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Hanshi Hatchidan (8th Degree) Yoshinari Miyata Sensei
Miyata-Sensei is the head-instructor in all three
dojos of the East Bay Kenyukai, Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland. He holds
the rank of Hachidan Hanshi, the highest rank achievable in all of kendo. He's been practicing for
70+ years, and doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.
 Yoshinari Miyata Sensei begun training in Kendo at Kagoshima, Japan when he was seven years old, and continues training to this day. For over 45 years he's istructed Kendo voluntarily. In
19** he moved to the United States and continued training in Kendo. In 1953 he helped establish the Oakland Kendo Dojo where he continues to instruct to this day. He
played a role in forming of the Northern California Kendo Fenderation (NCKF)
and served as the president of the organization for two terms. In 1993, he served as a member on the Board of
Directors of both NCKF and the Kendo Federation of the United States of America (KFUSA). After 1994 he became an active advisor in both the NCKF and the AUSKF. In 1996 he established Berkeley Kendo Dojo, where he continues to teach students young and old.
In 2000, he received the honory shogo of Hanshi. *Shogo is a title which indicates one's level of achievement as a kendoist. In kendo, there are three levels of sho-go: ren-shi, kyo-shi, and han-shi. These titles are awarded to persons who have been at the sixth dan, seventh dan, or eighth dan, respectively, for the requisite number of years and who satisfy the given qualification standards. Dans indicate one's technical level (mental elements included), while sho-go signify, in addition to technical proficiency, the level of one's achievement with respect to one's leadership and judgement as a kendoist. The title han-shi is conferred on persons at the absolute highest level of authority as kendoists.
* Used from the Kendo America website
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