 |
President of Mongolia and Six Cabinet
Members Visit Nippon Kan
Hitohiro Saito Jukucho, Iwama Shin
Shin Aiki Shuren Kai Tanren Juku, Iwama, Japan, Visits Nippon Kan.
AHAN Monogolian School Named Hope Fundraising Kick-off Seminar
in Aspen, Colorado
Homma Kancho Conducts Mexico Seminar
Tour
Homma Kancho Visits Nicaragua
Used Computers, School Supplies and
Sewing Machine Drive Begins!
Bi-annual Volunteer Project Held in
Conjunction with Denver Parks and National Trails Day
Summer Colorado Japanese Martial Art
Instructors Meeting
Community Awards of Appreciation
President
of Mongolia and Six Cabinet Members Visit Nippon Kan.
July 18th, 2004
Touring Nippon Kan,
the President and First
Lady. |
The President of Mongolia, Bagabandi Natsag,
First Lady Oyunbileg Azadsuren and six top level cabinet officials
visited Nippon Kan
at 7:30 pm. on July 18th. Escorted by Homma Kancho, the President
and his party toured the Nippon Kan facility before settling
down at Nippon Kan’s Domo Restaurant gardens for a banquet
buffet prepared by Homma Kancho and his staff. Leaders from the
Denver
Mongolian Community were also present at this reception for the
President, numbering around fifty. Also joining the delegation
were about twenty members of the Ministry of Defense and the
Foreign Affairs Ministry.
At the reception, Homma Kancho was officially introduced to the
President by the Mongolian Ambassador to the United States, Mr.
Ravdan Bold. Mr. Bold went into detail as he reported the efforts
that Homma Kancho, Nippon Kan and AHAN have made in humanitarian
support for Mongolia. After the introduction, the President spoke
to the assembly about Nippon Kan. “I am aware of your activities
that have worked toward the betterment of the Mongolian Community
here in Denver. I want to thank you personally for your support
of Mongolian seniors in Denver, and your other efforts in bringing
Mongolian culture and heritage to the United States”. The
First Lady also spoke, “I, as well as many, appreciate the
efforts you have made to support the children of Mongolia in need,
we hope you will continue in your support”. The President
then presented Homma Kancho with a large framed photograph of
Asa Shoryu, a Mongolian national who has won the title of Japanese
Sumo Wrestling Champion eight times in Japan.
Another very important visitor, Lama, the highest Buddhist Llama
from Mongolia also accompanied the President on this visit. He
was a gracious guest, and thanked Homma Kancho for a temple restoration
donation that was made by AHAN. He took the time to offer a blessing
at the Nippon Kan dojo shrine, and spent much of his time greeting
Nippon Kan members and members of the Denver Mongolian Community.
The President and the First Lady, finished their dinner, and thanking
Homma Kancho for the delicious meal he had prepared, retired at
about 9:30 pm.
The President arrives at Nippon Kan. |
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The First Lady, Homma Kancho and Emily
Busch, AHAN President standing in front of the Nippon Kan
ger. |
The President and First lady relax in
the ger. Standing: The Mongolian Ambassador to the United
States. |
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The President presents gift
to Homma Kancho. |
The President, First Lady
and Homma Kancho. |
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Choijamts Hamba Lama, Homma Kancho and
Emily Busch, AHAN President |
Choijamts Hamba Llama and Homma Kancho
relax in the ger. |
|
Mongolian Cabinet members in the
Nippon
Kan museum. |
A dinner fit for a…President. |
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Mongolian musicians for the event. |
Domestic
Seminar Reports
Hitohiro Saito Jukucho, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai Tanren
Juku, Iwama, Japan, Visits Nippon Kan.
July 22-26th, 2004
Hitohiro Saito Sensei’s family
after practice. |
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Happy family on vacation! |
On vacation with his family, Hitohiro Saito Sensei came to
Denver this past July. Homma Kancho asked Hitohiro Sensei
if he would
mind teaching for a couple of days while he was here in Denver.
Even with short notice, and minimal advertising, about
eighty people came to join in this special opportunity.
Many of
Hitohiro Sensei’s
direct students from different parts of the United States
also took the opportunity to join in the seminar. Hitohiro
Sensei
was accompanied by his wife Hisako-san, and his three
sons Yasuhiro, Mitsuyoshi, and Harutada. Fighting jetlag,
and
the high altitude,
everyone joined in for this special practice.
