This concert, sponsored by Nippon Kan AHAN (Aikido Humanitarian Active Network) was a focal point for AHAN’s 2004 activity awareness campaign. From the village of Matsukawa in Nagano Prefecture, Japan came sixteen drummers and at least as many drums. In the week they spent in Colorado, we estimate that the Matsukawa Kyougaku drummers introduced the wonders of their music to over 6000 people.
This year marked the 150th year anniversary of Japan-US relations, and to celebrate this anniversary the Consul-General of Japan at Denver, Mr Yuzo Ota, other members of the Consulate, the Japanese Firms Association of Colorado, Japan America Society of Colorado and Japanese American Society of Colorado joined in sponsorship of the drummers performance at the Stage theater, Denver Performing Arts Center. The Consul-General also hosted a reception at the Consulate-General of Japan at Denver for the drummers, honoring their talents and their mission.

Before and aftre this performance at the Denver Performing Arts Center the drummers performed enthusiastically on a rigorous schedule. On their first day in Denver the drummers performed two performances at the Taste of Colorado Festival in Downtown Denver to a crowd of about 4000 extremely enthusiastic listeners. During the week, the drummers performed at a Japanese Elementary School and Cherry Creek Elementary School where they delighted the children by teaching them to play on the drums. It was a great cultural experience for the children and their parents alike.

The drummers also played live on three major television stations in Denver, rising at the crack of dawn to make it to the stations before the morning news. Everywhere they played, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

The concert at the Denver Performing Arts Center was filled to capacity with over 750 patrons in attendance. The focus of this concert was not only to promote cross-cultural awareness but also to raise awareness of AHAN and specifically AHAN’s 2004 campaign to gather and distribute new-used donated computers to schools and organizations in need in countries like Mongolia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Brazil.

At this concert, Mrs. Caroyn Kelly served eloquently as M.C. and the Consul-General Mr. Yuzo Ota gave a moving welcome speech. A presentation ceremony was also held where documentation for 100 computers was pledged to Mongolian Representative Uuganaa Sodnomdorj, representing the Zorig Foundation in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

As if this was not enough for one week in Denver, the group also traveled to Telluride, Colorado to play for a standing room only crowd of 500 at the first performance ever to be held in the newly finished Telluride High school theater. This concert was sponsored by Koto Radio, and was coordinated by Rick Thompson, chief instructor of Yama dojo, a Nippon Kan affiliate. In attendance was the Mayor of Telluride, Mr. John Pryor and many members of the city council. All of the food, and lodging and many other arrangements that were made for this performance were donated by Telluride local businesses and individuals.

Homma Kancho has written an accompanying article about the drummers visit to Colorado named “Drumming for Tomorrow”.

Please read a couple great testimonials on this event here.

Many thanks to all who made this extremely important week of events an incredible success!



Photo documentary

After just landing, and without a rest, the group unpacks the drums.

A very powerful couple!

Breakfast at Nippon Kan.

Autographed by Mr. Chino.

Pre-concert meeting.

Playing with the children at the Japanese school.

Hard practice every time.

Rehearsal

The best smile of all.

Thank you poster.

We did it!

Performing at Cherry Creek Elementary

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

After concert buffet at Domo Restaurant

15 minutes before curtain.

Last minute check.

Beautiful Matsukawa ladies.

Looks like a group of Ninjas!

100 New -Used Computer Set Donation.
Sept 9, 2004
Nippon Kan AHAN headquarters in Denver launched its used computer donation and distribution campaign earlier in 2004. At the Matsukawa Kyougaku Taiko Drumming Concert performed at the Denver Performing Arts Center on September 9th a pledge for 100 used donated computers plus shipping costs was made by AHAN President, Emily Busch to Mongolian Representative Uuganaa Sodnomdorj, representing the Zorig Foundation in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

This project began this past February when Nippon Kan Kancho Gaku Homma visited Mongolia, and discovered a great need in non-government supported schools for computers and other educational supplies.

The 100 computers are being cleaned, repaired and readied for shipping by Nippon Kan volunteer staff. The first shipment of 30 computers is scheduled to leave Nippon Kan in Denver for Ulaanbaatar at the end of October. In Mongolia, the computers will be received by Mongolia AHAN Staff members who will personally oversee the distribution of the computers and other educational supplies to schools and other organizations in need. One of the major recipients in Mongolia is the Zorig Foundation, an organization dedicated to education and the modernization of social programs in many underdeveloped nations. Many countries, including Japan are supporters of the Zorig foundation and its works. The Mongolian AHAN staff also plans to organize a computer training program to open in Ulaanbaatar. Any revenues generated by this project will go to support further distribution goals.

