Tokyo Daibutsu

Temple Jorenjie

After a long time since I visited here last.

 I have lived in near here long time ago and I have visited often. 

Jorenjie has high social standing that was gained by Tokugawa Shogun.

Daibutsu

Here they are.

           THE LUCKY SEVEN !

Left to right,

1. Ju-Rojin
2.Hukurokuju
3.Benzaiten or simply Benten
4.Bisyamonten
5.Hotei
6.Daikoku
7.Yebisu

Only a Benten is female.

Tombstone

These are typical tombstones which made in Edo era. Stone image of  bodhisattvas distinguish it and generally these are persons who died leaving no one to attend to their graves at that time. And nowadays completely. They are almost women and children.
I have seen similar sight of old temple in Tokyo very often.

SUGOH Shrine in Hida

We have visited shrine. I have never seen such big twin fox. 

Sugoh Inari-Jinja in formal.

Koma-Inu in entrance.

It's stone images which shaped like Lion. They has become moss-grown.

Left one. Moss, cracks and spider's web at his feet.

Right one is damaged. Cracks in arm and his face has weathered away.

Stone lantern

A pair of fox is a symbol of Inari-Shrine. A messenger from god or their family and relations.

 Left one is holding a treasure ball in his mouth.

Right one is holding a key in his mouth.

 Side view

A wooden fox on an offertory box.

It's rare, old, and strange....why is he here ?

Ｉ think wooden images is in inside shrine usually. But anyway, I'm glad to see him.

I don't think that this shrine kept in good condition. 

Decrease in population, shorthand, no money, it's so hard to keep it.

Then I pray to him for my mother's recovery.

Strictly speaking, they are specialist for agriculture. So I contributed more than usual.

BUJINKAN Hida

We are in the heart of mountains, close to river and hot springs. Far from Tokyo.
Yamamoto shihan invited me to Bujinkan Hida Dojo.
Kamioka Hida is a small town and his 2nd home town. More nature, less people. No traffic, clear water and air. I feel like a quite refreshed. Kamioka shut down a mine long time ago, decrease in
population, now they only have a Super-Kamiokande detector. Super-Kamiokande experiment is to reveal the neutrino.　The Super-Kamiokande detector is located at the 1,000m underground in Hida.
Huge high technology plant was constructed 1,000m in deep underground to reviel minimal neutrino.
Our everyday's keiko is just like a such construction. We must work hard to find something.

Dragonfly visited Yamamoto Shihan.
Samurais loves Dragonfly very very much.
Dragonfly is a symbol of a victory and brave.
Fortune favors Yamamoto Shihan.












Dojo

Member's name cards on the wall underneath the licence which is permited by Master Hatsumi.
This licence is his wife Yoko Yamamoto's. It's to certify that 5th Dan. This time, she is in Tokyo.

Sun goes down, pupils come along, they start Keiko.

Today, I took a very few Keiko photograph because of  these instruments. I have been working while they are training.

Actually, I'm looking for evergreen oak to make our Kieko instruments. I want to find good materials.

After Keiko

Not only hard work, it's a great pleasure to have meetings and diner after Keiko.
We have been talking so much, so long. Night is very short. We are short of Beer, Sake.

Welcome

Tonight, we have a special guest who is slashing twin swords.

He was a late arrival, holding two swords each hand, we have to call him MUSASHI ! You are welcome.

It's me.
I did my Keiko personally. We are learning in different school of martial arts, so we do not interfere it each other. I'm thankful to Yamamoto Shihan for his courtesy. Bujinkan Hida Dojo is very good conditions with new Tatami floor. I have been feeling and enjoying good old days of Japan.

Yamamoto Shihan took a few pics of me.
I'm just a unskillful poor hand. I did always let me down.
I need more Keiko and I have to locate myself 2,000m in deep underground to find neutrino of martial art.

BUJINKAN Setagaya Tokyo

Bujinkan Setagaya Dojo in Tokyo with Shoonjie Yamamoto Shihan who is holding most highest 15th Dan which is top ranking 空(coo).
空 means sky, empty or nothing in English. I think it is Nothing. This is from 5 rings of Buddhism.
Below that 1st 空, 2nd wind, 3rd fire, 4th water, and 5th ground.

Yamamoto Shihan is also a professional musician who an expert with flute and percussion. He has been playing classic, jazz, rock, I like his performance especially on Flamenco stage.
He is my friend and I was invited to his Dojo.

Let's begin KEIKO.

He shows them many kinds of technique and tell them how to attack the vital spot where it hurts. This is one of the figure body lock. I think this is Bujinkan's typical skills.

Someone needs to have a very hard time for the Bujinkan members.

Slashing

Safety First

Yamamoto Shihan has been watching over pupils, gazing at their Keiko and look around carefully.

Maki-Otoshi 巻落とし

Tonight Yamamoto Shihan set them a Kenjutsu skill Maki-Otoshi

You can see above photograph which I have taken by chance. I want to, but I won't explain about details on this picture because he shows us real Gokui (essence) at that moment. I'm just a visitor, I have to shut my mouth up anymore ...

Maki-Waza 巻技 is not easy.
Actually, I think it's difficult. It's sometimes, I have seen some Kendo people doing Maki-Age(up), but I have never seen Maki-Otoshi(down). There is some reason. Maki-Age action is never waste their sword. Because it make good use of changing Kamae from Chu-dan to Jo-dan. So they can attack quickly, if they succeed in Maki-Age well. When they fail in Maki-Age, their body or arms are going to be a target. 

I think Kendo people is unable to Maki-Otoshi. I can realize that they don't want to do. Even if they succeed in Maki-Otoshi, that mean changing Kamae from Chu-dan to Ge-dan. So they have to raise sword up to Jo-dan or Chu-dan AGAIN to hit. It is extra action to attack. When they fail in Maki-Otoshi, they will expose the head(Men). It is a max menace to defeat by Ippon.

In the real battle, not at Kendo match, Maki-Otoshi is very important skill to defense, or mastery of the battle. If we staring at each other both are Chu-dan, I think that I will not do Maki-Age in battle except special situation. It's dangerous, too much risk.

He said physical force is not necessary for Maki-Otoshi. I think so, it just need a skill to use sword. We must be familier with the sword's function. Most especially blade but not only blade.

I think that we can make sure our physical balance good or bad from learning Maki-Otoshi.

Most people try to clear sword away but it's not so easy. Then people who wants to clear sword away are feeling it need more power. It will be vicious cycle. If you strong, you win. If you not, you lose. It's not essence of  Kenjutsu. 

We must succeed Maki-Otoshi to anybody. Wisdom suppress forces. That was confirmed by medieval sword men who survived after war or duel in Japan. That's why physical force is not necesｓary for slashing sword.

Somebody found essence, teach it, learn it, keep it and pass it. That's Japanese Martial Arts.

She did it !

NO KIDDING

He always said that still I'm a beginner.

I know what he wants to say, I know that he will be a beginner in the future. It's not easy to keep ourselves beginner. Because everybody wants to advance in their Keiko and feel proud of that.

He knows that overconfidence is the worst enemy.

Now, he has been studying Japanese traditional dance to establish new method of physical movement for martial art. We are learning together Yoshimura Ryu Dance. We have a very hard female master. We are no match for her ! Yes, we are green.