Championships (2019)”

” The first time I attended this particular event was in 2003, just after I arrived to Japan (my plan was to be here for two years max…), and I went every year after that until about 2008 I think ” — man, I envy you!!! 😉

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