Volume 23, number 10
October 2009
Akira Hayashi Known to many as the Head Instructor of Vancouver Kendo Club, Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Akira Hayashi passed away in Japan on November 5, 2009. Born 1948, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, he would have been 61 on this coming December 17. He always exhibited the most exemplary cool, smooth, classical Kendo and Iai. Personally, he was warm, gentle,and very kind, and as handsome as any movie star. Hayashi Sensei was an architect/engineer who had designed a number of the outstanding buildings in Vancouver BC, among them the celebrated Japan Pavilion of the World's Fair. He had been battling a mysterious form of leukemia for years. Eventually, when he realized he was dying, he retired from his firm, put all his affairs in order, and then fulfilled a lifetime dream of visiting great remnants of the golden age of Greek and Roman architecture. His wife Junko knew how much I loved him, and arranged many opportunities for me to spend extended moments with him these past few years as he was dying. The two younger daughters, Makiko and Yumiko, are very prominent in Canadian and world Kendo. He is also survived by his eldest daughter Kyoko. Our heartfelt sympathies go to all of them.
June Noh On Saturday August 29, 2009 June Noh suddenly suffered a heart attack while hiking in the mountains near Snoqualmie. His passing was a heavy loss to the Northwest Kendo Club and throughout the PNKF, where he was known for his gorgeous posture, his graceful movements, his overpowering attacks, and his thunderous kiai, but above all his sweet and gentle nature, and his kind and generous smile. Born March 19, 1977, it's so heartbreaking that June was only 32 years old, and that he and his wonderful bride Moon Hee Kim had just started their married life together. June was proud that he had just passed his 1st Dan in Kendo on August 8. He was very active and very beloved in his church, and the funeral on September 2 was incredibly sad, yet filled with hope and affirmation. We offer our deepest condolences to his family. According to one of June's favorite sayings, "if you fall to the ground your body gave out, if you stand up and walk away your mind gave out," but this time we can be sure that his mind did not give out, but rather soared free.
This year the number of candidates for the PNKF Board of Directors did not exceed the number of seats available so all candidates have been officially seated on the Board. At their November 14, 2009 meeting, the officers will be elected. The Board members are: Thomas Antush (Kent/Federal Way), Brian Blomquist (Everett), Thomas Bolling (Bellevue), Brian Edwards (Everett), Noelle Grimes (UW), Daniel Ichinaga (Seattle), Doug Imanishi (Seattle), Shinichi Koike (Northwest), Tatsuhiko Konno (Musokai), Charles Kwon (Cascade), Curtis Marsten (Kent), Mike Rigler (Sno-King), Jon Scherer (Highline), Russ Sinclair (Spokane), Andy Tsang (Cascade), Bert Tsutakawa (Highline), Moki Yoshikawa (Tacoma), David Yotsuuye (Bellevue). Jeffrey Marsten (Bellevue/Highline/ Sno-King) and Kiyoshi Yasui (Seattle) continue as Advisors. Shinichi Koike, Jeffrey Marsten, and Robert Stroud are members of the AUSKF Board of Directors.
