We would like to take this opportunity to tell you about a very significant event that will take place on July 18 and 19, 2007 at the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Michigan Honbu Dojo in East Lansing, Michigan. This event highlights a truly unique cultural exchange between Japan and America that is concerned with the preservation and continuation of this 410 year-old Japanese cultural art that has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese Government, and whose current Headmaster, who will turn 102 years old this February, has been named a Living National treasure by the Emperor of Japan.

The event is the 2nd Japan – America Tamiya Ryu Joint Convention, which will be led by the Assistant Headmaster of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, Tsumaki Kazuo (Genwa) Sensei who is the son of the current and 14th Headmaster, and his Assistant, Endo Tsuyako (Gentei) Sensei, who will travel to East Lansing, Michigan from Yokohama and Isehara, Japan. The Convention will be attended by Sister Branch members of the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Organization and the Wakayama, Japan Tamiya Ryu Branch.

This Sister Branch relationship is the first of its kind in the 410 year history of this art and was concluded on May 21 of 2006 in Wakayama, Japan on the occasion of the 1st Japan – America Tamiya Ryu Joint Convention. At that time, a Delegation of 10 members from the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Organization traveled to Wakayama, Japan for the purpose of training together for the first time and to formally conclude this new Sister Branch Agreement. Following their visit to Wakayama, the Delegation traveled Japan to research the “roots” of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu by visiting sites of significance in the Ryu’s history.

This year’s Convention in East Lansing, Michigan will feature a special joint seminar for Japanese and American Sister Branch members on Wednesday, July 18 in the art of Kenbu (traditional Japanese dance with sword and fan). Kenbu is one of the three cultural arts that make up the formal curriculum of Tamiya Ryu, along with Iaijutsu and Shigin, or Gin’ei (singing of Japanese poetry using Chinese meter). A Formal Lecture by the Assistant Headmaster on the fine points of the art of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, followed by a Joint Training Session (Goudou Koushuukai) and Formal Testing (Shinsa) of Deshi (student) for their rankings within the art will be held on Thursday, July 19. During these two days, the new bi-lingual text on Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu entitled: Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu - One Point Lesson, written by Fuku Soke Tsumaki Sensei and translated by Michael (Gennan) Alexanian, will be formally introduced and made available for purchase exclusively to members of the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Organization .

On Friday, July 20, the Delegation from Wakayama will return to Japan while Tsumaki Sensei and Endo Sensei, accompanied by Michael (Gennan) Alexanian Sensei, will travel to New York City to spend the weekend with the New York City Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Study Group. During the course of the weekend, a special Kenbu Seminar will be held as well as formal Training and Testing for New York City Study Group members and an Open Seminar to assist in promoting the growth of the New York City Study Group.

In these times, when people seem divided on almost every issue, here is an example of two cultures from opposite ends of the globe that have, by mutual choice, united for a common purpose. For the practitioner of Iaijutsu, it is not simply a matter of learning how to wield a sword…what is most important is learning how to use the “sword within” to defeat the “enemy within”. As the founder of modern Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei once wrote:

“The penetrating brilliance of swords,
Wielded by followers of the Way,
Strikes at the evil enemy,
Lurking deep within
Their own souls and bodies.”