Hello again from Noda City. The first half of May was very wet this year. There were several periods with two to three days of continuous rain, then one or two days where it didn't rain as much. It couldn't decide - warm rain, then cold rain. People around here were beginning to speculate that maybe the "rainy season" had come early. They have a separate season for rain here, usually six weeks in the summer. When that's over, the typhoons start passing through. The second half of May was pretty dry. Mostly sunny, sometimes cloudy. Now, it's the end of the month, and it's raining again just to remind us that it is still Japan.

The big event in the news this month was the discovery and arrest of the leader of the group responsible for the gas attacks on the subways of Tokyo in March. Shoko Asahara, the guru leader of the cult "Aum Supreme Truth", was found and apprehended on May 16. That was two weeks ago. So far his only comment has been that a warrior does not have to explain his actions (scary, don't you think?). Some of his henchmen, who were arrested in earlier raids, are beginning to tell stories of various events leading up to, and the actual ordering of, his attacks.

Another matter that is a cause for concern with the authorities here, is the increase in deaths by gun shootings. Japan has always been a country where the general public has been banned from having firearms. Legally, only the military and the police are allowed to possess them. Illegally, the Yakuza (which includes a large part of the criminal population of Japan) have always had access to them. With the present state of the economy in recession, the profits from the Yakuza's "amusement" businesses (drugs, prostitution and gambling) have been considerably lower than usual. As a means of making up some of their losses, gun smuggling has increased and they are now selling guns to the public. As a result, the number of deaths involving firearms is higher than it has ever been in the past. Long standing conditions are rapidly changing here in Japan. As the conditions here become more like those of other places in the world, is it possible that our martial art will eventually be recognized as having usefulness even in the country of its birth? We shall see as only time will tell...

Lately, there have been some changes in the Bujinkan as well. Hatsumi Sensei has announced the change of his Bugyo [martial name]. Originally it was Byakuryu, which means "white dragon." Most recently, he has been referred to as Tetsuzan, which means "iron mountain." The new name that he has taken is Hisamune. He explained that it is made up of the characters from Takamatsu's names and the character of So from soke. His reasons for the change is that Tetsuzan represents an image of strength - which is fine for a younger man, but as Sensei gets along in years (he's now in his 60's) he feels that a softer image and one that relates to nature and naturalness is much more appropriate at this time. I can't help but note, that one of the ideas from our art is to act or move appropriately to deal with an opponent's attack. It has started me thinking...

Another change that Sensei has made recently is on the ranking certificates. For the last couple of years he has talked about the negative image that the word ninja brings to most peoples mind's, and how it is only a small part of the 9 schools that he teaches in the Bujinkan system. He has mentioned his desire that people who practice his art should look at themselves as martial artists, with the emphasis on the "art" component. The art is supposed to teach you how to live, how to be a complete human being. It is supposed to have a positive and beneficial effect on you, and then through you on you community, and eventually the world. This negative image that people have of ninjutsu and the ninja tends to negate some of the possible positive effects from the beginning. It seems that this image is not something that can be changed very easily. When Sensei came to the United States the first few times, he did his best to stop the "Ninja Boom" and show people that the ideas that they had about ninjutsu and the ninja were incorrect. But here we are, years later, and many of those ideas still persist. In the past, the rank certificates have given us grades in Bujinkan Ninpo Taijutsu. The characters have been changed and from now on the ranks are in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. This term, which translates as "martial art", is broader and more complete, covering the fact that the Bujinkan system is several different martial styles, including ninjutsu. It seems that we have come full circle in a way. In the days of Toshitsugu Takamatsu, they trained in white uniforms to blend in with the other martial arts practitioners of that time, and not draw attention to themselves. To me it seems that this is much more "ninja-like" - in that we hide the fact of who we are. I don't expect that the training will change, just what it is called. Does not a rose by any other name smell as sweet? I know that some people who have schools around the world, have been using the "n" words as a form of advertising (its been pretty effective too - the negative image is not so bad in some places). are they going to have to give this up? I don't know, again only time will tell... but Hatsumi Sensei has now made the change here in Japan. It's something to think about.

Another change for someone here recently is Manaka Shihan, who has a career with the Japanese military, has been stationed in Sendai, which is 4 hours north of Noda city. Fortunately, he is going to return to the Noda area every weekend to visit his family. He will continue to teach his class at a local community center on Sundays. Manaka Shihan - who is a 10th dan and a longtime student of Hatsumi Sensei, has for the past few years been teaching the traditional techniques from some of the various styles in the Bujinkan system. In the past he has covered Gyokko Ryu, Koto Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu, and Shinden Fudo Ryu. He has also covered techniques dealing with the basics of several weapons including hanbo, rokushaku bo, spear, naginata and, for the last couple of years, the sword. At present he is covering the techniques from Kukishinden Ryu Dakentaijutsu, which he began last year. He is very popular with many of the foreigners that come here to train because of his straight-forward teaching style. His classes are very easy to understand and the pace is not too fast. He usually cover one or two traditional techniques per lesson and a few variations that demonstrate the main point of the original technique. He also has special one-day seminars, held in a local gym here in Noda. In the last two he went over the beginning and continuation of a list of techniques dealing with the use of the hanbo and a shorter stick. The most recent seminar, held at the end of March, will cover techniques having to do with using short range weapons including knife, jutte and kusari fundo. The pace of these seminars is a bit faster with a lot more material covered but the general feeling from the people who attended in the past is that the training experience is well worth it.

