July 2005 Volume III Issue 7

A place where ancient traditions thrive

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu
A century of Kendo in Hawaii
Kendo, the way of the Sword, is the art of Japanese Fencing. Kendo is one of the oldest of
the Japanese martial arts and is held in high regard as an important cultural legacy. Kendo has transcended its origins in Japan's feudal past to become a modern martial discipline that instills courtesy,
humility, self-control and fighting spirit through mentally intense and physically rigorous training.
The sword has been a part of Japanese culture and appears in the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki
two of the oldest chronicles of Japanese history. By the end of the 12th century, feudalism had comeof age and dominated Japan for several centuries. With military rule controlling the country, a new
military class and their lifestyle called Bushido gained prominence. Bushido stressed the virtues ofhonor, bravery, loyalty, self discipline andstoical acceptance of death. The next great
advance in the martial arts occurred during thelate Muromachi period (1336-1568) . This
period of civil wars brought an increased demand and respect for men trained in the martial arts. Consequently, many schools of Kenjutsu arose, eventually numbering about 200.
Each was taught by a famous swordsman
Rev. Kunisuke Sakai, 4th Guji ofthe shrine taken on May 25, 1929 whose techniques earned him honor in battle.
Real blades or hardwood swords without protective equipment were used in training resulting in many injuries. Theseschools continued to flourish through the Tokugawa period (1600-1868).
Kendo began to take its modern appearance during the late 18th
August 26, 1928: Prince Takamatsu (center in uniform) with the Jaapanese
century with the introduction of protective equipment: the men, kote andImperial Navy training fleets
do and the use of the shinai, a bamboo sword. The use of the shinai andprotective armor made possible the full delivery of blows without injury. This forced the establishment of new regulations and practice formats which set the foundation of modern Kendo.
Kendo suffereda great decline with the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The Samurai class was abolished and the wearing of swords in public outlawed.
Interest in Kendo was revived in 1887 when uprisings against the government showed the need for the training of police officers.
Later the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) again encouraged an awareness of the martial spirit.
Consequently in 1895, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, an organization devoted to Kendo, Kyudo, Judo and Naginata was established.
In 1911, Kendo was officially introduced into the physical education curriculum of middle schools and in 1912, the Nihon
Kendo Kata, a set of regulations for Kendo was published. In 1939 as Japan prepared for war, Kendo became a required course forall boys.
After the war, Kendo
was outlawed by thegovernment and theDai Nippon Buto-ku
Kai was disbanded.
However by 1952, aform of Kendo called
Shinai Kyogi wasintroduced in the
public schools, which
excluded the militaristic and rougher aspects
of prewar Kendo.
Circa 1915 Middle left: Dr. Umekichi Asahina
Back: 2nd from right Yonematsu Sugiura, 3rd Shuji MikamiFirst Youth Kendo Taikai sponsored by the Oahu Renmei
Butokukai held at Kotohira Jinsha’s Renbujo on November27, 1935

Continued on Page 3

MAHALO SUPPORTERS
for your generous donations
Lance & Tomoe Au
Toshiko Fujisaki
Bob HaradaHawaii Senbukan
Nobuo Hayashi
Arthur Horio
Kyoko Isa
Dean Kagawa
James & Melba Kurashige
Ernest & Chiyoko Lau

Yoshiro & Mihoko Mishima
Roy Morioka
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Pat & Jeanette Nakata
Axel Obara
Edna Sakurai
Robert & Miyono Shimoda
Toyama-ken Jinjacho
Masaki Yamashita
Steven & Nobue Yoshida

Hatsumiya Mairi or Baby Blessing is
an ancient tradition for those who have been blessedwith the miracle of a child.
It is a special ritual that allows the newparents to convey appreciation to their ancestors andspirits of the land for the birth of their child and to
express their wishes for the child to become goodnatured, kind hearted, true of spirit, respectful of all
around and lead to their inner strengths to find theirown path in life.
Male infants usually visit a shrine on the 31st
day and girls on the 33rd day after birth. Since aninfant's immune system is delicate, it is best to consult
with your physician as to when your baby is able toventure outside of the home.

Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha－Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit church.
All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Honolulu Then….
The famous Queen’s Surf Restaurant and Barefoot
Bar in Waikiki was the most popular restaurant-nightclub in
the 1950s and 1960s and home to legendary local performers
Sterling Mossman and Kui Lee. It was demolished in 1971 to
make way for park improvements.
In ancient times, there were two heiau located on theshoreline in this area. One was Kupalaha, which functionedin connection with the famed Papa'ena'ena heiau, where it isbelieved the last human sacrifice was made by Kamehameha
I in Waikiki.
The other heiau was Makahauna, near the foot of
Diamond Head, which was dedicated to Kanaloa, the godof the Seas and revered by fisherman and seamen.

Congratulations to Yoshiro & Mihoko Mishina
on the birth of their first child, Sara.

SHRINE CALENDAR
AUGUST 八月
6

8:30 am
Clean-up & Festival Preparations 掃除と準備

7

10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Education Blessing Festival 学業成就

14 3:00 pm
Tsukinami-sai Monthly Service 月次祭28 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Kapahulu Community Center Bon DanceContinued from Page 1
The First recorded demonstration of Kendoin the U.S. was given by a Japanese delegation in1860. As Japanese immigration increased, Kendogrew as a part of religious and social organizations.
Despite several public demonstrations, kendo
remained obscure for the next twenty years due toa combination of the expense of equipment and thelack of teachers.
In 1924, the Seattle Kendo Kai obtained apermanent home, and by 1940, Kendo had spreadthroughout the West Coast with over 10,000practitioners in sixty dojos and 6 federations.
The first government contracted immigrants Back: Chûichi Furuyama, Torao Higuchi, Shigeo Yoshinaga, Yoshiharu Mikami, Kôichi
Yasumitsu, Akeji Kozaki, Eddie Hall, Kazuma Furukawa, Shûji Mikami, Kanji Motoshige,
to Hawaii from Japan arrived in 1868. They brought
Iyetoshi Takahashi Middle second from right: James Tamura
with them the art ofKendo to the islands. The Kendoists at the time were actual Samurai or students of Samurai teachers,
so their technique was more of thrusting and cutting with a real Japanese sword, katana. In the1880's, the immigrants were reported to have demonstrated these arts for King David Kalakaua. Ayear after the Sino-Japanese War (1895), a tournament was held on Oahu.
Hanzaemon Furuyama came to Hawaii in 1902 as an official Kendo teacher for the immigrants. Kendo became a requisite grade school curriculum in Japan in 1911 to help children develop
physically and morally. In Hawaii, early in the twentieth century, legendary teachers like Yonematsu
Sugiura and Shuji Mikami united the Kendoists into Hawaii Kobu Kai. By 1940, when the Hawaii
branch of Dai Nippon Butoku Kai opened, Kendo was taught at the many Japanese schools and Dojo
throughout the U.S. There were some 3,500 participants at a Taikai tournament that year.
Rev. Kunisuke Sakai, practitioner of theItto-ryu style of Kendo arrived from Yamaguchiken in 1916 and became Guji of Lahaina Dai
Jingu on Maui from 1937 until his deportation in1945. He returned after the war on October 7,
1957 and became the fourth Guji or Chief Priest
Rev. Sakai, Yuji Oasa, Susumu
Fukagawa in 1930of Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha on August 15, 1959.
The shrine encouraged the practice of traditionalarts and built a sumo dohyo and Renbujo training hall in 1936 to accommodate
the growing popularity of sumo, kendo, karate and other Japanese martial arts.
Kendo was banned in Hawaii in 1941 at the onset of World War II, but
Mikami Dojo re-opened in Kapahulu soon after the war in September of 1945.
The Hawaii Budo Kyokai was established in 1947 with Shinichi Sugitaya as its
first president. It was renamed as Hawaii Kendo Federation (HKF) in 1955 withMikami Dojo in Kapahulu in 1951. Sensei Shigeo Yoshinaga
Ietoshi Takahashi as its first President, then it became an affiliate of AJKF instanding in the back row on the far right.
1959. Long time
shrine member, Shigeo Yoshinaga also served as President of HKF. Mr.
Terushi Ueno now serves as the President with about 400 registeredmembers practicing Kendo and Iaido at various Dojo on the islands ofOahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui.
The International Kendo Federation (IKF) was organized in
1970, becoming independent of AJKF in 1972. It became an affiliateorganization of IKF in 1988. Every three years since 1970, the World
Kendo Championships are held where Kendoists from all over the world
gather to demonstrate their skills.
Acknowledgements: Most of the information in this narrative came fromthe Hawaii Kendo Federation website. Photos courtesy of Sensei Dick
Teshima of the Hawaii Kendo Federation 50th Anniversary committee.
Grand Masters of Kendo in Hawaii (from left): Sensei Akagi,
Sensei Konishi, Sensei Okaji and Sensei Yoshinaga