The practice was rigorous, but the mood of the seminar
was relaxed and friendly with a family atmosphere. On
Saturday, July 24th,
Hitohiro Sensei’s and his wife Hisako’s 15th
wedding anniversary which was celebrated by all students
with a surprise
cake and gifts. The family, (including Hitohiro Sensei)
had time to see the sites in Colorado, and seemed to
enjoy what
the Rockies
had to offer before they returned to Japan. Hitohiro
Saito Jukucho will be returning to the United States,
October
1st-3rd when
he will be teaching a seminar in Reno, Nevada hosted
by Aikido of
Reno (Vince Salvatore Sensei). Click here for
more information on this seminar.
|
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Hitorhiro Saito Sensei teaching
at Nippon Kan |
 Stephanie
Yap Sensei from Florida and Hitohiro Saito Sensei’s
wife Hisako. |
|
Hitorhiro Saito Sensei teaching
at Nippon Kan |
 Vincent
Salvatore Sensei
from Reno, Nevada. |
|
Saito Sensei presents Homma Kancho
with a framed calligraphy written by his father the
late Morihiro Saito Shihan. |
AHAN Monogolian School Named Hope Fundraising Kick-off Seminar
in Aspen, Colorado.
July 9-11, 2004
By Rick Thomson
Yama Dojo Telluride, Colorado
Discussing AHAN Activities with
Homma Kancho. |
Aikidoka from dojos all over the western slope and
front range of Colorado gathered in Aspen, Colorado
for this unprecedented
event. Myself, and my students traveled five hours
from Telluride, Colorado for this special practice.
This seminar was going
to be
the first seminar taught in Colorado by Homma Kancho,
not hosted by Nippon Kan. I am a Nippon Kan instructor
whose
dojo in Telluride
(Yama dojo) has worked to organize this event with
friends from CMC Aikido and Aspen Aikido who agreed
to host the event.
About
forty five students including seven instructors from
eleven dojos were in attendance.
Having all of these dojos unite was unique in itself,
but as we were soon to find out, this seminar was to
unite a
spirit that
went beyond the scope of any usual seminar.
The purpose of this seminar was to kick-off AHAN’s
fundraising efforts for a School named Hope, in Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia. This
school was chosen by Homma Kancho on a visit to Mongolia
earlier this year as a school in desperate need of
school supplies, computers,
musical instruments and even basic structural requirements
like telephone, and electric wiring. The used computer
drive at Nippon
Kan has begun, and to date over thirty computers
have been collected. Any profits from this seminar
will
go towards
container costs
for shipping the computers and the like to Mongolia.
Before the seminar began, I had a chance to talk
with Homma Kancho about his thoughts for the seminar.
He
reflected, “The
purpose of this seminar is not only to raise money
or gather materials
for the school in Mongolia. It is a good chance to
raise awareness about people and Aikidoka in other
places in
the word and what
conditions are like where they practice. This I think
is very important for all of our future.
Today there are many costly seminars promoted in the
United States that benefit mostly, the instructors.
If we continue
to schedule
seminars where the purpose of the seminar goes beyond
personal gain to that of benefiting others, it might
begin to change
this old school of thought.
If we can do this being an independent organization
without branch dojos, why can’t the larger organizations with many branch
dojos accomplish the same kinds of goals? The only reason they
can’t I can think of is that they don’t.
There are so many seminars these days that are taught
for tremendous personal profit. Instructors speak flowery
words
about the Founder,
but yield little results in personally promoting activities
that achieve the goals the Founder set for us to follow.
If more instructors
move toward raising funds that can help communities,
this will be a positive movement with productive results
for everyone
involved.
One of my current personal goals is to support Aikidoka
in countries less fortunate than the United States
or Japan. What I wish to
help create is a system to make dojos financially
self sufficient.
I want to support the efforts of dojo leaders I have
met in other countries, to help them in their efforts
to build
a solid foundation
for their students. We are laying ground work in
countries where raw materials are less expensive
to support grass
root cottage
industries. Small assemblies that can produce bokken,
jo’s,
hakamas, practice uniforms for Aikidoka here in the
US and other markets; assemblies that can produce
local crafts for
export.
Another idea is to help support a small restaurant
that
could serve as
a foundation for the dojo. This idea is similar to
a monastery that produces cheese or wine, it is a
recipe for dojo survival.
