This history is based on the Hawaiian kenshi interviews published through this chronicle, while using a handful of outside sources to provide historical or social context. This history, unfortunately, is not a complete one, however, it is one step closer to achieving a clearer picture of how the art evolved and changed on the Hawaiian … Continue reading Kendo in Hawaii: Abridged
In any situation, context is key to understanding what is currently happening or what has happened. Context is important to a historian as history is a study and a field that deals with change over time and how the perspective on context affects people, ideas, locations, and things. Why am I bringing up context and … Continue reading For Context: Judo and Japanese American Internment
David Yotsuuye began kendo training while he was a Boy Scout under the tutelage of Rod Omoto, Mas Tanabe, and Yosh Tanabe. Picking the art back up while attending the University of Washington, he has not stopped training since. Today, he currently teaches with Jeff Marsten at Bellevue Kendo Dojo. All images provided by David … Continue reading Interview with Kendo Renshi David Yotsuuye: Influential Kenshi in the Pacific Northwest
Cary Mizobe began kendo training later than most, however, his love for the art has remained strong. Starting out at the Torrance Kendo Dojo, he later established his Westside Kendo Dojo in 1987. Today, Mizobe talks about his time training under Chris Mori, Torao Mori’s son, the philosophical side of kendo, and some personal experiences … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Cary Mizobe: Kendo and Life, Part II
Like many American Japanese in Hawaii – as Michael Sone terms many like him – Sone began his kendo training at an early age under his grandfather, Tetsunosuke Sone. Under him, he learned traditional kendo, emphasizing on the virtues one’s character through the use of the sword. Now leading the Mitsune Dojo, Sone took some … Continue reading Interview with Hawaiian Kenshi Michael Sone: A Sone Kendo History of Hawaii Part II
The history of the Obukan Kendo Dojo is an interesting one. After interviewing a few members of the dojo, it seemed appropriate to pen a brief history of the dojo from its first establishment in 1926 to the present day. Officially, the Obukan began teaching kendo in 1926, however, the school has its roots even … Continue reading History of the Obukan Kendo Dojo
Originally written for a History of Genocide course, expanded and presented at a conference in the Spring of 2019 during my graduate career, the following is the second part of an article exploring the role judo played in the Japanese American Internment Camps during the Second World War, specifically the Manzanar Camp in southeastern California. … Continue reading Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part II
Originally written for a History of Genocide course, expanded and presented at a conference in the Spring of 2019 during my graduate career, the following is the first part of an article exploring the role judo played in the Japanese American Internment Camps during the Second World War, specifically the Manzanar Camp in southeastern California. … Continue reading Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part I
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 