Welcome to Hawaii - Toyama-ken Jinja-cho Toyama-shi ShibuJinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines) , formed in 1946 consists ofapproximately 80,000 Shinto shrines with a mission to guide the member shrines inaspects of administration, to preserve traditional Shinto rituals and festivals and tocontribute in establishing everlasting world peace.
Jinja Honcho also has subsidiary offices or Jinjacho in each prefecture forlocal development. Member shrines of the Toyama-ken Jinjacho, Toyama-shi Shibu
held a special service at the Neal Blaisdell Park on Saturday, June 11 in honor of thesoldiers and civilians of both countries who died during the December 7, 1941 attack
on Pearl Harbor. Members also visited the shrine after a stop at the Kaneohe Marine
Base and the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Sensei Takizawa with members of the Toyama-ken Jinjacho Toyama-shi Shibu

Asahi-no-Mai performedby one of the priests

Volunteers Kyoko Isa, Fumiko Nishimura &Bob Harada

Diamond Head Lions ClubThe Lions club is a group that comes together and shares a common interest incommunity service, supporting the Lions motto "We Serve."
There are nearly 1.4 million members of Lions clubs in 193 countries and is theworld's largest service organization with numerous chapters in Hawaii.
Lions Club members experience a network of people who share common interests
and a commitment to service that makes an impact on the local community. The Lions Club
instills pride in commitment, offers opportunities for personal growth and leadership throughmentoring and training programs, fellowship with worldwide members at International
Convention and exchange programs.
Mahalo Diamond Head Lions Club for your donation andparticipation in the shrine’s Pet Blessing Festival.
For more information on membership, contact David Leong, President ofthe Honolulu Diamond Head Lions Club at 833-1633 or Bob Haradaat 383-9383.

Shawn Nakano working the club’s
Shave Ice booth at the shrine’s PetBlessing Festival

