Introduction of social activities by inhabitant of a ward writer "Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai"

Interview, photo (including borrowing) ・ sentence = inhabitant of a ward writer Hiroo Mizuno

When you hear kendo, you may feel politeness, or you may have the image that summer is hot and winter is cold. Kendo, born in Japan, is a martial arts that trains the mind and body based on the philosophy of "the path of human formation through the practice of swords."
In fact, there is an organization in Tsuzuki Ward   where young and old men and women work hard on kendo. One of them is the Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai.
We talked to Chairman Mamoru Suzuki and Vice Chairman Yasushi Amamoto and Toshiro Ikeda about what kind of activities this association is doing.

It was in 2006 that the Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai was formed.
Junichiro Ohno, Naohiro Enomoto, Kenji Kamoda, and Yasushi Amamoto (current vice chairman) came together with the idea of "I want to practice kendo somewhere." He was able to rent Chigasaki Junior High School as a rehearsal hall, and started as a meeting.
When I asked Mr. Amamoto, the founding member, about that time, such a story came out.
"In order to be judged by Nanatsudan, you need to belong to a Kendo Federation somewhere as an organization. That's why I formed a meeting and joined the Kohoku Ward Kendo Federation with the introduction of an acquaintance."
Since then, the number of members has increased, mainly by word of mouth of Kendo fellows, and now it has become a large organization with members coming from outside Yokohama as well as Tsuzuki Ward  . On Wednesday and Friday nights on weekdays, at the Chigasaki Junior High School Budojo, and on Sunday at the Chigasaki Elementary School Gymnasium, students and the elderly are training in the same space.
According to Mr. Suzuki, about 30 to 40 people will gather on Sunday. Mr. Suzuki speaks a smile about the flow of practice.
"First of all, after doing preparatory exercises, swinging. Then, it's the flow to practice separately for adults and children. Adults give back to basic practice and practice skills. Children are almost the same as adults. Because they are different heights."

Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Amamoto and Mr. Ikeda have been well-known for more than 40 years in kendo.
On the way, he seemed to have been away due to work or family circumstances, but he held a bamboo sword again and continued to practice.
Kendo takes time to climb up. In order to receive the ascending examination, it is essential to practice for 5 to 10 years depending on the stage. However, when asked, it is attractive that it takes a long time to be judged. This is because continuing training leads to your own growth. Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Amamoto and Mr. Ikeda also tried various trainings until the next screening. Of course, sometimes it doesn't work. Still, he told me that he was able to use his mistakes to improve his skills and train his heart.
Also, it is a good thing about kendo that you can compete on the same playing field as young people even if you are older. He said like this.
"I'm 61 years old, but I can compete in the same playing field as young people. You can really face each other seriously regardless of gender or age. There's not a lot of competition like that."
Another great attraction is that people can interact with each other. Once the armor is put on, the elderly and children hold bamboo swords together, and practice hard to see if they have a social position. It's a charm that you can't easily experience in everyday life. And Kendo is important in judging and playing games to speak loudly. If you shout loudly, it will release stress that has accumulated in your daily life. And if you speak out, you will be praised.
It is convincing that if it is so attractive, it will last for a long time.

Members of the Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai are of a wide range of ages. Children are enrolled from the second grade of elementary school to the sixth grade. Why did children choose kendo in the presence of many sports today? When I ask parents, it seems that it is based on the idea that it is good for education to interact with adults other than parents and the desire to grow up as a polite child. The only thing I can hear from the children who practice is that kendo is fun. Everyone has their own skills, and is happy to improve in practice and win the opponent who had previously lost. In addition, Chigasaki Kenyukai has also participated in the Kendo Tournament, and some children have achieved good results.
At present, I am worried that there are few children, but I am waiting for a new friend saying, "If you have a large number of people, you can talk to each other, and it is fun because you can do various things."
The Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai is attended by a wide range of people, from beginners to Nanatsudan, and people from Rokudan and Nanatsudan provide guidance on a monthly basis. What I care about as a meeting is to be able to improve everyone. Beginners are welcome, and participants of Kendo experience are also accepted. On the day of the interview, a woman also participated in the lesson. In addition, members interact with each other, such as holding summer camps at Kujukuri Beach and holding regular cool-down parties and year-end parties.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. I'm sure she will welcome you warmly.

Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai is recruiting new members. Visits and experiences are also welcome, so please feel free to contact us.

・Tsuzuki Chigasaki Kenyukai Web page
http://www.tuchiken.com/ (external site)

・Click here for the flyer for recruiting elementary school members↓
Member recruitment flyer (PDF: 370KB)