Nippon Kan Mongolia Tour 2001 Itenerary Report

By Emily Busch
Nippon Kan Vice President

(Click any photo to see a larger version.)

Having just returned from Nippon Kan’s second annual tour to Mongolia, we are very happy to report a successful and exciting trip. The purpose of this tour was to further establish the relationship with our friends and colleagues in Mongolia, and to put into place the next phase of our project to aid the homeless children of Mongolia. The seven members of the tour acted as ambassadors from the United States on this mission of friendship. We met with administrators in Orphaned Children Affairs, the Department of Labor and the Mongolia General Intelligence Agency. The trip was highly successful, and we are now planning a tour for July 2002. It is our dream to open this tour to all Aikidoists of all styles from around the world. We plan to gather in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to continue the dream of the Founder Morihei Ueshiba with an Aikido practice caravan.

Itenerary Report

Day 1, July 5, 2001
We arrived in Ulaanbaatar International Airport after about twenty-one hours of travel. A crowd of friends met us at the airport. With a little help with our luggage, we safely made it through customs with around 700 pounds of used children’s clothing, keiko-gis and about 40 pounds of medical supplies.

Day 2, July 6th, 2001
We began our journey early guided by Saya Sodnomdorj, the leader of our Mongolian delegation,. In his tow, our first visit was to a school run by the National Association of Support for the Orphans of Mongolia, which cares for an average of 250 children from the ages of 3 to 13 years. On this day, about 50 children ages six to eight years old came down from their mountain summer camp to meet us. When we arrived and descended from the bus, we were inundated by smiling innocent faces eager for a hug or a handshake. Duger Jamiyansharav, the director of the association was on hand, as well as Sharkhuu Galsandulam, Vice Director of the Central Employment Office. We distributed children’s clothes donated by students and families back home in Denver, Colorado, medical supplies and a $1,500 cash donation from Homma Sensei and AHAN (Aikido Humanitarian Active Network).

In the afternoon, Homma Sensei and his entourage met with Chairman Tsagaankhu Byambajav of the General Intelligence Agency of Mongolia, to discuss security issues in Mongolia. Homma Sensei was asked if Nippon Kan would assist their government in teaching Aikido to GIA agents in their employ. They have already built a training facility and are looking for instructors in Aikido, auto evasion techniques and special training for official bodyguards and security personnel.



Day 3-6, July 7-10, 2001
The drive to Karakorum, the ancient Capitol City of Genghis Khan took ten long hours over bumpy, dusty roads. It was the day before Naadam was to begin and there was excitement in the air. Naadam is Mongolia’s largest annual festival, and celebrations are held around the country to honor the occasion. The next day, Naadam began in Karakorum, and we found ourselves transported into another world. In a river basin whipped with dusty winds, hundreds of people, horses, hawks and eagles gathered for the games, which included horse races, wrestling matches, and archery contests. Each competition would determine this year’s champions--and next year’s hopefuls.

In the afternoon we drove for another hour over endless grassy plains, (there was no road at all at this point) to arrive at a Mongolian Buddhist temple we had visited the year before. Last year, the temple was in the midst of restoration. Under Stalin and Russian rule, almost all of Mongolia’s 800 temples were destroyed, and thousands of monks were put to death. This temple had nearly been destroyed. Before the final destruction, the monks hid the three main statues of Buddha in the hills, where they remained for decades. Since Mongolia gained its independence in 1990, temple restoration has slowly begun, and now the three Buddha statues are back in place on their altars. The painting and rebuilding that we had seen last year had now been completed, and it was a joy to see. The monks that care for the temple live year round in this tiny village, tending to their prayers, taking care of livestock and making felt from sheep’s wool. During the summer months, tourists visit this village and temple, but during the long, harsh winters, the monks live in total isolation. We met again with one of the monks we had met the year before and donated 50 pairs of work gloves, tools, and a cash donation for their temple restoration. They were happy to see us again.

