Koryu demonstrations & events in Japan

[Vile]

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments!

[Eric Spinelli]

Ladies and gents,

I have a ticket to the upcoming Nippon Budo Festival (details below) that admits two people. My girlfriend is being fickle and it would be a shame to have the second person admission go to waste. If anybody would like to join me, please send me a PM. There is a chance more tickets/spots are available, but as they are not in my possession, I don't know for sure.

『天皇陛下御即位二十年奉祝』（日本武道館開館四十五周年記念事業）「日本武道祭」
Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
Oct. 10, 2009
1pm - 4:15pm

The following arts or schools (among others) will be performing:
Kyudo
Aikido
Karate
Sumo
Judo
Katori Shinto Ryu (kenjutsu)
Takenouchi Ryu (jujutsu)
X ryu houjutsu (I forgot which ryu)

Cheers,
-Eric

[Eric Spinelli]

I got my hands on more tickets, so if anybody else would like to join, please contact me. As of now there are three of us going and three more can come.

Here is the complete listing of presenters in order of presentation:

第一部：
１）弓道
２）柔道
３）香取神道流剣術
４）相撲
５）銃剣術
６）合気道

第二部：
７）剣道
８）少林寺拳法
９）竹内流柔術
１０）なぎなた
１１）空手道
１２）陽流砲術

[Eric Spinelli]

I've put a number of videos from this event on my YouTube page. The three koryu (Katori Shinto Ryu, Takenouchi Ryu, Yo Ryu) are all up as well as a few of the gendai videos. Enjoy.

[Hurles]

Thanks for posting the vids, was there too but didn't have the camera unfortunately.

[Fred27]

YouTube user Kenzenjapan posted a video featuring snippets from the 33rd Japan Kobudo Demonstration at the Budokan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQTgIavkVs

BTW, what ryu is represented at 02.49 onwards? The all female-troop.

[tsunamiflood]

definately Tendo Ryu
primarily known for Naginata-jutsu, but lots of other elements including paired Kodachi
very distinctive footwork too in the naginata/sword paired forms - the retreat and advance before engagement

[Fred27]

definately Tendo Ryu
primarily known for Naginata-jutsu, but lots of other elements including paired Kodachi
very distinctive footwork too in the naginata/sword paired forms - the retreat and advance before engagement

So thats Tendo-ryu. First time I've seen it.
Thanks for the info.

[Andartar]

Hi!
I'm living in Japan at the moment, Kyoto to be precise, and I'd like to watch some genuine koryu while I'm here. I know that there are festivals at which koryu is shown but how do I find out when and where? I'd really appreciate some pointers.

[Rennis]

May is the big month in Kyoto. Last I heard the dates for this year are something like...

- May 2nd at the Butokuden has koryu in the morning followed by hours and hours of iai demonstrations

- The 4th at Shimogamo Shrine. This one is koryu focused. There are two "stages" where embu are running concurrently, so sometimes you have to pick and choose which ryu you want to watch.

- The 5th at Shiramine Shrine, which has many people from the day before. I believe in the morning there is also bunch of gendai budo demonstrations before the koryu embu. Good chance to see some things you missed the day before.

For what it is worth,

[Josh Reyer]

There's a big one coming up in mid-April in Asakusa, Tokyo, but I don't know the date or venue yet.

[Ron Beaubien]

There's a big one coming up in mid-April in Asakusa, Tokyo, but I don't know the date or venue yet.

The Asakusa demonstration is not so big, in my humble opinion. It is held in a medium sized tatami dojo and although there is enough space to have two groups demonstrate at once, there is very little room for spectators unfortunately. The demostration this year will take place at the Riverside Sports Center on April 17th from 11 to 2:30.

As for our group, Asakusa is one of the places newer people would normally get to demonstrate at, as opposed to the Nippon Budokan, where everyone demonstrating is supposed to be chuden (or its equivalent) or above.

The best thing about the Asakusa demonstration is that for the last 10 years or so there has been a special demonstration by one of the koryu school that lasts almost 30 minutes, complete with a lecture. It gives people a chance to see a deeper level of one school than at most of the other group demonstrations.

I hope that helps.

Regards,

Ron Beaubien

[Cliff Judge]

Does anything awesome happen in the October timeframe in the Kanto area?

[Josh Reyer]

Does anything awesome happen in the October timeframe in the Kanto area?

Not quite Kanto, but there is a kobudo embukai at Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya in early October.

[poryu]

HI

is there anything happening in July.