Nippon Budokan role in Kubudo?
David wrote...
"Recognized teachers of Yagyu Shingan-ryu in Japan are all members of either the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai or Nihon Kobudo Kyokai. These are the only kobudo (koryu) associations recognized by the Japan Budo Association (Nippon Budokan)."
Sorry, I don't understand this.
AFAIK neither the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai nor Nihon Kobudo Kyokai certify teachers. I'm more familiar with the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, but it only registers ryuha; those ryuha and their teachers produce documentation that show them to be an historic ryuha. Only the ryuha leadership can certify anyone as a legit instructor in a given style, not those umbrella, cooperative organizations. I don't think either hand out certifications or titles to individuals. They are cooperative groups to promote kobudo; their main events are Kubudosai, or Ancient Martial Arts Festival exhibitions.
Nippon Budokan does not translate as the Japan Budo Association. A more correct translation would be Japan Martial Arts Hall.
As far as I know, the Nippon Budokan does not 'recognize' associations as such. Don't think the Budokan has the charter or expertise to recognize something as legitimate or not, but all the organizations housed there are blue chip martial arts outfits. It does house the admin offices of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei), the All Japan Rifle Bayonet Federation (Nihon Jukendo Renmei), amongst others.
Budokan leadership helps tie a lot of things together, and the Budokan Foundation belongs to several different martial arts organizations, but recognizing one association or another is not a Budokan function as such as far as I know. I belong to a couple of those organizations; the Budokan Foundation cooperates with some, and its leadership leads others.
Incidentally, IIRC, the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai is recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which is a powerful endorsement.
Cheers,
Lance Gatling
Tokyo, Japan
Lance Gatling ガトリング
Tokyo 東京
Long as we're making up titles, call me 'The Duke of Earl'