KAMINARIKAN News Digest — Q1 2019

Andrew represented KAMINARIKAN on Radio Sputnik, taking part in a live broadcast discussing the enduring legacy of the 47 rōnin and the samurai spirit in the modern world — including its presence in Russia. It was an unusual but welcome opportunity to share Japanese culture and martial arts with a wider audience. The discussion explored the nature of martial valour and honour, the relationships between people in medieval Japan and how these concepts have permeated modern Japanese life and beyond. We were grateful to the radio station for the invitation and hope to continue sharing our passion through such platforms in future.

We hosted the second atarashi naginata seminar in Moscow, led by Daria Litunenko, President of the Russian Naginata Association. Two intensive days of technique drills and keiko with participants from across Russia left everyone deeply inspired. Practitioners worked on various techniques and learned to apply them in keiko, with the seminar flying by all too quickly. We're grateful to the Hebikan kendo club for their help in organising, and we're already looking forward to the third seminar, which will once again be hosted by KAMINARIKAN.

Ann and Andrew, both members of the Moscow regional kendo team, received an invitation from the Russian Kendo Federation to join a national team training camp led by A. Magnushevsky and V. Petrov. Two days of intense, exhausting practice in a Moscow region training complex offered a valuable change of partners. They encountered old friends and made new ones, stood against unfamiliar opponents and observed new techniques and approaches to kendo. Much lies ahead, but it was an invaluable experience that will inform their continued development.

A proud moment for the club: Andrew and Ann both claimed silver in their respective individual competitions at the Moscow Regional Championships. These results secured their places at the Russian National Kendo Championships later in the year — a tremendous achievement and a call to even harder work. Their success is a testament to their dedication and a source of inspiration for the entire club. We wish them every success as they prepare for the national championships ahead.

Our team travelled to St Petersburg for the annual kendo seminar led by instructors from the Finnish Kendo Association (the FKA): Mikko Salonen (nandan kyoshi), Kari Ruuhilahti (rokudan renshi) and special guest Evgeny Andreev (rokudan) from France. As always, the seminar was physically demanding but a genuine celebration of kendo, offering a feast of high-level instruction and spirited keiko. Excellent organisation from the Shiten kendo club and the St Petersburg Kendo Association made the event a pleasure to attend. We also took the opportunity to enjoy St Petersburg's famous culinary scene — the Chinese restaurant Tan Zhen being a particular highlight. We'll be back next year with an even larger group!

A milestone for our naginata section: Maxim, Andrew and Ann successfully passed their first grading, achieving 5th kyū in atarashi naginata. The examination took place alongside the St Petersburg seminar, allowing our members to combine two significant events in one trip. We extend our sincere gratitude to Daria Litunenko for her patience, guidance and for making this opportunity possible. We are committed to developing naginata in Moscow and will continue to build on this foundation, offering more grading opportunities and training sessions for our growing naginata community.

March brought a truly special event: a seminar with Sumi Masatake sensei, a living legend of modern kendo and a master fencer, held in Moscow from 15–17 March in conjunction with the VI Russian-Japanese Friendship Cup. The seminar was offered free of charge, welcoming kenshi of all levels to learn from one of the most respected figures in the kendo world. Friday evening training took place at the Shogun club, followed by a full day of instruction on Saturday at the Bauman MSTU sports complex, culminating in the Cup on Sunday.

KAMINARIKAN fielded competitors across multiple categories — men's dan, women's dan, men's teams and mixed kyū. We were especially delighted to see our clubmate Yura Nesterov claim a well-deserved bronze in the men's dan category. It was a weekend of exceptional kendo, camaraderie and inspiration, and one we hope to repeat in future years.

The 2nd Central Federal District Championships took place in Ivanovo, and despite the cold weather outside, the atmosphere in the hall was fiercely competitive. Andrew and the Moscow men's team took gold, while Ann claimed individual women's gold — a double triumph for KAMINARIKAN. Our good friend Ivan Bannikov fought valiantly for silver in the individual men's competition, and the Moscow women's team took silver in the team event. It was a remarkable end to a busy and successful quarter, and a clear sign of the club's growing strength on the national stage.