Battlehill Judo Club

Current 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 1999

Japan Trip 13th to 29th October 2007

Our Journey Begins with one for the road (or plane) at Newcastle Airport.

Konan University

We had an invitation to train at the dojo of Professor Yamasaki 7th Dan, in Konan University. Yamasaki Sensei is a very well respected judo teacher in Japan, who had attended Newcastle University some sixteen years ago.

The training was excellent, and we built up a great rapport with the students whom were most gracious, very disciplined and demonstrated impeccable Judo.

Kodokan

We spent our time in Tokyo at the Kodokan, the original Judo School established by Jigaro Kano in 1882. We were somewhat disappointed that there was no actual Judo training, but were content taking part in a 2 hour randori session, which on the Wednesday consisted of approx 250 Judoka.

Himeji Bodokan

We were invited to view The All Japan Masters Kata and Judo tournaments in Hemeji Bodokan.

The Kata tournament consisted of Nage no Kata, Ju no Kata, Itsitsu no Kata, Kime no kata and Kateme no kata. The Judo tournament included Master Judoka from 30 to 84 years of age.

Dai Nippon Butoku Kai

The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai was originally established in Kyoto Japan 1895 under the authority of the Ministry of Education and the endorsement of His Royal Highness, Meiji Emperor to solidify, promote, and standardize martial disciplines and systems throughout Japan. It was the first official and premier martial arts institution sanctioned by the government of Japan. The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai subsequently became the centre for the proud heritage and elitism of Japanese Budo. It stressed the martial virtues of Samurai warrior and incomparable historical excellence in martial disciplines.

The Butoku Kai had many eminent Judo Masters before WWII, including Haku Michigami Sensei and Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Dubai

We had the opportunity to stop in Dubai for two days on route to Japan.

Kobe

Himeji

Kyoto

The Kinkaku or the Golden Pavilion began in 1397 when Ashikaga Yoshimitusu abdicated in favor of his son and built this villa as a retreat. Upon his death the Golden Pavilion itself became a Zen temple, renamed Kinkakuji. The temple was destroyed during a civil war in 1467, rebuilt, and destroyed again in 1567, then in 1950 a novice monk, detracted from religious concentration, and burned it to the ground! It was rebuilt in 1957 and renovated in 1987. The Golden Pavilion takes its name from the second and third stories, which are gilded inside and out with approximately 48kg of gold.

Nijo Castle, the exquisitely decorated seat of power of the old Tokugawa shoguns. Ninomaru Palace inside the castle complex was built from cypress wood in 1603. Its walls and sliding screens, famously decorated with paintings from the Kano school, are characterized by lavish use of gold leaf and bold-yet-elegant design. The graceful cranes and massive, ancient pine trees depicted on the screens both symbolize longevity, and pheasants represent Japan. The floors were built with special hinge-like metal pieces ("cramps") under each board, so that the smallest amount of pressure on the board's surface created friction between the cramps and the nails holding them in place, causing the floor to creak, or "sing." Why would a powerful shogun commission squeaky floors? To protect him from menacing Ninja intruders in the middle of the night, of course!

Tokyo

Steve Blower from GB, and James from Canada whom we met at the Kodokan, navigated us through Roppongi. The area features numerous bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and other forms of entertainment including hostess clubs and cabarets. We ended up at a Thia restaurant the "Mongoose".

Steve had previously trained with Chris some 25 years earlier before he moved to Japan.

Nara

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is built on land surrounding the epicenter of the atomic bomb. There are two museums: one a peaceful dedication to victims and the other a powerful message about the human cost of the terrible weapons unleashed on the city.

Arima

Arima Onsen is a leading onsen resort area in the Kansai region. Kin-no-Yu and various other types of onsen facilities operate open-air baths offering an extensive range of recuperative properties. These baths are indeed rare in the world.

Travel

The Tokaido Shinkansen, connecting most of Japan was inaugurated in 1964 as the first shinkansen line and the world's first high speed train. These trains reach speeds of over 300 km/h and are aptly names the Bullet trains, and they are the best way to travel in Japan!

Bonding

It is extremely easy to get along with most people you meet in Japan, all whom we came into contact with were extremely courteous and very helpful indeed.

Pictured Akitoshi Sogabe and Chris Dawson

Sensei's Dawson and Yamasaki

This was our first steps in Japan, where we were met by Mr Takao Kizuki, whom not only organised our introductions to Konan university and Sensei Yamasaki, but also met us personally at the airport, got us to our hotel, and took us the following day to Konan.

For which we are all eternally grateful.