Nippon Kan End of Year 2002-NewYear 2003 Activity Report

12/15/02
Holiday Dinner for the Homeless
As usual, Nippon Kan was a busy place during December and into the New Year! As is tradition, Nippon Kan began the holiday season with its end-of-year special dinner for the homeless at the Denver Rescue Mission. We had lot’s help from Nippon Kan students who peeled vegetables outside in shirtsleeves; it was such a warm December in the Rockies! Over 350 meals were served at this dinner, which left everyone feeling the holiday spirit.

12/22/02
End-of-Year Staff Meeting
On December 22nd Nippon Kan’s volunteer staff of office administration personnel and instructors gathered for our annual end-of-year staff meeting. In 2002, the volunteer staff for the office and instructor staff was over thirty, so this party, hosted by Homma Sensei, was a chance for everyone to get together. New staff members and seniors alike spent the evening reviewing the year’s activities, and projected projects for 2003.

12/27/02
Last Practice of the Year
Keiko Osame, the last practice of the year was held on December 27th. This practice was well attended as Nippon Kan students said goodbye to 2002 with the year’s last practice. Homma Sensei officiated at this class and talked to students about past events of 2002 and his concerns for the New Year in 2003.

12/31/02-1/01/03
Midnight Practice
Toshi Koshi Geiko is a very special practice at Nippon Kan as it is held at midnight between the Old and New Year. This silent practice began at 11:00 pm on December 31st, and continued through midnight with the sound of fireworks from nearby downtown Denver echoing in the stillness. Homma Sensei performed Amatsu Norito on the taiko drum followed by Hono Geiko or offering practice. This year was a little more subdued as it was the year of the passing of Morihiro Saito Shihan. The ceremony included a special memorial prayer in his honor.

1/3&4/03
New Year Events
The New Year was celebrated as is tradition, with a New Year Potluck on January 3rd, and Keiko Hajime, opening practice of the year on January 4th. Members of the Denver Mongolian joined in the potluck and festivities bringing with them gifts of Mongolian song. The dojo was decorated for Keiko Hajime on January 4th in traditional red and white with ornaments of pine and paper for the shrine.

1/06/03
Nippon Kan Beginners Classes begin!
The first beginner’s class series of 2003 began on January 6th, 2003. Beginner’s classes are offered as a six week course six times per year, with four timeslots available per session. For the January sessions, over 100 new beginning students participated. There were also plenty of senior Nippon Kan hakama level students on hand to help beginning students feel at home and comfortable. Homma Sensei spoke to beginners on their first day of practice. “Thank you very much for coming to Nippon Kan” Homma Sensei began. “I know you are all thinking about trying something new for the New Year, or perhaps fulfilling a new resolution! A year however is pretty long, 365 days in fact. I think it might be better to look at just one day at a time and enjoy yourselves in this class day by day. Don’t burden yourselves with expectations, pace yourself, relax and have a good time! That is the best way to achieve your goals.”

1/10/03
Nippon Kan School Tour Program
Nippon Kan has an extensive school tour program available to all schools in the Denver area from elementary school through high school. While the curriculum varies depending on the age and interests of the school groups, the program includes a facility tour, hands-on origami demonstration, Aikido demonstration, brush calligraphy demonstration, Japanese folk history lecture and museum tour, and a visit to the Nippon Kan gardens. On occasion the arts and music of other Asian countries such as Mongolia have been introduced. The three dollars per person collected from students for this activity is used for Nippon Kan AHAN (the Aikido Humanitarian Active Network) orphanage support projects in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Rio de Janiero, Brazil. (See AHAN for more information on humanitarian projects worldwide.)