The 4th PNKF Women's Kendo Tournament and Seminar will take place June 19 through 26, 2010. The Tournament is June 26, 9:30am, at Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway. The Seminar is June 19 through 25, at Bitter Lake Community Center, 13052 Greenwood Avenue N., Seattle. The great Kendo Renshi 6th Dan Mayumi Katsura will be the guest instructor. The Seminar is open to women kenshi from outside Federations as well as PNKF women. Full information at http://womenskendo.com/
9 Years and Under Round Robin 10-12 Years 1st place - Kiko Shodai, Obukan 1st place - Lucas Kim, Sno-King 2nd place - Keeley McManus, Kent 2nd place - Tiárnan Marsten, Kent 3rd place - Alex Fukusawa, Tacoma 3rd place - Austin Fujita, Kent 4th place - Majestic Remmu, Kent 5th place - David Lin, Bellevue 13-15 Years 16-18 Years 1st place - Tad Iba, Sno-King 1st place - Ian Cresse, Kent 2nd place - Justin Lamb, Spokane 2nd place - Harley Christianson, Seattle 3rd place - Sean Cresse, Kent 3rd place - Matt Wolf, Spokane 15 and Under Teams 1st place - Spokane A (Dan Sinclair, Andy Sinclair, Justin Lamb) 2nd place - Highline (Melanie DeJong, Erica DeJong, Jennifer DeJong) 16-18 Teams 1st place - Kent (Challen Mills, Matt Wolfe, Ian Cresse) 2nd place - Seattle (Ted Tagami, Harley Christianson, Nathaniel Iwata) Adult Kyu Teams 1st place - UW (Ken Loeu, Young Shim, Frank Wessbecher) 2nd place - Highline (Bert Tsutakawa, Kurt Kuniyasu, M. DeJong) National Anthem Singer - Alisa Yoshikawa Sportsmanship Pledge - Alisa Yoshikawa Appreciation Award - Moki Yoshikawa Shinpan Cho - Shinichi Koike
1st place - Highline (Anthony Zee, Shane Smith, Amy Arsenault, Elizabeth Marsten, Jeff Marsten) 2nd place - Southern California Kendo Organization 3rd place - Association de Kendo estate de Nuevo Leon 3rd place - Austin B
Women's 9 Years and Under
1st place - N. Grimes, UW 1st place - M. Remmu, Kent
2nd place - T. Ying, Highline 2nd place - K. McManus, Kent
3rd place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent 3rd place - A. Fukusawa, Tacoma
3rd place - A. Arsenault, Highline 3rd place - D. Lin, Bellevue
10-12 Years 13-15 Years
1st place - DH Kim, Bellevue 1st place - S. Cresse, Kent
2nd place - J. Button, Tacoma 2nd place - T. Iba, Sno-King
3rd place - A. Fujita, Kent 3rd place - A. Melton, Spokane
3rd place - M. DeJong, Highline 3rd place - D. Sinclair, Spokane
Junior Team 0-4 Kyu
1st place - Spokane (J.Lamb,D.Sinclair 1st place - H. Christianson, Seattle
A.Melton,R.Murakami,A.Sinclair) 2nd place - J. Yu, Bellevue
2nd place - Bellevue (C.Blomquist,B.Lin 3rd place - S. Wilkins, Everett
D.Kim,T.Matsumiya,N.Tokuno) 3rd place - T. Patana, Sno-King
3rd place - Highline (J.DeJong,T.Yamada,R.Itano,M.DeJong,E.DeJong)
3rd place - Sno-King (L.Kim,MGKim,R.Blakeway,N.Lee,T.Iba)
3-1 Kyu 1-3 Dan
1st place - F. Wessbecher, UW 1st place - S. McNally, Spokane
2nd place - D. Tsai, UW 2nd place - A. Zee, Sno-King
3rd place - Y. Bogucharov, Bellevue 3rd place - S. Smith, Highline
3rd place - J. Duplain, Spokane 3rd place - N. Grimes, UW
1-3 Dan Seniors Senior Team
1st place - B. Nelson, Bellevue 1st place - Spokane (S.McNally,J.Lamb,
2nd place - P. Cresse, Kent W.Kuster,M.Wolf,J.Duplain)
3rd place - B. Blomquist, Everett 2nd place - Kent A (P.Cresse,J.Frazier-Day,
3rd place - DL Kim, Bellevue S.Day,K.Duong,I.Cresse)
3rd place - Sno-King (A.Zee,S.DeBliek,
J.Chen,M.Larson,T.Patana)
3rd place - UW A (N.Jang,Y.Shim,
F.Wessbecher,N.Grimes,D.Tsai)
Sportsmanship Pledge - Keeley McManus, Kent
Junior Spirit of the Day - Daniel Sinclair, Spokane
Senior Spirit of the Day - Yuri Bogucharov, Bellevue
Shinpan Cho - David Yotsuuye
PNKF KENDO SHINSA, September 13, 2009, Boise, Idaho
5TH KYU: Jake Wilson (Idaho). 4TH KYU: Mick Lannigan (Idaho), Luke White (Idaho). 3RD KYU: Noelle Bruce (Idaho), Grant Matsuura (Zenbukan Salt Lake City). 2ND KYU: Joseph Hilby (Idaho), Nick Shiosaki (Pocatello), Ken Tawara (Idaho). 1ST KYU: Matt Miller (Idaho), Kat Plummer (Idaho).
SCKF KENDO SHINSA, October 25, 2009, Wilson Park, California.
1ST DAN: Erica Tam (San Diego Kendo Buh).