Shoheijuku Newsletter August 2025
Yatsushiro Seibukan 55th Anniversary
On Sunday, July 13, the 55th anniversary of the Yatsushiro Seibukan (Mr. Hiroshi Tanigawa, Dojo Rep) was celebrated at the Yatsushiro Municipal Budokan.
Over 70 people attended the event, including participants from dojos throughout Kumamoto Prefecture and from the Omuta dojo.
The first half of the event was a joint training session with all participants, and the second half was an embukai.
Every time an embu that made the most of the characteristics of each dojo was performed, applause erupted.
The current Yatsushiro Seibukan was established by the first dojocho, Kazuo Iwashita Sensei. Iwashita Sensei trained at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo for one year as an uchideshi of the founder in 1941, and returned to his hometown. While working as a farmer, he taught aikido privately to his family and neighbors.
In 1970 (55 years ago), after I came to Kyushu as a dispatched shihan, he started his activities as the Yatsushiro Dojo.
By the way, the first dojocho of Omuta Dojo, Akisuke Iwashita Sensei is a younger brother of Kazuo Iwashita Sensei.
Kagoshima Shoheijuku
On Saturday, July 19, the Kagoshima Shoheijuku (Yoichi Toyokura, Dojo Rep) held a seminar and an examination at the Nishihara Shoten Arena.
People from Kaede Kyoreisai (Mr. Hirotaka Osa) and Sendai Dojo (Mr. Yoshihiro Minami), as well as 10 people from Fukuoka also attended.
The atmosphere was warm yet courteous, including the children’s division, making for a very pleasant training session.
Events in August
7 Chikushino Dojo (Katsuhiko)
9 Fujisaki Dojo (Suganuma)
August 13 to 16 Obon vacation period
18 Kasuya Shoheijuku (Kido)
21 Kurume Dojo (Fujioka)
21 Koga Dojo (Yamada)
22 Onojo Shoheijuku (Katsuhiko)
22 Fukuma Dojo (Fujioka)
23 Hita Shoheijuku (Suganuma)
23 Munakata Yurix (Kido)
26 Fukuma Ladies (Fujioka)
27 Umi Shounjuku (Fujioka)
28 Omuta Dojo (Suganuma)
28 Seinan University Camp (Yamada)
30 All-Kyushu Student Alliance Seminar (Katsuhiko)
31 Yanagawa Dojo (Yamada)
Joint Workshop
On July 21 (national holiday), a workshop was held at Fukuoka Dojo. Twenty people participated.
Ms. Yuko Date and Ms. Wakana Miyata, a professional chindon-ya (a marching band with elaborately costumed street musicians in Japan who advertises for shops and other establishments) participated from Miyazaki.
There was a lot to learn from this workshop.
— Morito Suganuma
