Haru Matsuri
I know this is late but I didn't get a chance to post this from last weekend. Last Saturday, ArchyJupiter, Insignia Sabre and I went to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center to attend the Haru Matsuri (Spring Festival). It was so awesome! We had some sushi for lunch and then looked around the Dojo areas.
We were able to not just watch an demonstration but attend a small workshop for Kenjutsu. It was so hardcore but man was it ever informative! Katori Shinto Ryu (The Sword Style Of The God Katori), was the first organized style of swordsmanship. Katori Shinto RYu dates back around 600 years ago and has been passed down as a secret tradition through generations. Tokumeikan (The Practitioners Dedicated to the study of KenJutsu) and specifically "ONO-HA ITTO RYU" (The One Stroke Style), was more of a life lesson to us than a sword lesson. Mad respect to Douglas Tong, Dennis Wiens & Dayman Perry for the lessons they taught us. There was one other there but I can't remember his name.
We got to meet Nobuhara Keizan who is a famous Shakuhachi (Bamboo Flute) Musician. He even played a few solo numbers for us. I learned how to play the Koto which is a 13 stinged, cylindrical, plucked zither while Nobuhara Keizan played along with me! Those two instuments are probably the most recognizable Japanese instruments to date. Plus they sound incredible! They just screem out "Japan"! Awesome!
We also got a chance to see some Iaido, Judo, Goju Karate, Naginata and Shorinji Kempo in the Dojo area. My friend Ezzard was in the Kenpo class. It was awesome! There were really many things to see and do there but we finished it off with a performance by Yakudo. The sounds from their Taiko drums were awe inspiring and it gave us killer chills down our backs! That group has the largest authentic Taiko drum collection in Canada and they performed the O-suwa style in their pieces! It was probably the best Haru Matsuri that I have attended since I was a 12. Simply awesome! I don't have any pictures but ArchyJupiter and Insignia Sabre took lots. I'll get them to post them or I'll get copies.
We were able to not just watch an demonstration but attend a small workshop for Kenjutsu. It was so hardcore but man was it ever informative! Katori Shinto Ryu (The Sword Style Of The God Katori), was the first organized style of swordsmanship. Katori Shinto RYu dates back around 600 years ago and has been passed down as a secret tradition through generations. Tokumeikan (The Practitioners Dedicated to the study of KenJutsu) and specifically "ONO-HA ITTO RYU" (The One Stroke Style), was more of a life lesson to us than a sword lesson. Mad respect to Douglas Tong, Dennis Wiens & Dayman Perry for the lessons they taught us. There was one other there but I can't remember his name.
We got to meet Nobuhara Keizan who is a famous Shakuhachi (Bamboo Flute) Musician. He even played a few solo numbers for us. I learned how to play the Koto which is a 13 stinged, cylindrical, plucked zither while Nobuhara Keizan played along with me! Those two instuments are probably the most recognizable Japanese instruments to date. Plus they sound incredible! They just screem out "Japan"! Awesome!
We also got a chance to see some Iaido, Judo, Goju Karate, Naginata and Shorinji Kempo in the Dojo area. My friend Ezzard was in the Kenpo class. It was awesome! There were really many things to see and do there but we finished it off with a performance by Yakudo. The sounds from their Taiko drums were awe inspiring and it gave us killer chills down our backs! That group has the largest authentic Taiko drum collection in Canada and they performed the O-suwa style in their pieces! It was probably the best Haru Matsuri that I have attended since I was a 12. Simply awesome! I don't have any pictures but ArchyJupiter and Insignia Sabre took lots. I'll get them to post them or I'll get copies.