Sendai, Japan
December 14-15, 2024
This report was prepared by Lesley Roberts of McGill University, providing an in-depth report of her experience.
Introduction:
In December 2024, three Canadian University students traveled to Sendai, Japan to compete in the 18th Student Open Kendo Tournament. Hosted by the University Kendo Federation of Japan (全日本学生剣道連盟), the event offered international participants a weekend full of kendo competitions and cultural experiences. We thank the University Kendo Federation of Japan and Oda Yoshiko sensei for the invitation and invaluable opportunity for Canadian students.
The Canadian delegation led by CKF Vice President, Makiko Ara marked the second year the Canadian Kendo Federation sent a delegation, and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come. We were fortunate to also have extra days to participate in practice sessions at local universities and high schools, gaining insight into the similarities and differences in Kendo training between Canada and Japan.
Participant Introduction
Natasha Fracassi
Graduate Student, Simon Fraser University
“Really valuable experience in being able to play against and train with Japanese players and also the food was really good”
Yona Kushima
Undergraduate, Carleton University
“Having the opportunity to participate in this tournament gave me lots of insight on how I need to improve my kendo. It was a worthwhile and overall fun experience!”
Lesley Roberts
Undergraduate, McGill University
“I met a lot of new friends and got to experience different way of doing kendo. Practicing with universities and high schools was a lot of fun and gave me so much to work on.”
Exploring the City – Thursday:
Some team members arrived early or stayed afterward to explore Sendai. On Thursday, Maxime Cardinal (McGill University) took us on a tour of Sendai, a city where he’d lived for many years.
We began by visiting Matsushima, a picturesque coastal town dotted with pine-filled islands. The Zuiganji Temple, renovated in 1609, was an architectural marvel. The temple’s grandeur was evident in every detail, from the towering cedar trees lining the entrance to the intricate artwork adorning the walls inside. We learned that one room, elevated above the others and reserved for the imperial family, remained unused until Emperor Meiji’s visit in 1876. The wood craftsmanship, quiet gardens, and surrounding nature clearly show why it was a meaningful pilgrimage destination for many centuries.
Next, we visited Shiogama Shrine, perched atop 202 stone steps. The shrine offered a stunning view of Matsushima Bay. Cardinal Sensei shared that some Canadian kendoka used to train there as children, and the stairs, which we climbed only once, were routinely ascended by the students for conditioning. The stunning view and local snacks – like sweet potato snacks and warm sugar cane juice – at the top made the climb well worth it.
Our final stop of the day was the Sendai Fish Market. Early mornings are spent by the vendors bidding for the catch of the day at the pier before moving to the market to sell their purchases. After Cardinal sensei explained why we were visiting Sendai, the vendors wished us good luck in the tournament, and they even allowed us to pose for a picture with their prized tuna.
The day concluded with the team trying Gyutan, a local delicacy of grilled beef tongue, as recommended by almost every local we met.
Official Tour – Friday:
The official tour for international participants took place on Friday. Our volunteer guides led us through historical sites in Sendai. Many centered around the 2011 tsunami.
We started at Arahama Elementary School, located near the coast. The watermarks on the second floor, visible in the photo, serve as a reminder of the height the tsunami reached. In a room on the third floor, we saw a map created by the Lost Homes Project, which depicted the homes and people lost in the disaster. Everyone we spoke with in Sendai had their own story about where they were and what they experienced during the event.
Afterward, we visited a local museum and a rebuilt shopping and tourist strip, where we tried grilled Sasa-Kamaboko, a fish cake. Despite the crowds of students on the tour, the owner was kind enough to let us use the small grill and taste the snack.
The Sendai Castle ruins were our next stop. Though it is one of the stops predating the tsunami, the castle still holds significant local value. This is especially due to its connection with Date Masamune, a famous feudal lord. All of the international participants took a photo beneath his statue before heading to Zuihoden Mausoleum, the burial place of Date Masamune. Set amidst a forest with trees with vibrant falling leaves and evergreen colors, it was the most peaceful stop of the day.
Practice at Tohoku Gakuin University and Kogota Norin High School:
The two practices we attended as a group were invaluable learning experiences.