Aikidoka in the United States can do their part by
supporting the production of these products. As long
as you are
not attached to
designer brand names, quality products are available
for much less than what they sold for here. Nippon
Kan, in
efforts to
support
Aikidoka in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia commissioned the
making of weapons cases that were the same quality
as those
sold in the
United States
for $60 to $80 dollars but at half the price. With
this project supported by Nippon Kan students, we
were able
to return
about $25.00 per bag to the Mongolian manufacturers
which goes a long
way toward supporting a dojo’s independence.
We can send a big message and a great deal of support
to
Aikidoka
in underdeveloped
countries by supporting these type of industries,
support that can go a long way in maintaining dojos
and furthering
their stability.
I am very excited to say that soon we will have Iwama
bokken and jo available through AHAN. This project
is sanctioned
by Hitohiro
Saito Sensei as part of his support of AHAN philosophies
and projects.
The development of AHAN and related projects has
become the main mission and focus for the second
half of my
life. I
am proud
to see growing support, especially among young American
Instructors”.
As I sat listening to Homma Kancho, I reflected on
the trips I had accompanied him on as otomo and uke
in the
past two
years. His mission is firm, and so is his commitment
in my eyes.
Our seminar in Aspen raised $1292.00 which will be
donated to AHAN, for shipping container fees for the
used computers
to be sent to
the School Named Hope in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
We did have a special guest visitor at the seminar
in Aspen. Tom Crum Sensei of Wind Star Foundation
fame, stop by to
say hello
to Homma Kancho and to watch practice. In attendance
for this seminar were the dojos listed alphabetically
below.
Thank you
to everyone
for participating in this event. Click here for reflections
on Homma Kancho’s teachings by CMC Aikido at
Aspen Instructor Brad Manosevitz.
Aikido of the San
Juans Pagosa
Springs, Colorado
Aspen Aikido Aspen, Colorado
ASU Aikido Silt, Colorado
Boulder Aikikai Boulder, Colorado
Boulder Ki Aikido Boulder, Colorado
CMC Aikido at Aspen Aspen, Colorado
Eagle River Aikido Eagle River, Colorado
Glenwood Springs Aikido Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Shin Budokai Durango, Colorado
Yama Dojo Telluride, Colorado
 Starting
practice with the basic techniques. |
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Homma Kancho takes of his hakama
to illustrate footwork in weapons practice. |
 Seminar
donations presented to Homma Kancho for AHAN |
|
A visit by Mr.Tom Crum. |
Report On Events Outside of the United States.
Homma Kancho Conducts Mexico Seminar Tour.
June 18th-28th, 2004
In conjunction with Mexico Aikido, Take Musu Aiki,
(Fernando Roman Sensei and Rocio Aguero Sensei) Homma
Kancho
taught a series of
seminars in Mexico to raise awareness for AHAN projects
in Mexico City, Cuautla and Xalapa. This was Homma
Kancho’s
second visit to Mexico this year.
About two hours outside of Mexico City is the town
of Cuautla which was where the first seminar of the
tour was held.
This seminar
was hosted by Instructor Alberto Mansano Sensei and
his wife Rebecca. A total of 120 students attended this
weekend
seminar
which focused
on weapons relations practiced outside under the
sunny skies of Cuautla. Read Homma Kancho’s article about his time in Cuautla
called “Memories of Home; A Visit to Aikido Cuautla Dojo
in Mexico”. Click here.
After the weekend in Cuautla, Homma Kancho and his
entourage made their way back to Mexico City where
Homma Kancho taught
a series
of classes at the Mexico Aikido Dojo. The classes
were arranged by rank this time with about 100 students
total in attendance.
On the third leg of the seminar tour, the group traveled
to the capital city of Vera Cruz; Xalapa, about five
hours from Mexico
City. There, four local dojo instructors joined together
to organize this seminar held at the Xalapa University
Stadium Annex. A total
of about 140 students attended this two day event.
Seminar proceeds were donated through Mexico Aikido
in Mexico City
to the Casa de
la Amistad (click here for related articles
on the Casa de la Amistad).This seminar tour was arranged
by Fernando and
Rocio Sensei. Transportation
was provided by Sr. Jose Alvarez, and translation
services were provided by Wimmer Mendicoa. Many sincere
thanks
to all for their
outstanding hospitality, and special thanks to Cuautla
Instructors Alberto Mansano Sensei, his wife Rebecca,
and all Xalapa
Instructors, especially Gabriel Canovas Saldana Sensei,
Arturo Sensei, Fransisco
Sensei, and Roberto Sensei from Vera Cruz City who
joined this seminar with many of his students.
