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	As I want to concentrate on my own life now, I won't attend Soke's classes for an undetermined period. If you have anything related to the Hombu Dojo or the Office (your orders etc.), please contact the Office directly. (My email address is not shown on this site now.)
Translation	If you have an English document that I can translate into Japanese, please contact me via my bulletin board or Facebook. The fee is 10 yen / word (unless the document is too much complicated). I'll send you a bill via PayPal afterward.

2011

Mar. 1st

Hombu/Ayase schedule. (Japanese version)
All the evening classes by Soke start at 19:00.

2010

Dec. 9th

The theme for 2011 seems to be "Kihon Happou", but Soke uses different Kanji as usual, and we still have no idea as to what it actually means.

Ki	hon	Hap	pou
き	ほん	はっ	ぽう
季	翻	初	萌

Dec. 3rd

The DKMS 2010 was a great success.
Thank you very much!

Sep. 4th

武術家としての人生 / Life as martial artist (Video clips of Soke, filmed by MEMORO on Aug/17/2010)

PART①武術を始めたきっかけ / The first encounter with martial arts
PART②高松先生との出会い / Meeting with Takamatsu Sensei
PART③世界に武道を広める / Introducing martial arts to the world
PART④次の時代に伝えること / A message to the next generations
PART⑤武術とアート / Martial arts and Arts
PART⑥戦争について / About the war
PART⑦武術と動物 / Martial arts and Animals

2009

Dec. 19th

The theme for 2010 is "Rokkon Shoujou (禄魂笑浄)". Please prepare a Tachi because it is the main weapon for 2010.

May 2nd

Please stay away from the Dojo if you are sick.
(It doesn't matter at all how much money you have spent to get to Japan.)

Feb. 1st

You can drink water, tea etc. to supply the body with water at Ayase. But please do it outside the Tatami area.

Jan. 31st

Please don't wear Jikatabi when you practice on Tatami. Jikatabi is only for outdoor use. Please know that "Jika" means "direct (on the ground)".
If you don't have indoor Tabi, you can wear socks. Bare feet are OK, too.

As always, the Hombu Office has a lot of backlogs. We feel very sorry about the incovenience it causes.
And I like to ask students not to blame their instructors for the delay, because it is not their fault as long as the orders have been already placed.
Thank you very much for your understanding and great patience.

Jan. 14th

If you are wondering how you can donate funds for the new Hombu Dojo, please scroll down and find my old post dated June 29th of 2003 (2nd from the bottom). It is still valid.

Jan. 11th

Soke said, "Please buy DVD's and watch them repeatedly. Same about my books. You can study Waza through them. Here at my class, please study something beyond Waza."
(Yes, this is my summary.)

One more thing.
Soke also said, "I used Kokoro at first, but I decided to use Tamashii instead, because I think Tamashii is unchangeable (and therefore essential to the person) while Kokoro changes very often."

Jan. 7th

An addition to the theme for 2009.
Soke wants us to study rope as well as Ken (sword) this year.
(And because "no theme" means "limitless", I strongly suggest everyone try to review all the contents they can study in the Bujinkan.)

(Once again)
The Sunday morning class (starting at 9:00) will be taught by the Shitennou (Nagato/Noguchi/Oguri/Senou) in turn.
(Please don't ask me when each teaches. You are expected to attend the class whichever of the four Shihans teaches it. Read the "Jun. 19th" post below for better understanding.)
In addition, the administration of the 9:00 class (collecting training fees, taking care of candles, making tea etc.) has to be done by someone (other than me) under the supervision of the Shihan because I'm expected to be in charge of Soke's classes only. I'll attend only Soke's classes from this year on.

2008

Dec. 7th

We asked Soke about the theme for 2009 at Hombu today. He answered "No theme." and added that we should practice Ken (sword) much more because we are not very good at it in comparison with Taijutsu.

Here is a related comment by Mark Lithgow (the main interpreter at Soke's Sunday class).

Today, Soke talked about 3 things which are important for a martial artist. These 3 things may be thought of as a kind of 'Sanshin'. He said that these things were going to become a bit of a theme for next year.

They are:

1) Sainou (Ability/talent)
2) Kokoro (Heart)
3) Utsuwa (Capacity)

While the first 2 are quite clear, the third one deserves a little attention and clarification.

The main meaning of the word 'utsuwa', its first definition in the dictionary, is 'container/receptacle/vessel'. A secondary meaning, however, is concerning a person's capacity or potential. My dictionary has the examples of:

"Utsuwa no ookii." (a person of high caliber).
"Daitouryou ni naru utsuwa dewa nai." (He [doesn't have what it takes / isn't cut out] to be president. / He is not of presidential caliber [stature])

So utsuwa can mean 'caliber', to have 'potential', basically to have the 'right stuff'.