Our last night in our ger camp in Karakorum was a particularly memorable night. (A ger is a round yurt like structure, common to the nomad peoples of the Mongolian countryside.) A well-known and talented group of Mongolian folk singers from the National Music University stopped by to serenade us with Soyol music. We had met them as well the previous year, and it was another warm reunion, this time under the stars and full moon on the Mongolian plains. This was also their last night in the countryside. The leader of the group was scheduled to play in front of the President of Mongolia at the Nadaam opening ceremonies in Ulaanbaatar the following day. This honor was bestowed to only the top ten musicians in the country, quite an honor indeed. One of Nippon Kan’s cross-cultural exchange goals is to support the arts worldwide, and Homma Sensei offered a substantial private donation in support of their talents. Our friend the Buddhist monk traveled on horseback by moonlight for over an hour to join us and presented Homma Sensei with a handmade felt craft. By firelight, we all danced and sang and listened to their wonderful melodies well into the night.

Day 7-10 July 11 –13, 2001
Back in Ulaanbaatar, the capitol city was alive with energy. Not only was it the beginning of the Naadam festival, but this year also marked the celebration’s 80th anniversary of the festival. This year’s celebration was impressive in both scope and scale. At the opening ceremony, we were awash in the color and pageantry of Mongolia’s eighteen states as representatives paraded their local costumes on the fairgrounds. There were jumpers parachuting into the stadium, performances of skill and agility by acrobatic troupes and dancers by the hundreds. The Army, Airforce, and Special Police were also on hand to demonstrate their drill effectiveness and readiness skills. The Army represented by about 400 soldiers did a karate kata, which lasted 30 minutes. After the opening ceremony we watched as the games began. Over 1500 wrestlers, 300 archers, and over 800 horses were scheduled to compete. It was an eventful, if a little dusty day in Ulaanbaatar.

That evening Homma Sensei met with Kawakami Sensei, who is currently in charge of the Aikido Kyokai in Ulaanbaatar. Kawakami Sensei is an overseas volunteer from Japan’s Seinin Kaigai Kyoryoku Tai, or Japanese Peace corp. AHAN donated 30 sets of keiko-gis and 20 hakama, all which had been donated by friends all over the United States to Nippon Kan’s Third World Keiko Drive.

Day 11, July 14, 2001
During the summer months, the orphans spend their time at a camp facility in the mountains about two hours from Ulaanbaatar. This facility houses a happy family of 250 children from the ages of 3-13 while the weather is warm and the flowers bloom. For these children who have seen much great tragedy in their young lives, the mountains offer a soothing, natural environment. As we made our way by bus up to the camp, it was obvious that they had been waiting for us all morning. We were greeted by memorable children’s brass band, dance performances, and wildflower bouquets. It was a very emotional reception. Homma Sensei was greeted in the traditional manner with a blue Buddhist prayer cloth. Representing AHAN (The Aikido Humanitarian Active Network), Homma Sensei pledged $1,500 per month for the next five years, and also donated about $5,000 worth of badly needed medical supplies. The seed money for AHAN has been collected from Homma Sensei’s book sales and by private donations from Aikidoists worldwide.

Day 12, July 15, 2001
Our last day in Mongolia was a very special one. We attended a two-hour Aikido practice guest instructed by Homma Sensei at the Mongolia Aikido Kyokai in Ulaanbaatar. That evening after practice it was time to say farewell to all of our new and old friends. Over 20 people from Mongolia, Japan and the United States gathered at a Japanese restaurant for our farewell party. As a symbol of friendship from our senior Mongolian hosts, Homma Sensei was given a four-year- old male horse, which we all named Rocky. It was agreed that the horse would be happier if he stayed in Mongolia under the watchful care of its present owners. Other guests included the Japanese instructors not only of Aikido but also Judo and Karate. Differences between styles were forgotten and everyone had a great time together.

Day 13, July 16th, 2001
It was an emotional farewell at the Ulaanbaatar International Airport as our hosts and new friends came to say goodbye until next year. We promised we would see them again soon in 2002!

Maybe it was a parting gift from Genghis Khan himself but our return flight from Seoul, Korea to Los Angeles was overbooked, and our entire group had to fly back business class!

Thank you Genghis Khan for the power and heart of your people and your vast and lovely country.