On this tour, Homma Kancho was accompanied by Nippon
Kan students Diego Rodriguez-Warner who worked very
hard as Spanish
translator
for Homma Kancho, Charles Bland and Marjorie Garner.
Thank you all for your assistance, you did a great
job! Please
click here for
related articles on this trip.
Homma Kancho Visits Nicaragua.
June 29th-July 5th, 2004
Instructor Norman Navarro,
Homma Kancho, The CAU University sports coordinator
and Susan Kinne Sensei. |
After finishing the tour in Mexico,
Homma Kancho flew directly to Nicaragua. This was
his first visit
to
Nicaragua. He went
to teach, to establish new relationships with local
Aikidoka and as
a fact finding mission for possible future AHAN involvement.
Aikido de Nicaragua was founded in the capitol city
of Managua by Susan Kinne Sensei, and is currently
instructed by Norman
Navarro, Instructor at the University of Central
America. Homma Kancho taught
classes for a total attending 150 students that gathered
from different dojos at the University and at two
other small dojos in Managua.
One of the primary purposes of AHAN is the support
of small dojos that have been neglected and are struggling
in underdeveloped
nations. Homma Kancho is firm in his commitment to
dojos
like
the ones he
visited in Nicaragu in many parts of the world. Homma
Kancho returned from Nicaragua excited about future
plans for
AHAN and the dojos
in Managua. Homma Kancho’s first goal in Nicaragua
is to help build a means of support to insure future
survival for these
very dedicated students. Helping start a cottage
industry with local materials or any conceivable
small business can only help
build a dojo foundation that will last. Nicaragua
Aikido pioneer Susan Kinne Sensei is excited about
the prospects of becoming part
of the AHAN network, and is enthusiastic about becoming
a central AHAN Nicaragua representative. Click
here for Homma Kancho’s
article on his time in Nicaragua titled A
Global Gap in the World of Aikido;The story of the
first woman Aikido Pioneer
in Nicaragua.
Community Activity report.
Used Computers, School Supplies and Sewing Machine
Drive Begins!
July 1st, 2004
 This campaign is part of a new project for AHAN.
We expect more but right now we have collected over thirty used computers and
seven sewing machines to send to Mongolia and other
places in need. We began storing the computers as
they were donated in the hallway
leading to the dojo. Now, there is little room to
walk there, and there are more on the way!
Nippon Kan student volunteers are now setting about
the task of organizing and testing all of the computers
to make them
ready
for shipping. They will be sent to the School Named
Hope in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and also to Nicaragua,
Brazil and
other AHAN campaigns.
This will be an ongoing project for Nippon Kan and
AHAN. If you would like to donate a used computer
in working
order, call Nippon
Kan or drop by during regular business hours. Nippon
Kan is a 501 (C) (3) Non-profit
organization. Tax deductible receipts will be available
upon request. Value will be determined by our staff
of computer
experts.
Bi-annual Volunteer Project Held in Conjunction
with Denver Parks and National
Trails Day.
June 5th, 20004
Our Nippon Kan young guys,
combined age 142 years! |
Partnering with the Denver Parks Department for the
fifteenth year, Nippon Kan joined in the Lakewood
Dry Gulch Reclamation
project
to beautify and maintain one of Denver’s creek
trail parks. This project was part of a nation-wide
effort called
National
Trails Day. Our job this year was to clear underbrush,
paint bridges and
playground equipment, and weed about a one-mile stretch
of trail through Denver.
Approximately sixty-five Nippon Kan members ranging
in age from seven to eighty-tw participated in the
day long event.
There were
a variety different jobs so everyone could find a
job that matched their physical abilities and level
of
stamina. It
was interesting
to note that since Nippon Kan students have been
involved in projects with the Denver Parks Department
for over
fifteen years, we now
have a new generation of volunteers who are old enough
to help their parents at these events!
“Becoming a good martial artist, means being a good citizen first”,
is a Nippon Kan motto, and it is projects like these
that help dojo members understand the importance of
relationships in the
community. Many thanks to all students, family members
and friends who pitched in and got the job done!
Many, many thanks
to our
wonderful leader again this year, Nippon Kan Instructor,
Mary Powell.
