Budo, Kobudo & Japanese Artisanry - The Seido Blog

The 24th of March 2019, a group of non-Japanese Budo and Kobudo researchers and practitioners working and practicing in Japan organizes a unique series of lectures on Don Draeger's impact on the martial arts community and beyond. Lectures by four people who knew and succeeded him. As practitioners and working actively for the international promotion of Budo and Kobudo, and because we believe it is of the utmost importance to support events organized by the new generation that succeed to Donn Draeger, Seido and Guillaume Erard offered their assistance to capture and publish videos of the event.

If Budo are ways to self-accomplishment, a company run by Budoka should embrace the same values we strive for in the Dojo. In the continuity of our work with traditional craftsmen and our support to various Budo events throughout the globe, our BudoStudies program was founded in 2016. With this program, we aim at promoting Budo and Budo studies both in and out of Japan by producing Budo-related videos containing interviews and documentaries, as well as providing wide event coverage.

この度、定期的に更新してきた星道ブログと武道研究会 のサイトを今まで以上に見やすく、さらに充実した内容へとバージョンアップを図るため、星道オンラインサイト内に移動し、新しくリニューアルします！！
従来のサイトと比較して、デザインの変更のほか、多くのコンテンツを加えました。また、ユーザーの皆様がより快適にご利用いただくことができるよう、ページの表示速度の高速化、レスポンシブデザインなど、優れたブラウジング・エクスペリエンスをお届けします。 今後も今まで以上により多くのコンテンツを定期的に配信していく予定です。是非、新しい星道ブログ、武道研究会のページをご覧ください。一人でも多くの皆様にご覧いただけることを願っています。

We’ve been going around interviewing experienced martial art teachers for a while now. Mr. Saitō Hitohira, who actually knew Morihei Ueshiba when he was a kid and devoted to Aikido from an early age, is still living in Iwama, right next to the Aiki Jinja. When we had the opportunity to get an interview with him, we did not hesitate, and here is how it all happened.

Yes, we’ve jumped in, we’re now working with Aikido Journal. It’s really great news for us, for Aikido Journal, and for the whole Aikido community. We’re going to do lots of things together, but it also involves money, so, as usual: full transparency from us!

The past few months, we've spent a great deal of time publishing our interviews made at the last wooden workshops of Japan this summer. Aramaki and Matsuzaki's interviews are already live and Nidome's interview is almost ready too. Following our encounter, and consistently with the subject we've discussed in those interviews, Master Aramaki sent a letter to all his partners presenting the situation at his workshop. Here is a free translation of this letter.

毎年、11月1日～3日開催の明治神宮で催される秋の大祭は、一年で最も重要な祭礼のひとつです。3日間通して、郷土芸能や能・狂言、邦楽邦舞などが奉納されるほか、明治天皇の生誕日である11月3日には、柔道、合気道、弓道をはじめとした各種武道演武、流鏑馬、また、古武道の各流派による「日本古武道大会」も奉納行事として盛大に行われています。秋の大祭での古武術奉納は、明治神宮が創建された大正9年（1920年）の11月1～3日の鎮座祭において大日本武徳会が古武術を奉納して以来の伝統があります。

August 2017, enjoying the quiet summer months, we traveled across Japan to Miyakonojo and the Kirishima Sankei region to visit 3 of Japan's last Bokken workshops. We've conducted 3 interviews and here's the transcript of the second one with Master Matsuzaki Yoshiaki, including some additional comments and information.

Every year, in memory of Emperor Meiji, one of the biggest martial arts demonstrations in Japan takes place, at the so called "Meiji Shrine Yabusame Taikai". Honoring both, the Emperor Meiji and the gods enshrined at the Meiji Shrine, the event is held in the form of an ancient ceremony that dates back hundreds of years ago.

August 2017, enjoying the quiet summer months, we traveled across Japan to Miyakonojo and the Kirishima Sankei region to visit 3 of Japan's last Bokken workshops. We've conducted 3 interviews, starting with master Aramaki Yasuo. Here's the transcript with some additional comments and information.