July 18th, 2013 It was only a little over a month ago that Welmer Pagenta served as my body guard and driver on my last trip to Illigan in Mindanao. Welmer was a humble and quite man who enjoyed sharing a rum with me at night. He not only attended Aikido practice every day, but he also attended every AHAN …
Opening Ceremony for the Badjao Tribe New Life Center Mindanao Island, Philippines (Video)
July 17, 2013
July 17th -23rd, 2013 Link here to see the video: A Documentary on the Rebuilding of the Badjao New Life Center; With You All the Way! Homma Kancho has come to Mindanao Island in the Philippines twice in the past 2 months. On his first visit with us at the AHAN Mindanao Learning Center in Illigan, he learned that the …
Nepal Army Rangers, Lt. Col Anup Thapa Visits Nippon Kan Headquarters
July 7, 2013
July 7th, 2013 Nippon Kan Headquarters received a very special guest on June 7th, 2013. Lt. Col. Anup Thapa served as the commanding officer of the Nepal Army Rangers and has been a great supporter of the teaching of Homma Kancho and the development of Nippon Kan Aikido within the Nepal Army Rangers in Nepal. Lt. Col Thapa is currently …
From AHAN Nepal, Just Married!
July 7, 2013
July 7th, 2013 Nepal Army Ranger and Instructor, WO2 Gurung got married this summer! WO2 Gurung has been deployed to many parts of the world with the Nepal Army Rangers as a UN peacekeeper. He is a valued role model and is looked up to by many young Ranger cadets. Currently WO2 Gurung specializes in teaching Aikido with the Nepal Army …
Progress Report: AHAN Nepal Training Center Construction
July 5, 2013
July 5th, 2013 Current Nepal Army Ranger Aikido Dojo The Nepal Army Rangers, headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal, have adopted the practice of Nippon Kan Aikido as part of their daily training. Up to 60 elite Ranger officers train in Nippon Kan Aikido up to six hours a day under the supervision of Rajesh Bista Sensei and Instructor WO2 Dhan Gurung. …
Nippon Kan Vice President Emily Busch Visits Thailand and Myanmar AHAN Project Facilities (Video)
June 26, 2013
June 26-27th, 2013 Watch the video! “Because They are There… Chronicle of Emily’s Travels to Thailand and Myanmar
Visit to the AHAN Myanmar Learning Center and Yadanapon Temple in Yangon, Myanmar
June 24, 2013
June 24th to 26th, 2013 After the visit to Sittwe , we returned to Yangon, the bustling capital of Myanmar. There, accompanied by Nilar Than, AHAN Myanmar Coordinator and family, we delivered rice and supplies to the Yadanapon Temple and joined the children for a mid day meal. AHAN Nippon Kan has been supplying 1 ton of rice, educational and …
Lost again… Enshin Karate VS Aikido Nippon Kan
June 23, 2013
June 23rd, 2013 Every spring, Nippon Kan and Enshin Karate hold a tournament…a bowling tournament that is, and this year marked the 19th year that this tournament has been held. Homma Kancho and Joko Ninomiya Kancho presiding, all of the bowlers from both dojos were enthusiastic about this year’s tournament. Of the past 18 tournaments, Nippon Kan has won 11 …
Visit to Sittwe City, Rakhine State, Myanmar; Opening Ceremony for Orphanage Dormitory
June 22, 2013
June 22nd-24th, 2013 Awaiting the final touches. Emily Sensei was given the task of choosing the final paint colors. After leaving Thailand, I flew to Myanmar. The first stop was a visit to the town of Sittwe in the Rakhine state near the Bangladesh border. Accompanying me was Mr. U Than Aung, father …
Visit to the AHAN Bilay House Orphanage, Ta Ko Lang, Thailand; Researching Facility Expansion
June 19, 2013
June 19th -21st, 2013 Emily Busch, Nippon Kan Vice President and AHAN International Program Director journeyed to Ta Ko Lang, Thailand in June to visit the AHAN Bilay House Orphanage. The purpose of this visit was to research the purchase of adjoining property for the building of a Karen tribe traditional heritage center. …
Minoru Yasui Inn of Court Annual Dinner
June 12, 2013
June 12th, 2013 The Minor Yasui Inn of Court has held its annual dinner at the Nippon Kan-Domo gardens for seven consecutive years. Over 100 lawyers and related members of the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court gathered in the gardens on June 12th, 2013 for a full gourmet buffet dinner provided by Domo Restaurant. This year the Minoru Inn of …
AHAN New Life Center Project for the Badjao Tribe Begins Mindanao Island, Philippines
June 3, 2013
June 3rd-9th, 2013 There is a tribe of people called the Badjao that live along the coast south of Illigan City on Mindanao Island in the Philippines. The Badjao are an ocean migrant people without a country and scavenge for survival. For the past 3 years, The AHAN Mindanao Learning Center has provided meals to the Badjao people; the only …
Nippon Kan 2013 Spring Volunteer Service Project
June 1, 2013
June 1st, 2013 Nippon Kan’s 22nd annual Spring Volunteer Service project was held at Weir Gulch Park on June 1st, 2013. The project included planting a large number of trees, painting bridges and playground equipment and adding new sand to the playground areas. Planting trees is hard work and a team effort! To …
Bukko? (The Light of Buddha) Shines on Yonta
May 27, 2013
May 27th, 2013 In the early morning hours, Homma Kancho found Yonta, the dojo dog, standing in front of the Buddha statue in the newly constructed Musubi Do area. This photo seeming has captured the rainbow light of the Buddha shining down on little Yonta. Hard to say exactly what it really was; the light of the Buddha? Or, was …
Homma Kancho visit to Japan and Korea
May 25, 2013
May 25th-June 2nd, 2013 I stopped by Japan in late May to do some research on land for a new AHAN Nippon Kan training center. While in Japan I went to visit the countryside home of Mr. Yamagami, former Japanese Consul. It was good to see Mr. Yamagami in a markedly different environment now that he has retired to a …