Specifically, many of these computers will be placed at the School Named Hope, a school that Nippon Kan is sponsoring for development. On Homma Kancho’s visit to Mongolia this past February he visited the School Named Hope in person. He found there a school in desperate need of the most basic materials. Homma Kancho, Nippon Kan and AHAN have made it a priority this year to provide the School Named Hope with the tools and the funds it needs to feed, cloth and educate the children enrolled there. Link here to related articles on Homma Kancho’s February visit.
The computers being sent to Mongolia and other countries in need have been donated by Nippon Kan students, families, friends and even corporate sponsors are beginning to become involved. All of the computers have been checked, cleaned, repaired for shipping by Nippon Kan volunteer and full time staff members.
Computers that have been donated that cannot be repaired can be used for parts to rebuild others, or as spare parts to send as replacements as necessary.

The future goals of this project are to be able to develop a used computer distribution program in other countries. Mexico, Central America and South America are countries where the start-up groundwork is being laid.

If you would like to donate a used computer the following information is for you:

How does AHAN operate?
AHAN activities are not supported by Domo Restaurant only. A variety of projects are supported by Nippon Kan fundraising seminars and private donations. Proceeds are also directed to AHAN from Nippon Kan’s school fieldtrip for cultural study program with Denver schools. To date over 10,000 students have participated in demonstration tours at Nippon Kan. Some of Nippon Kan’s other fundraising activities include cultural tours to Japan and Mongolia and the presentation of traditional cultural concerts such as this.

Nippon Kan also supports many community volunteer projects in Denver such as our Meals for the Homeless program with the Denver Rescue Mission. In the past 14 years, Nippon Kan has made and served over 36,000 meals to Denver’s needy. Nippon Kan has also partnered with the Denver Parks Department for the last 14 years in park beautification and preservation projects in the Metro Denver area and Front Range.

Ongoing AHAN projects:
Currently AHAN is organizing a recycled computer and sewing machine project for third world communities. Used computers and portable sewing machines, (working or not) are welcome. Your donated computers will be cleaned, restored and readied for shipment by our volunteer Nippon Kan computer staff. The computers will be used in projects for children in Mongolia, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Italy and Turkey. All of the computers will be distributed personally by AHAN local branch representatives for educational, medical and cultural preservation projects.

How to donate:
If you are would like to help by donating a computer, please bring it to Nippon Kan at 1365 Osage Street between 5-8 pm., Monday through Thursday or Nippon Kan AHANs affiliated Domo Restaurant 11-2pm. 5-10pm. Mon- Sat. A tax deductible receipt will be issued at the time of shipment, value established by our computer assembly staff. If you have access to large quantities of used computers, pick up is available. Please call Nippon Kan at 303-595-8256 and leave a message.

Nippon Kan
1365 Osage Street Denver, Colorado 80204
303-595-8256 email: info@nippon-kan.org

Gana plays while Ari looks on…

Teacher and student play in the Nippon Kan Ger.

Domestic Seminar Report

Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Juku, Hitohiro Saito Sensei Seminar.
Reno, Nevada
October 1-3, 2004

The seminar instructed by Hitohiro Saito Sensei held in Reno, Nevada was attended by over 250 students. Many senior graduate Iwama uchideshi, their students and students from other organizations gathered for a great weekend, making this seminar a wonderful success.

Homma Kancho attended this seminar as well, and was very well received and taken care of by Reno hosts and students. This event was hosted by Aikido of Reno and its Chief Instructor, Vince Salvatore Sensei. At the seminar, Aikido of Reno, Vince Salvatore Sensei, and Hitohiro Saito Sensei both presented Homma Kancho and AHAN with a $1000.00 donation each to support AHAN ongoing projects.


Nippon Kan and AHAN activities gained much exposure through this seminar and the generous donations will be put to good use. These two donations have been designated for the Obra do Berco Orphanage in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Casa de la Amistad (a cancer center for children) in Mexico City. Both of these donations will be presented by Homma Kancho personally this year in their names at seminars Homma Kancho will be instructing in Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City. Click here for information on the upcoming fundraising seminar to be held in Mexico City Dec 3-5, 2004.

Homma Kancho has written a related article about this seminar called "Those Who Have Made it Over the Pass."

Hitohiro Saito Sensei kindly teaching beginners.

Hitohiro Saito Sensei kindly teaching beginners.

Joining in the fun!

