United Arab Emirates

Aug 12-17, 2009

Homma Kancho talking to kids in Abu Dhabi.

My name is Mariusz Ferenc and I currently live in Ireland. I met Homma Kancho and Cihan Karaogluol in the Abu Dhabi airport on August 12th, 2009 after Homma Kancho had finished his seminar tour in Egypt. I met Homma Kancho in Abu Dhabi to serve as his assistant in events scheduled there.

This coming November, Homma Kancho will be returning to Abu Dhabi as coordinator of AHAN’s International Concert Series 2009 which will feature the Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano Japan. Homma Kancho came to Abu Dhabi for this August trip for preliminary meetings with the Japanese Embassy to the United Arab Emirates, and to perform an Aikido demonstration and lecture for the Ministry of the Interior. While in Abu Dhabi on this trip, Homma Kancho also practiced together with Aikidoka from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Japanese Embassy to the United Arab Emirates

Homma Kancho visited the Japanese Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to pay his respect to Ambassador Tatsuo Watanabe and go over plans for the upcoming concerts to be performed by the world renowned Japanese taiko drumming group; The Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano, Japan. One of the concerts will be performed at the Higher Colleges of Technology Academic Convention which will also feature over twenty Nobel Prize winners who are scheduled to speak at the convention. The concert will be held at the seven- star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. First Secretary and Consul Yamagami and Cultural Public Relations Coordinator Mr. Yoshida, both from the Japanese Embassy guided us through Abu Dhabi and Dubai to check on the concert site logistics and lay the groundwork for the concerts in November.

The Matsukawa Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano, Japan have toured extensively through the world. Links below to concerts performed by the drummers held in Turkey, Brazil, Colombia and the United States.

USA 2004
Brazil 2005
Turkey 2006
Colombia, 2008

United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior Demonstration and Lecture

Homma Kancho lecturing at the Ministry of Interior.

Homma Kancho was invited by the Ministry of Interior General Inspectors Office to do an Aikido demonstration and give a lecture on Nippon Kan philosophy toward the martial arts. Homma Kancho’s special teaching and philosophy is well known internationally and the Ministry was interested in hearing Homma Kancho’s point of view about the martial arts and conflict resolution. The Ministry of Interior in Abu Dhabi is responsible for both intelligence and immigration police divisions. Homma Kancho used DVD and PowerPoint presentations in his demonstration and also spoke in depth on his experience of martial arts all over the world. (photos are limited in this section for security reasons)

Ministry of Interior General Inspector Office’s Mr. Mohamed Al-Amin Al-Bushra and First Secretary, Consul Yamagami from the Embassy of Japan UAE.

 Homma Kancho’s lecture and demonstration.

Demonstration assistants

Abu Dhabi –Dubai Aikidoka Practice

With Aikido Abu Dhabi Instructor Jihad Francis Sensei

Abu Dhabi Aikido, instructed by Jihad Francis Sensei invited Homma Kancho to practice with his students while in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Aikido is a member of the UAE – Abu Dhabi Judo and Wrestling Federation that hold many differnt practices in a huge sports facility in Abu Dhabi. The dojo where Aikido is practiced was very large as well! Homma Kancho taught two evenings of classes to students from Abu Dhabi and students who traveled from Dubai for this cultural exchange and practice.

Written by
Nippon Kan Graduate Uchideshi
Mariusz Ferenc
Dublin, Ireland

Notes from Editor:
Many thanks to Mariusz who traveled all the way from Ireland and Cihan who left his newly- wedded-bride to assist Homma Kancho in this series of classes in Egypt and the UAE. Congratulations on a job well done!

Assistants Mariusz and Cihan