But if we look at the basic meaning again - 'container', we can take it in an interesting direction. Fish, plants etc. will only grow to the size of the container which they are in. Their growth is limited by the size of their container. Humans too have a 'limit' to their potential. If their utsuwa is small, they can never grow bigger than its limits. Having a large utsuwa/capacity is maybe what Soke is trying to say.

So, ability, heart and a capacity for growth is important for a martial artist. That is how I interpret what he was talking about today.

Mark Lithgow

Duncan's blog has two relevant entries, Nouryoku Kokoro Utsuwa and Sainou Shin Ki.
Doug's blog has an entry, Happy New Year-2009 Trailer.

Nov. 18th

Soke told us last Sunday that you (as the instructor) should say "Chihayaburu Kamino Oshiewa Tokoshieni Tadashiki Kokoro Mio Mamoruran" as well when you do "Shikin" at your class.
(NOTE -- Some people seem to be worrying about what kind of "Kami" it is etc., but IMHO the point is Soke wants us to have happy and safe training. -- Added on 23rd)

Oct. 22nd

Please don't bring real knives into Japan.

Jul. 13th

The Art Of The Ninja Soldier (by CBS)

Jun. 19th

Soke said the following at Hombu last Sunday.

"When you are in Japan, please attend as many classes by Nagato / Noguchi / Oguri / Senou Shihan as you can. Not a very good idea to study under only one of them, because each has different characteristics. The more, the better. If you train only with me, you won't understand this Budo."

Please follow his advice.

[rant] And IMHO, most visitors need more Kihon as well. If you can't even copy what is demonstrated in front of you, how can you practice it? I know those who aren't good at it tend to prefer practicing something different than expected. That's why they can't be better in spite of their enthusiasm (or BECAUSE of it -- this is another example of "the road to hell"). What a vicious circle! [/rant]

2007

Dec. 11th

Next year, please bring a Ninjatou, (9?) Semban shurikens, a pair of Shukous, a Kyoketsu-shoge, a length of rope etc.

Dec. 6th

The theme for 2008 is Togakure-ryu.
(Soke said "The theme for this year is Ninpo." today -- added on Jan. 6th, 2008)

2006

Dec. 5th

(almost forgotten to tell you) The theme for 2007 is Kukishin-ryu. Please bring your Rokushakubo, swords etc.

2005

Dec. 4th

The theme for the year 2006 is Shizen (nature), and we study it through Shinden Fudo Ryu (Ken and Taijutsu).

2004

Jan. 25th

We had a Shidoshi-kai meeting.

The Takamatsu monument is completed.
A new building is completed near Soke's house. This is used as our community center. We can watch DVDs and videos there.
We'll have 2 Embu-kai (demos). One at Ayase on Oct. 11th, the other in Noda on Dec. 5th.
Japanese shouldn't teach abroad for the moment even if invited.
We should regard our Budo as a kind of World Treasure.
This year's theme is Roppou-Kuji-no Biken. We'll learn long weapons next year.
A new DVD is coming out soon. It'll introduce Soke's paintings, Takamatsu-sensei's paintings and Denshos.
Take care of your health.

(There were some other things too.)

2003

Jun. 29th

Soke has decided to start collecting money to build a new Dojo. The Dojo will not be for Soke himself, but for the whole Bujinkan. If you can make a donation, please send it to the Hombu Office (you can do it regardless of the amount, your rank etc.). The names of the donators will be recorded and kept forever.
(Please spread this information to people around you.)

Please send your donations in cash (yen) or 'international money order'.

Bujinkan Dojo Hombu
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi

636 Noda, Noda City
Chiba Ken, Japan
278-8691

Tel : (04)7122-2020
Fax : (04)7123-6227

Mar. 9th

From what Soke told us at the Shidoshi-kai meeting. (Sorry for my poor English.)

The Bujinkan is worldwide and everyone's Budo is often influenced by their own thoughts, religions, lifestyles and so on. Indeed this can not be avoided completely, but everyone should be careful not to misunderstand the essence of our Budo.
Please obey the rules of the Bujinkan. We can help one another with this.
Lots of people seem to be interested in old documents like Amatsu Tatara. But according to what Soke was taught by Takamatsu Sensei, the most important things for us are 'Magokoro (sincerity, true heart)', 'Bufuu Ikkan' and 'Budouka-no Kokoro',
We have 1800 Shidoshi including 200 Judan (and above) now.
Sometimes people are promoted prior to their actual achievements in Budo. Especially those who manage to come to Japan from distant countries can be treated in this manner. Soke was given the Sokeship in this way too.
After the two Taikais we have this year, Soke will make it a rule not to go abroad to teach. This does not mean Soke's retirement. As you can still train under him at the Hombu and Ayase classes, please do so if you have any chance. (Please understand that everyday is more important for Soke and his wife than ever because they are already over 70 years old. -- Ohashi)

In addition, I hear that Soke's wife was asked by several people if Soke was still alive or not (!!) because of the 'rumor'. I would like everyone to ask me or others who train here Hombu/Ayase before bothering Soke and his wife with such a thing.