Local Kine Grindz - Saimin
Saimin is a food developed in and unique to Hawaii. Inspired byJapanese udon and Chinese mein, saimin was developed during Hawaii's
plantation era. It is a soup dish of soft wheat egg noodles served in hot
shrimp stock. Unlike udon, saimin noodles contain eggs and tend tocrinkle when cooked. It is garnished with green onions, Chinese mustard
cabbage, kamaboko, char siu, sliced SPAM and nori among other additions. Chinese wun tun, are usually added for special occasions. Saimin
is composed of two Chinese words (細麵):sai, meaning thin and mein,
meaning noodle. Saimin is recognized as the “state dish” of Hawaii,
taking into consideration the various historic and cultural significances
Wun tun min from Palace Saimin in Kalihi
of its creation. The dish is composed of elements taken from each of theoriginal sugarcane and pineapple plantation laborer ethnicities: Chinese,Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian and Portuguese.
As plantation laborers returned home to their families at night, each family
would begin cooking dinner. Sometimes, such meals became communal as a meansof saving money. Every family would offer an ingredient they were able to spare. The
Filipino family might have some extra green onions growing in their yard, thePortuguese family might have leftover sausage, the Hawaiian family's chickens might
have laid a couple extra eggs, the Korean family might have won bok unused frommaking kimchee. They would all throw their ingredients into the pot and share. It wasthrough these communal meals that “Pidgin” was developed so they could all understand one another, borrowing words and phrases from each others' language andBBQ sticks are a must with saiminpiecing them together. In some ways, saimin gave birth to Hawaii's notoriety as ahaven of multicultural harmony today.
Saimin was first popularized as a fast food dish at Honolulu Stadium on King and Isenberg streets. As local
residents watched Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio or their favorite high school football teams, fans rushed to the snack standsfor a warm bag of boiled peanuts and a cup of hot saimin. For the first time, hot dogs and hamburgers were beat out at anAmerican ballpark as the choice spectator snack.
The types of places in Hawaii where saimin is served today is a testament to the popularity of the dish and its
importance to the local residents. Only in Hawaii is saimin served at all sporting venues alongside hot dogs andhamburgers, at popular national fast food chains like McDonald's and Jack in the Box. A healthy alternative to mostschool meals, many public schools offer saimin as a regular option.
McDonald's, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, became alerted of the saimin phenomenon in the islands in the late1960s. Maurice Sullivan, legendary owner of Foodland
Super Market purchased and opened the first McDonald's
restaurant in Hawaii in 1968 at his grocery store. Sullivan
wanted to serve his favorite meal, saimin at his McDonald's
restaurants knowing all too well that his restaurants would
boom with its introduction to the menu.
Sullivan invited owner Ray Kroc and executives
from MacDonald's corporation for dinner at Washington
Saimin and Boulevard Saimin. That night, Sullivan
convinced Kroc to expand Macdonald's menu for the firsttime in its corporate history to include an ethnic dish.
Researchers worked extensively with Washington
Saimin to develop a recipe for McDonald's Hawaii.
Sullivan secured deals with a local saimin noodle factory,
fishcake supplier and Aji-No-Moto, to manufacture a
special soup base. Saimin is today one of McDonald's
Hawaii restaurant's most popular menu items.
Palace Saimin on North King Street across the Kapalama Post OfficeDazaifu Tenmangu
Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine,
main shrine of over 6,000 Tenmangu
shrines in Japan is dedicated to thegreat scholar and statesman, Sugawara
Michizane, who died in the year 903
and subsequently became revered as adeity because of great wisdom andcharacter.
Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka is now a placeof pilgrimage for students and those in education,
culture and the arts, especially calligraphy.
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu was established in
1959 as a legitimate branch of Dazaifu Tenmangu
Fukuoka and welcomes students of all ages andeducators to join us in this special Education BlessingFestival.
学問の神さま、菅原道真公を祀る天満宮
では、学業成就・受験合格の祈願を年間を通じて受け付けています。
御本殿に上がり祈願祭を受けるのが正式ですが、時間的余裕のない方のために８月7日てんじんさん学業成就を執り行います。
どなたもご自由にご参列いただけますのでお気軽にお出かけください。

Education Blessing Festival

てんじんさん学業成就
August 7, 2005
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Back to School season is a time filled with
capturing the last days of summer, assembling schoolsupplies, coordinating new wardrobes and adjusting to
new schedules. This is a time that brings about avariety of emotions for parents, teachers and students
as a new school year begins.
Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha – Hawaii Dazaifu
Tenmangu offers a special blessing seeped in ancient
tradition honoring students of all ages so they may
enjoy learning, take delight in new discoveries andpersevere in their studies.
The blessing will include a thanksgiving for theopportunity to learn and a thanksgiving for all teachers
who inspire and help us to learn..
Receive a complimentary blessing any time
between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Reservations are notrequired.

神社ではてんじんさん学業成就の祈願用紙を本殿の御内陣にお納めし、朝夕に祈願祭を斎行し、勉学の上達・健康を御祈り致します。予約は不要です。

We need your kokua
For those who would like to volunteer to help out in this special event, the follow
opportunities are available:
Clean up and Preparations - Saturday, 8/6/05 8:30 am
Day of the event - Sunday 8/7/05 8:00 am
Greeters, concierge, omamori booth, traffic control, take down and clean up

For more info, please call Axel Obara at 721-2935 or Bob Harada at 383-9383