This next item is of particular interest to those practitioners who are part of the military community. There are several U.S. military bases here in Japan. In the past I have known several people who have used there military careers as a vehicle to be stationed over here to get closer to the training. When they arrive here they find that the distance to the local training can be as much as 2 to 3 hours of travel time. So, even though they are here in Japan, they don't train that often because they only have the time to get to training infrequently. Now, something that could change this situation is that there are branches of the Bujinkan Dojo on 3 of the local military radio stations. The first opened last year on Yokota Air Force Base. This year 2 more opened: Yokosuka Navy Base and Camp Zama Army Base. These are all under the direction of a Shidoshi level instructor who trains regularly with Hatsumi Sensei. Appearances have been made be some of the Shihan as guest instructors. So, military people can train with Hatsumi Sensei every chance they get and attend weekly classes on base in the meantime. Anyone wishing more information about this training should contact the Editor (of Heart, Faith & Steel).

With the arrival of the new year and now Spring, its that time again, Bujinkan membership renewal time. Most of the Japanese take care of their renewals before the end of January. I have heard that the new fiscal year starts in March so some people don't do it until then. Either way if you were waiting for some reason, it's time now. If you belong to a training group or dojo that is under the direction of a Shidoshi or Shidoshi-ho, the collection of membership fees is their responsibility. And if he's really together and on top of things, he probably already collected the fees from you before the end of last year, and maybe you have already received your new membership cards. If you are one of these people, great. But I know that is not necessarily the case with a lot of Bujinkan people out there. Many of us just aren't that well organized. Maybe you just train in somebody's backyard or garage, or maybe get together with friends at a park. Maybe you don't really have a teacher, but watch Sensei's videos and read his books, and the only real instruction you receive is when you go to the Tai Kai, or a seminar. Perhaps, your just trying to learn this art anyway you can. Or maybe you have a teacher but he's not too closely connected to Japan, and doesn't think that a membership is "that" important, so he doesn't bother with it. All I can say is that Hatsumi Sensei thinks that it is very important. In several of his conversations of late he has been talking a lot about two subjects: Sanmyaku and Bujinkan Membership. He wants everyone who practices this art to get and read Sanmyaku. This is like his personal letter to everyone in the Bujinkan. He is making this available to everyone, if they choose to accept it. Bujinkan membership is a requirement and is discussed extensively in the "Rules of the Bujinkan Dojo":

1. Our purpose is to live a healthy life, without harming society, by cultivating the mutual relationships of nature and mankind through the martial ways.

2. All members must have a membership card for the year, issued by the Hombu. There are two types of membership cards: General Membership card and Shidoshi-Kai Membership card.

   (i.) The General Membership card applies to members of the Bujinkan Dojo, whether ungraded, kyu-grade, or dan-grade.

   (ii.) The Shidoshi-Kai membership card applies to those of Fifth Dan or above (called Shidoshi), and those from First to Fourth Dan (called Shidoshi-ho). Members who are teaching should possess one of these cards. Non-Shidoshi-Kai members are not recognized as teachers and can not grade students.

3. General members must pay a yearly membership fee of 2,000 Yen to the Hombu, in return for which they will be sent their membership card.

4. The yearly membership fee of the Shidoshi-Kai is 15,000 Yen to be paid by the end of January each year.

5. All memberships must be renewed every year. This partial list of the "Rules of the Bujinkan Dojo" is used by permission. The complete list is available to valid Shidoshi-Kai members only. Requests for copies should be made (in Japanese) to the Hombu at the following address: Bujinkan Dojo Hombu, 636 Noda, Noda-shi Chiba-ken, Japan 278.

That brings us to the last item. The latest copy of Sanmyaku [available in the USA for $45 from WIN, P.O. Box 30338, Stockton, CA 95213] to come out over here contains several things related to Daisho Sabaki, which is one of the themes of the training this year. There are descriptions of each of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Daisho Sabaki waza that Sensei has been teaching at his Ayase classes. There are also illustrations showing the different names and parts of the sword as well as one that shows the various targets on the body. Since this issue came out here recently, it will probably be coming out in other countries before too long. It's something to look for. From Japan, until next time...

Mark O'Brien is a Shidoshi living in Japan since about 1986 and is consider one of the foremost American authorities on Bujinkan traditional training. He trains with Hatsumi Sensei and the various Shihan regularly. THE JAPAN REPORT is Mark's attempt to help Bujinkan practitioners living outside of Japan. It can be found in each issue of Heart, Faith & Steel.