On Thursday evening, we practiced at Tohoku Gakuin University. As with most student practices we encountered a sense of camaraderie, and encouragement was remarkable. Each exercise was followed by fist bumps and words of support from our partners. The students were eager to learn about Kendo in Canada and us, in turn, about their experiences in Japan.
Tohoku Gakuin University Practice
Tohoku Gakuin University Women
Natasha Tohoku Practice
Lesley Tohoku Practice
Maxime Tohoku Practice
Our second practice was at Kogota Norin High School, a rural school nestled in farmland. The cold temperature in the gym created a unique atmosphere, with steam rising from the students’ heads after practice. Despite the chill, the students were energetic, and the school staff welcomed us warmly. Afterward, we took a campus tour where we saw notable Kendo alumni, including kendogu and commemorative items of Chiba Masashi Sensei. Natasha (also a jodan player) took a photo with his kendogu, displayed in the school’s hallway.
Kogota Norin High School is also an agricultural school, and after the practice, we met more of the school’s inhabitants – the cows. We took a photo with the current coach of the Kendo program (second from left) and Igarashi Masashi sensei, the former coach and now advisor (center right), outside a barn where the students care for animals.
Kogota Norin HS Boys
Kogota Norin HS Girls
Canadians at Kogota Norin HS
Yona at Kogota Norin Practice
Natasha at Kogota Norin Practice
Kogota Norin HS Tour
The Tournament – Saturday and Sunday:
The tournament, held over two days, was much larger than any student competition we typically experience in Canada. Ten courts ran simultaneously at the Kamei Arena – the same venue featured in the animated series, Haikyuu.
After the official tour on Friday, we warmed up at the tournament venue. The atmosphere was already buzzing with excitement, as teams prepared for the weekend. On Saturday, the opening ceremony differed from what we expected, with two samurai-dressed performers leading the crowd in chants. Their humor added an enjoyable touch to the proceedings and helped everyone learn a bit more about Sendai’s history.
The tournament itself was an incredible experience. Many of the Canadian competitors remarked on how patient the Japanese students were during their matches – a different strategy than typically found in Canada. Each competitor played multiple matches, gaining valuable lessons in each. We stayed until the end of the day, cheering on friends we had made throughout the trip. On Sunday, we returned to watch the team competitions. The high level of play and palpable energy in the gym were unforgettable.
We were accompanied by many other international teams, some of whom we met on the tour the previous day. The United states, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong all sent teams to participate. The individual competitions for 2 Dan and under started with preliminary 3-minute round-robin matches in groups of three or four. The winners of each group would then move onto a knock-out tournament round.
Teams were made of three players 3 Dan and over, with individual international competitors without a full team being slotted into Japanese University Teams with open space. All of the Canadian participants were 2 Dan and under at the time of the competition so participated individually.
The tournament was chaotic, even in the warm up, participants packed onto the floor like sardines, but the organizers were helpful and everything worked out despite the huge number of participants. We are grateful to this year’s organizers and looking forward to participating next year where the tournament is planned for December 19th to 21st in the Zip Arena Okayama in Okayama City. You can find more information on the tournament here.
After the Tournament:
While the official tournament activities ended on Sunday, several team members stayed in Japan for a few more days. They participated in additional practices, seminars, tournaments, and more local sightseeing. One highlight was visiting Akiu Great Falls, located a few hours west of Sendai. With only one bus per day, we arrived at a small town serviced by a single restaurant, a few miscellaneous buildings, and a quiet shrine. We passed only a few visitors on the walk to the waterfall. Then, seeing the 50-metre-tall wonder was well worth the trip. It was a beautiful way to end a tough weekend of competition.
Closing Remarks:
We are incredibly grateful for the support from kendoka in Canada and Japan. We would like to extend a special thanks to Kimura Tamio Sensei from Miyagi. He gifted the team handcrafted wooden whale name tags, snacks, and helped arrange the practice at Kogota Norin High School. We also want to thank Maxime Cardinal Sensei and Makiko Ara Sensei, who joined the team in Sendai as guides and coaches. Finally, we appreciate the ongoing support from the parents, friends, and sensei who helped us along the way.
To those interested in future tournaments, the 2024 participants highly recommend this experience. It’s a unique opportunity to improve your Kendo, compete in a tournament, and visit beautiful locations in Japan. Application for the 2025 tournament will open in August.