Nippon Kan Summer Practice Marathon.
August 2-27th, 2004
August was a month of serious concentrated practice at Nippon Kan. This being a busy year of travel for Homma Kancho, he decided to concentrate his efforts at home with a twenty one day seminar this August. Homma Kancho instructed all of the classes held during this marathon, and it has been calculated that over 850 students attended collectively. One thing unusual about this extended seminar, was that is was free of charge to Nippon Kan students. Homma Kancho told his students on the first day of the challenge, “This seminar is a hot summer practice challenge for me too. I have spent much time traveling this year, and I need to work on my own training and physical conditioning. Spending this month in concentrated practice will prepare me for teaching again abroad in the latter part of the year. All of you are my practice partners for this marathon, therefore there is no charge! Let’s Go!”

Nippon Kan students and members in Denver have for many years been a stable support of Nippon Kan’s many domestic and international activities. Homma Kancho wanted to give this opportunity for a special month long practice as a way of showing his appreciation for all that Nippon Kan students do and have done for our community.

For the past 19 years, class fees for attending up to eighteen aikido classes a week at Nippon Kan have remained $50.00 per month. There have never been initiation fees, contract or other fees associated with practice at Nippon Kan. Nippon Kan student staff members who have lost their jobs temporarily are put on a timed scholarship, and all foreign full time exchange students are eligible for yearly full scholarships. Homma Kancho has also worked hard to provide students with an incredibly authentic atmosphere for practice and let’s not forget the refreshments provided by Domo Restaurant!

Homma Kancho also provides Nippon Kan senior staff members and instructors with a monthly $50.00 “communication aide” account per person to use to promote communication with students at Domo Restaurant after practice.

Our wish at Nippon Kan is to offer as many chances and benefits to students to support their practice of Aikido.



Nippon Kan Storm Team Overnight Practice.
August 21-22, 2004


Early morning meditation.

Out of the about sixty children in Nippon Kan’s Children’s Aikido program, about one third of the students have been chosen to be members of the Advanced Children’s class Storm Team. (Special team of role models.)

Fifteen members of the Storm team were chosen for a special over-night practice at Nippon Kan. This was the first time this overnight training has been held. It was so successful there are already plans for next years practice.

With sleeping bags and backpacks, the kids arrived about noon on Saturday. After a rigorous afternoon 3 hour practice, the next challenge for the group was to make their own dinner. On the menu for the evening meal was gyoza (dumplings) and sukiyaki. “If you can’t cook, you cant eat” Homma Sensei warned with a smile as he preceded to demonstrate how to prepare the dumplings for cooking. After finishing a delicious diner, the kids retired to the Nippon Kan Mongolian Ger to watch videos; one on the history of the Founder of Aikido and another about life in Japan for high school students. After the movies was over it was time to retire. The girls stayed in the uchideshi quarters while the guys bedded down in rows of sleeping bags on the dojo mat. As it turned out, all of the ghost stories told had little effect, and everyone seemed to sleep well through the night.

The next morning everyone rose at 6:00 am. After freshening up, a morning meditation practice was led by Homma Kancho. This special practice was followed by garden chores and the making of a traditional Japanese breakfast. After breakfast it was time to head for the hills! In the foothills about 45 minutes west of Denver is a two hour hiking course that leads down to a river and back. It is a fairly strenuous hike, descending straight down the valleys to the river and ascending straight back up. The team set up a communication system from the front of the line to the back to make sure that everyone was aware of loose rocks and dangerous areas. All of the hikers did a great job, and the course was finished in record time.

Afterwards back at the dojo, the parents arrived early where they joined their children for a garden party feast before returning home for what I imagine was a well deserved nap!

This overnight experience for Nippon Kan’s Storm team was put together by myself, with assistance from adult student volunteers Michael Vaughn, John Laverty, Chris Abeyeta and Marjorie Garner. Homma Kancho orchestrated all of the events and personally covered all of the expenses incurred. There was no charge to students for this weekend practice experience.

Many thanks to everyone!
Tom Dammen
Children’s Class Instructor

Making gyoza for dinner.

Sukiyaki dinner

Boys sleep on the dojo mat.

Its past bedtime…

In the Mongolian Ger

Serving breakfast.

Homma Kancho teaches about chopsticks.

On the mountain hike.

On the mountain hike.

On the mountain hike.

Second from left; Tsuyama Shihan, center; Kurobane Shihan, Center right: Homma Kancho.

Tsuyama Sensei was in the Denver area to conduct a Karate seminar, and stopped by to visit Nippon Kan. Tsuyama Sensei is a graduate of Takushoku University where he founded the karate club there. Tsuyama Sensei spent time with Homma Kancho who treated him respectfully to Nippon Kan hospitality.