Nippon Kan Vice Pres Emily,
Denver Parks Coordinator Joan,
City Councilwoman
Rose, Nippon Kan Coordinator Mary and Homma
Kancho. |
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Summer Colorado Japanese Martial Art Instructors
Meeting.
July 14th, 2004
Deputy Counselor General
of Japan at Denver (second from left) Mr. Ikeda
and Colorado Martial Art Instructors. |
The
summer Colorado Japanese Martial Art Instructors
meeting was held at Nippon Kan’s Domo Restaurant
gardens this past July 14th. Special guest at this
meeting was
Mr. Ikeda,
Deputy
Counselor
to the Counselor General of Japan. The group discussed
the state of Martial Arts instruction in Colorado
with the Deputy
Counselor
who himself practiced Aikido while he was a University
student in Japan and still practices as his busy
schedule will allow.
Attending the meeting was Yutaka Yaguchi Sensei (Shotokan
Karate) Sadaharu Kurobane Sensei (Wado Karate), Shuichi
Otaka Sensei (Judo)
Joko Ninomiya Sensei (Enshin Karate),
Hiroyuki Tanabe Sensei, (Wado Karate) and Gaku Homma
Sensei, (Aikido Nippon Kan).
Community Awards of Appreciation.
Minoru Yasui Foundation Inn of Court
June 10th, 2004
The Minoru Yasui Foundation is a well respected organization
made up legal professionals in Denver formed in honor
of human legal
rights activist the late Minoru Yasui. The annual
Inn of Court meeting was held at Nippon Kan’s
Domo Restaurant Gardens on June 10th. Nippon Kan
and Homma
Kancho were
presented with a
plaque of recognition honoring their community service
and humanitarian activities.
Colorado Japan America
Society
July 7th, 2004
Nippon Kan and Homma Kancho were honored by the Japan
America Society for their support of cross-cultural
events on July
7th, 2004.
President of Mongolia
July 18th, 2004
Homma Kancho was presented with a large framed portrait
of Asa Shoryu, (a Mongolian national who has won
the title of
Japanese
Sumo Wrestling Champion eight times in Japan) by
the President of Mongolia at a special reception
held for
the President
and members of his cabinet at Domo Restaurant, July
18th. The President
awarded
Homma Kancho this gift in recognition of AHAN and
Homma Kancho’s
personal contributions in supporting projects in
Mongolia, and in support of the Denver Mongolian
Community.
Mongolian Ambassador to the United States in Washington
D.C.
August 5th, 2004
A plaque was awarded by the Mongolian Ambassador
to the United States to Homma Kancho for the reception
held for the President
of Mongolia on July 18th, and for support of the
Mongolian
community in Denver and in Mongolia.
Closing Footnotes.
*We are a little late getting these articles finished
for the website. Sometimes Nippon Kan has so many
activities that it is difficult
to get caught up! Portions of the articles needed
translation and special research which also takes
a bit of time.
*News of the Mongolian Presidents visit to Nippon
Kan reached Homma Kancho during his visit to Nicaragua.
For only a
three hour visit,
this evening event took many days of organization
and
planning. About ten secret service men and women
came to Nippon Kan
days in advance to “check things out”, which even made Homma
Kancho a bit nervous with all of this attention. When everyone
finally left, Homma Kancho called for a toast and said “I
cannot believe that the President of Mongolia himself was here
to visit Nippon Kan. This was a big even indeed!”.
*Homma Kancho’s visit to Nicaragua was very
valuable to him personally and he has many plans
for visiting
again in the
future.
He had not been back a day before he started making
plans for future AHAN projects Nicaragua and the
special students
he met
there.
*Currently, the used computers for the Mongolian
Support Campaign have taken over the lobby…
*Homma Kancho chose the month of August as a period
of serious, concentrated practice and organized the
August Practice Marathon
Challenge. The dojo has been jammed with students
who took the challenge to attend all eighteen classes
scheduled
and
instructed
by Homma Kancho in August. It is a personal goal
for Homma Sensei to teach this concentrated series
in preparation
for
his busy fall
teaching schedule which begins in September.
|
In
front of dojo. From
left; Fernando Sensei, Alberto Sensei, his wife Rebecca
Sensei and Rocio Sensei.
Practice
in the Cuautla dojo.
Mexico
Aikido dojo in Mexico City; 
On
the road on tour.
Practice
at the first dojo.
Practice
at the second dojo.
Practice
at the third dojo.
