Team Canada Oita: Japan Training Camp

Select members of Renbu Dojo were involved in the 2018 Team Canada Training Camp in Oita, Japan

Dean Ara: Head Coach, Team Canada
Daisaku Taguchi: Assistant Coach, Team Canada
Eiji Kita: Player, Team Canada

Hosts

Iwamoto-Sensei: Head Sensei Beppu University, Meiho High School, Komyoukan Dojo
Kugimiya-Sensei: Komyoukan Dojo

Guests Senseis
Kasatani-Sensei: Head of Oita Police
Kawakami-Sensei: Asst Head Sensei Kokushikan University

Daily Report

Feb 17th – Toronto group/Vancouver group depart for Haneda on separate flights
Feb 18th – Both groups arrive at Haneda in the evening. Stay overnight near the airport
Feb 19th – Arrive into Oita in the late morning. Met by the hosts at the airport. 1.5 hr drive back to the city. Arrangements have been made for the women to the home. The men sleep in the dojo (Komyoukan Dojo). Late practice at Komyoukan Dojo with Oita Police, High School, Oita guests and Dojo members. Dinner hosted by Kugimiya-Sensei
Feb 20th – Start of “Kan Geiko” (early morning practice) at Beppu University with university and high school members. Players up at 5:00 am. Practice started at 6:50 ending at 8:30. Early afternoon practice with Beppu University. Mostly shiai geiko. Evening welcome party hosted by Beppu University
Feb 21st – Kan Geiko, late morning shiai with Oita police members, afternoon training session with Kawakami-Sensei
Feb 22nd – Kan Geiko, afternoon keiko led by Kasatani-Sensei, late afternoon keiko with Beppu University led by Asst Head Sensei Abe-Sensei
Feb 23rd – Kan Geiko, late morning keiko, 3 hr drive (one way) to bogu mfg shop in Miyazaki Prefecture, an evening party hosted by Komyoukan Parents and dojo supporters
Feb 24th – Kan Geiko, late morning keiko. Evening keiko at Komyoukan Dojo with Oita Police, high school, Oita guests and Dojo members
Feb 25th – Final Kan Geiko, Tour of Yufuin Shopping District, mud onsen and karaoke party
Feb 26th – Depart for home. Hosts drive us to airport

Personal Overview

Komyokan Dojo – Where the men stayed and practices with the high school, university and police athletes.

View

Class

Dojo

Group

Practice

Signs

Panorama

Coaching

Team Canada Coaching Staff

Left to right

Daisaku Taguchi (Renbu Dojo)
Ray Murao (Steveston Dojo)
Dean Ara (Renbu Dojo)
Eddy Yamashita (Etibicoke Dojo)

Captains

Eiji Kita with Mizuno, Captain of the Beppu University Team

Practice

Kids Practice at Komyokan Dojo

Home

Kids getting ready to go home

Oita TV

Dean Ara, being interviewed by Oita TV and press

Beppu

Practice at Beppu University

Dinner

Dinner hosted by the supporters and members of Komyoukan Dojo

Speech

Speech by Daisaku Taguchi

Speech by Eiji Kita

Speech by Dean Ara

Meeting with the Executive Director of the Oita Kendo Federation, Shoichi Abe Hanshi 8 Dan

Team Canada Women’s Team receiving coaching from the head sensei of Beppu University, Takamitsu Iwamoto

Welcome party held by Beppu University

Newspaper article in the Oita Godo Newspaper about Team Canada’s training camp.

It stemmed from friendship: Dean Ara and Takamitsu Iwamoto were high school friends at PL Gakuen in Osaka Kendo. And from there, Ara asked if the Team Canada could join the training camp with the university students.